… but when has that ever stopped me?
File this one under the hashtag: #OnlyInNashville:
I went to the Ryman Auditorium last night for the “Guy Clark Celebration” – a tribute concert for one of Nashville’s most revered songwriters, who went on to the great writing room in the sky back in May.
The tone for the evening was set early on by host Vince Gill, who promised “three hours of music an no shitty songs.”
And no shitty singers, either. I’ve been going to stellar shows in Nashville for more than 20 years now, but this was a lineup like you’ll never see again.
How’s this for name dropping: Jerry Jeff Walker, Vince Gