The Plowhaus Artists Cooperative Fundraiser this Saturday

I saw via the Interweb that the Plowhaus Artists' Collective is having a fund-raiser this Saturday at the Alley Cat Lounge and Tex-Mex Grill.

Excited as always Dear Listener to explore the aesthetic of whatever new town I'm in I sped over to the Plowhaus Gallery on East 17th to see what art was cooking and to speak to the locals about the scene here.

As per usual I didn't check the opening hours of the venue, so like my 'I Dream of Weenie' and 'Craft Fair' experiences I found myself outside of a locked building, alone.  I've really got to do better planning.

Turns out the Gallery is only open on the weekends.  But, they do have a sign on the door with names and numbers of people to call and open the place up if you really want to see the art inside; what a great idea!  Kinda like doctors on call.  Art doctors on call! 

Anyhew,  I didn't want to bother anyone so I didn't ring; just wandered around a bit.

The shot above is the gallery's back door; off an alley way on the side of the building.  I, like you I suspect, was intrigued by that drainage pipe sticking out of the chain-link fence.

I especially like that 'goo'/sealant around the hinge.  Good stuff.

Well, not many adventures to be had that day at the gallery am afraid - I'll do my best to attend the fund-raiser; I don't know these Plowhaus folks but the idea of an Artists' Collective sounds interesting and God knows the world needs art now more than ever.  If you're in Nashville this Saturday why not go out and show your support?

The Plowhaus Artists Cooperative presents
A Fundraiser at the Alley Cat Lounge and Tex-Mex Grill

I leave you with the fellow below - spied on the Plowhaus' alley wall.  Have a good day everyone!

(Special thanks to Beth Seiters, whose blog 'Drawing the Void' alerted me to Saturday's activities).

Today's Miscellaneous Photos of Nashville

What trip to Nashville is complete my friends without photo taking of the famed Parthenon of the South?  Why it's no trip at all, that's what.  So to 'tick the box' on my stay here I present the photo above.  I know it's a bit kitschy...I blame the Craft Fair.

As to the photo below.  I wandered over to Elliston Place after visiting the Parthenon.  It was quiet.  That's what I noticed, the quiet...and also noticed that the building below seems to be a combo hospital and dry-cleaners. 

Handy.

It's October My Friends, AKA Where to Buy a Pumpkin in Nashville

There I was walking this very eve in the West End of Nashville, (aka 'WhiteyTown'), when I heard my Southern Lady Friend, whose hand I was gripping at the time, shout out: "Pumpkins!"

And in truth there were pumpkins.  In the back of some guy's car.  He sped off and we continued on.

A few minutes later a car pulled over, (no it wasn't an Italian guy trying to sell a Black Man leather coats:  ((strange aside:  every black guy I know in the U.K. has had at least once, if not many times, a car stop them while they were walking, and the driver, usually an Italian, tries to sell them leather jackets...why, why?  No one knows))), anyway a few minutes later a call pulls over and it's none other than the young man pictured above.

Turns out he knows a guy who knows a guy - long story short the young man, Daniel Pierce, spent today harvesting the very pumpkins that filled both his back seat and boot.  Hearing my Southern Lady Friend's expression of delight over the famed Halloween Treat he had turned his car around and was now offering us a pumpkin for only Five US dollars. 

What's that you say.  Five US dollars?  That can't be.  For a quality pumpkin? 

Yes, only five dollars.  He picks them himself you see, so he's passing the savings on to you! 

If you're in Nashville and in need of a Halloween pumpkin you could do a lot worse then give Danny a call; here's his Cell:

615-522-1909

And his email:

waverave@comcast.net

He seems like a nice guy.  We had an ice-tea and chatted about Nashville, and being in the Biz I told him I thought he had a great voice.  And of course, this being Nashville, Danny's also a voice over artist!  He's got that 'In A World' voice - you can hear it here:

http://voice123.com/dannyhall

And of course on his myspace page:

http://www.myspace.com/depthpersuasion

OK, right, now off to carve the sucker.

TACA Craft Fair, Centennial Park Nashville

Went by Centennial Park yesterday for the Tennessee Association of Craft Artists 'Crafts Fair'. 

Of course I didn't really do any research regarding not just the crafts on display, but the actual opening hours and date of said fair.  Needless to say it doesn't open till today so was not able to peruse the doubtless wonderful items on sale and display. 

Well at least I took the above photo. 

Anyhew, if you're in Nashville over the next couple of days and need 'craft-type items' you know where to go.

Harold Perry Searches for Civil War Artifacts, Nashville Tennessee

Harold Perry of Perry Tile Company searching for Civil War artifacts in Nashville, Tennessee. 

Remember, when in Nashville, for tile, it's Perry Tile; (they do both Tile and Marble, 11 years experience, (615) 582-8778, references available upon request).

(Disclaimer: I have not had the opportunity to make use of the services of the Perry Tile company yet, but I would recommend them, if not for their tiling expertise, then for Harold's colourful stories about his time with the metal detector.  If you see him, ask about either the '40-Ruby Ring' or 'The Secret of the Conquistador's Cave'.

Loveless Cafe, off Highway 100: Where to Go for both Ham and Jam

Had a craving for biscuits last night.  Found myself driving aimlessly on Highway 100.  Luckily I came across the Loveless Cafe.  Did some research on the web today and found out it's quite the famous place but I didn't know it last night.  Just wanted some biscuits. 

Boy were those biscuits tasty, and so was the fried okra and pulled pork.

Afterwards went next door to the Ham and Jam store.  Some places have Ham.  Some places have Jam.  But only Ham and Jam has both Ham and Jam.

The staff, like just everybody I've met so far in Nashville, was extremely friendly.  Joanie, Courtney and Callie, (pictured above), were more than happy to answer all my Ham and Jam related questions and, in fact, will be making a cameo appearance on an upcoming show.

Actually when I think about it, most of the items at Ham and Jam were actually Ham related.  For instance, notice the Bacon-themed Plasters and Wallet modelled by the lovely Callie below.

Even if you're not in the mood for Ham-themed novelties I heartily recommend the Loveless Cafe.

If only for the biscuits.

(P.S. If you do go to Ham and Jam please say hi to Joanie, Courtney and Callie for me.  They were so nice and put up with my antics far longer than most people do).

The New York Times on East Nashville - The New Greenwich Village?

I find the creation of "perceived reality", (perceality?), through modern electronic media fascinating.

Three weeks ago when I came to visit from Belfast I had never heard of East Nashville - now it seems everywhere.  The New York Times has just weighed in and called it the 'New Greenwich Village'. 

Actually, that's not true.

In local author Ann Patchett's article, musician Todd Snider describes East Nashville as being the closest he'll get to his fantasy of the famed New York neighbourhood.  But, by creating a 'stripped of context' pull-quote/strapline from Todd's comment, (if he even said it - how do we know?), one begins to create the 'reality' of such a thing. 

Other blogs, (consisting perhaps mainly of bot farms dedicated to making money through Google Ads),  will pick up on this post and disseminate the idea of 'East Nashvillage'. 

Rather than being a 'living machine' for the the quick spread of 'truth' as some Internet Utopians in the 90's, (myself among them), predicted, the Interweb allows for the real-time manufacture and dissemination of narrative fantasies presented and consumed in place of actual 'facts on the ground' reality.

If the people reading this have ever listened to the Show they know that Belfast has the world's largest ex-pat Moroccan community, (outside of Africa), in the world; with over 70 Mosques in South Belfast alone.  Because I commented on this fact in several shows, (not sure which ones, maybe this one, or this one, or even this one), I STILL get requests from mainstream media to talk about the impact of Islamic culture in Belfast.

Except, the thing is.  I made it up.  The show is a construct, a meditation on reality and fantasy and what drives a fantasist to live his life as art.  But, if people start to believe in the specific 'facts' you are presenting, and miss the larger message you're trying to get across, what are one's responsibilities, what does one do?

I ramble on in such a way because my natural inclination is take the techniques I developed in Belfast and apply them here in Tennessee. Rather than simply reporting on what I see around me here, why not implement Phase 2 of LTA and promote Nashville, East and West, North and South, Yankee and Southerner, 3 Meat and Veg and Provence Bread eating as the place to be?  As the New Greenwich Village of our time? 

Something for me to think about. 

OK, enough rambling, it's Sunday morning and I'm off to visit the local Iraqi diner for a classic 'Baghdad Breakfast'. 

Oh, didn't you know?  There's plenty of great Iraqi retaurants here; after all Nashville's got the largest Iraqi refugee population in the United States!

Update 23rd September 2007: I found out tonight from an unimpeachable source that Nashville actually has the largest Kurdish community in the United States!  So perhaps doing the show while in the U.S. there is no need for fantasy or exaggeration.

(Special thanks to everybody at yesterday's East Nashville 'Hoop-Jam' for letting me take their pictures.  That's Sunny at the top of the post, of Hooprama - why not give them a call and learn to hoop?  Better for you than sitting around blogging).

Would Be a Great Halloween House

Strange

OK, I've never posted Black and White photos on this blog before because I've never taken Black and White photos before. 

But after 2 1/2 weeks in Nashville this is in fact what has happened.  I have no explanation for this.

William Hanging out in East Nashville, Tennessee

East Nashville's not just for Hula-Hoopers Dear Readers. 

Many other things go on there as well.  While strolling there this eve I was most blessed to have had an informative and enlightening discussion with William, the man pictured above.  I had not seen or spoken to him before, yet somehow he seemed to know my business.

William swore me to secrecy regarding the contents of our discussion yet, take it from me, there was a lot of truth in it.  In his own words William is 'International'.

I can say no more, (though I feel 'this' more and more each day).

Oh, and if you are interested in more hula-hoop action there's another 'Hoop-Off' this Saturday outside of the Art & Invention Gallery from 11am till 1pm.  Click here for the Google Maps location.

Where is the War?

The thing most striking to me so far in my Nashville sojourn is an absent thing.  The War.  Where is it?

Living in the U.K. it seemed to me ever present there...a slow, steady drumbeat heard of America, waging war overseas.  Yet here...there's nothing.

Well, yes there's the cake decorating competition.   And this absurd sign.

But other than that, what?  I've gotten no palpable sense from my walks around town, talking and jiving with the locals, that this country is engaged in a massive operation that's killed tens of thousands of people.  I've seen some bumper-stickers. 

Support Our Troops.

Billboards exhorting one to join the Marines, (spied only in poor areas).

But that's about it. 

To be fair I haven't watched TV.  The one in my room only gets a Spanish Language Soap Channel.  And the reception is bad.

Perhaps once I get to know people here it'll seem different.

Nashville Wandering

I find the light and the space of Nashville has really put the zap on my head.

I wander/wonder around taking occasional snaps.

I love the wires...the wires EVERYWHERE above.

Lotta construction in Nashville.  Dare I say it?  Is Nashville on the move?  The place to be?

Possibly.

But I tell you 'Kwik-Sac' has got to be the worst name for a store ever.  Some sort of half-remembered fever dream of Vietnam: "She love you long time.  Kwik-Sac 10 dollar."

Hoop Dreams; AKA Hula-Hooping Takes East Nashville by Storm

There's a phrase you'll hear in the New American South Dear Listeners.  You'll hear it whispered in hushed tones in seedy back-street bars by hipsters of all shapes and sizes:

"I'm hooped."

What's this you say?  Some new drug craze?  A more powerful, virulent form of Meth?  No, don't worry, it's nothing like that.  It's extreme hula-hooping, and it's taking East Nashville by storm.

You see, I was in East Nashville this very afternoon searching for 'I Dream of Weenie', the hot-dog stand I read about while preparing to leave Belfast, (and recommended by Emotional Mullet in this post).

After driving around endlessly in my rental vehicle I found 'IDoW', but, before ordering a dog I became distracted by what I observed in the car park next door.

A gaggle of hipsters, (or 'hoopsters' as the Tennessee media has taken to calling them), were limbering up for a 'hoop-off'.  Though notoriously secretive I was able to gain their confidence and they allowed me to take a few snaps.

The gentleman and lady featured above had already 'battled' and were in the final stages of winding down.  What I was interested in was an upcoming bout featuring a seasoned amateur and an up-and-coming pro.  The kid pictured below is the pro; he's just started in the game but has already picked up endorsements from a wide field of sport-related advertisers.

Look at that face.  The face of a competitor.  But is it the face of a champion?

Here's his opponent.  Tough.  Seasoned.  She's seen off a lot of young punks in her day.  But will this afternoon see her reign as 5-Points HH Champion end?

And they're off!

They battled like this for many seconds, Dear Reader.  The tension was palpable.  The only sound heard was the hypnotic 'whissing' of the hoops...and in the distance...faint, oh so faint, the bass-line from a passing vehicle playing 'Hip-Hoop' music...

Oh my god!  An upset!  The young challenger drops his hoop, experience beats youth!

The crowd is elated.  The kid seemed a bit uppity.

And with that I finished taking snaps and went next door to the Yellow Volkswagen Van that houses 'I Dream of Weenie'.

Oh, but it's a Sunday.

It's closed.

Well there's only one thing I can do to take my mind off the dogs.

(Special thanks to all the 'hoopsters', especially Cameron, Diane, Alisa and Meg, ((Meg's the Champion pictured above, owner of the Art & Invention Gallery and wife of the 'I Dream of Weenie' Proprietor)).  Also, upon reflection I may have exaggerated the afternoon's events for narrative clarity.  I am known to do this from time to time).

Update, Monday 17th 2007:  One of the pics above made the front of hooping.org, (see below),  I couldn't be happier!:

The Littlest Pole Dancer; AKA Nashville Stripclub Action

As Nashville's latest resident I'm eager to find out the goings on about town.  Hence my purchase of free newsagraph 'Nashville Scene'.  I've read it today with interest - and was pleased to see their endorsement of Mayoral Candidate, (now soon to be Mayor), Karl Dean.

Imagine my shock and surprise when, leafing through the back of this fine listing magazine looking for Phone Sex Ads, I came across the image above.

I don't know what to think Dear Listeners.  Of course being a 'little person' should be no barrier to working the pole, yet I can't help feel that 'Little Lacey' is exploited somehow.  Am I wrong?

(P.S. Before anybody emails me with the suggestion, yes I will try to get her on the show).

Hi's: Best Shoestore in Nashville? Plus, Hipsters Abound

Well I'm out and about exploring Nashville Dear Listeners.  And because it's so goddamn hot I've had to don shorts. 

Shorts and sandals. 

But since I haven't worn such a thing since the great London heatwave of '01 yours truly had to buy some shorts and sandals.

Now I won't bore you with the 'buying shorts' experience.  Though I will say I look forward to taking out Miss Leticia of 'Fashion Now Clothing' this Saturday night.  Anyhew, I stumbled across a wonderful place to get shoes in town:  Hi's on West End Avenue.

The gentleman pictured above, Jacob, was more than helpful and was chock full of advice about living here in Nashville.  Turns out Jacob's from Hawaii, has lived all over the States yet found Nashville the best place to be.  I hope he's right.

Also friendly was the young man pictured below: Store Manager Matthew Straub.  This guy sure seemed like a hipster I mean check out the hint of tat on his left arm and the outre, yet stylishly small earrings.  Matthew gave me some recommendations for hang-outs here in this fine town - you can look forward to hearing about them in an upcoming Show.

Yep, it looks like I'm going to be able to take a wee break from Belfast and Ireland for a while.  Sweet relief.

Hey.

Wait a minute.

What's that tattoo on Jacobs arm in the top picture?  I'd better enlarge it.

Oh crap.

Tennessee State Fair - 1

Went to the Tennessee State Fair today.  Have never been to a State Fair so have no idea how typical the TSF is of state fairs in general - but in retrospect my mental image of the event going in was formed by old Hollywood musicals like the Music Man - this did not accurately reflect the event.

I'm going to have to go back in the evening I think as it was so hot and humid out today people did not seem that enthused.  Most folks seemed to be loitering.  I'll go back when it's cooler.

Did take a few snaps though.  The two pics in this post are of the Cake Decorating Competition.  As you can see in the pic above the theme seems to be the 101st Airborne.  I think the guy being interviewed by the Fox News stringer were was one of the judges but I could be wrong.

Carwash

First Nashville Stroll

Nashville - LTA Goldmine; AKA Jason Childers Saves a Life

Thanks to everybody who commented on this post:

Goodbye Belfast

I am so touched by the heartfelt messages from people.  It really means a lot to me.  I've also received some lovely emails from folks - and there's some concern re:  the end of the Belfast LTA era. 

Don't worry folks!  Wayne will be doing regular reports from Northern Ireland on the Podcast and I plan on visiting Belfast at least once a year from here on out; just like I said in this Video - once you've had the smell of Belfast on you, you can't get it out. 

Anyhew, I'm now in Belfast's sister city: Nashville.  Don't know what I'm going to do here.  Don't know how long I'm going to stay.  But I do know one thing.

It's an LTA GOLDMINE.

Today was my first time here and if I had been recording I could easily have gotten 3 podcasts out of the day's adventures.

First of all, (and I don't mean this as a condemnation of the U.S. Health Care system), the 'mentally ill' seem to be walking the streets.  I ran into several folks whose rich fantasy lives seemed to eclipse even my own.  My favourite was the gentleman who assured me he was running for President of the United States and had secured Jerry Rice as his V.P., (OK OK maybe this should be seen as a condemnation of the shambles they have for health care here).

There are also so many things to photograph.  I especially liked this video sign featured below which advertised, (look closely and you can just make it out), a 'Shoot for the Future' fund-raiser; according to their website the group is dedicated to helping disabled people enjoy trap and clay shooting.  This is the kind of thing I'll really enjoy seeing and participating in at some level over here - stuff you would never see in Belfast; (and don't condemn it out of hand Europe - let me tell ya, shooting a gun is fun.  Really.  It. Is. Fun.)

So I was taking photos of the advert for 'Shoot for the Future' when I noticed that a group of people under it the WERE VIDEOING ME.  I was so enraptured by the image of the guy in the wheelchair with a shotgun I didn't notice that the giant flashing sign sat right above the  campaign headquarters for Nashville Mayoral Candidate Karl Dean.

Now apparently earlier in the day there was a bit of a fracas with protesters outside the office - so the Karl Dean staff where understandable edgy about a guy intently taking photos of their office.  A Karl Dean staff member crossed the street and approached me.  I was concerned that there might be fisticuffs.  But he turned out to be sweet and there were no problems.

My first impression is that people here in Nashville as extremely friendly.  This of course makes my makes my job as a broadcaster that much easier.  In fact, already on Day 1 of the LTA Nashville experience my life has been saved by the open hearted warmth of the people here.

You see that pic at top me eating ribs?

Well I wolfed them down just a wee bit too fast Dear Listener.

Luckily the help-thy-neighbour ethos of the town came to the rescue.  God bless you, Jason Childers, (playing tomorrow night at neo-honky-tonk Paradise Park, 10pm).

Right Day 1 is over.  Well, at least the afternoon is.  I wonder what tonight has in store for me?

Talk to you soon Dear Listeners.

Whitey Johnson, Nashville Based Musician at 'No Alibis'

As viewers of the 'Behind the Scenes' Video Newsletter know I am intrigued by this Belfast / Nasville 'sister-city' thing.  What's the deal?  Will this strange, unexplained connection necessitate my travelling to Nashville for a while to do the Podcast?

The answer is probably yes.

Fortunate then that Nashville-based Bluesman Whitey Johnson is playing at No Alibis this Saturday at 8pm, (yes, that's right - not only is No Alibis the best bookstore in Northern Ireland they've also got live music too!).

Hopefully Whitey will let me pick his brains for a few minutes before the gig as to the best place to hole up in Nashville while I do the show.

Belfast - City of a Thousand Festivals

The rebirth of Belfast apparently couldn’t be achieved without a magical grab bag of festivals.  The next six weeks offers festival-goers the option to celebrate songwriters, St. Patrick, and cinema through the diverse media of Irish reggae (in Irish), dodgeball, and documentary filmmaking.    The fact that the most established festival, Belfast Festival at Queens, is fighting for survival hasn’t stemmed the proliferation of thematic explorations of Belfast’s renaissance.

Although the financially strapped Belfast Festival has been running for forty-five years, the majority of the festival upstarts are children of the post-Good Friday Agreement era.  This week features the 3rd Annual Belfast-Nashville Songwriters’ Festival, which allegedly occurs simultaneously in Nashville.  Events begin on Wednesday, February 21st with concerts and songwriting workshops running until Sunday, February 25th as well as a photography exhibition documenting Belfast and Nashville musicians that will be on display at the Black Box until March 3rd.

When I read about this festival last year, it intrigued me, but not enough to go to any of the events.  This year, however, I will be going to the Nanci Griffith show (she’s at the Black Box on Friday and The King’s Head on Saturday.  My picks for the five-day festival would be as follows:

Wednesday, February 21st:

A Diamond from a Piece of Coal:  This is a song-writing workshop with Shay Healy at Madison’s Hotel Cellar, 59 Botanic Avenue, from 7 to 8pm.  Even though I don’t know who Shay Healy is, I really liked the peppy, inspiring copy describing the event in the festival brochure, which assures the four pound charge will offer: “A pro-active session to write a full song with whoever shows up and keep on pushing it around and refining it until it is a diamond.  The session is about learning to stretch as writers.”  Who could turn down the opportunity to leave Madison’s both literarily limber and with their very own four-carat song?

Thursday, February 22nd:

Bluegrass Legends Concert:  Lord love the luthier that created the mandolin.  I just love it.  Everything sounds better when played on a mandolin.  And then there’s the banjo.  Don’t even get me started.  The festival brochure reminds readers that the Scots-Irish settled in Appalachia and thus are responsible for bluegrass and so much more, such as Andrew Jackson.  But since he’s not showcased here, we’ll have to settle for Thursday’s homage to the Scottish influence on music with the locally-based Broken Strings Band, Scotland’s very own Rod Paterson, and 2004 winner of the Best Song in Ulster Scots at, of course, the Belfast Nashville Songwriters’ Festival, Pauline Nelson.  Check the show out at Madison’s at 9pm.

Friday, February 23rd:

Bréag :  Although I already have tickets to Nancy Griffith on Friday, I would almost give those up to hear what reggae sounds like in the Irish language.  If you’d like to experience what is sure to be a unique musical event, check out Bréag, part of Belfast’s “small but loyal reggae scene” at the Basement of McHugh’s Bar, 29 Queens Square, at 9 pm.

Saturday, February 24th:

Lee Roy Parnell and Nanci Griffith:  Since it’s a weekend and you have plenty of time, why not pick up some slide guitar skills from Lee Roy Parnell at the Belfast Guitar Emporium from 5:30 to 6:30.  Or just say you did cause it sounds pretty cool.  If you’re still into country music, go see Nanci Griffith, one of the voices of the three sirens from O Brother Where Art Thou, at the Kings Head at 8pm.

Sunday, February 25:

Lee Roy Parnell and Colin Hay:  If you didn’t get enough of Lee Roy Parnell when he was teaching you everything he ever knew about the slide guitar in one hour, go hear him at the John Hewitt Bar, starting at 3pm.  Afterwards, you can mosey on down to the Black Box to check out the photography exhibition and find out the answer to the question that has surely been plaguing you for months, “Whatever happened to Australian recording star and former front-man for Men at Work, Colin Hay?  Ponder no longer cause he’s at the Black Box at 8 pm.  If you’re really really lucky, he might even sing “Who Can it Be Now.”

Click here to go to the Official Festival Website

(Photo above taken by Jett at the Black Box, one of the festival venues).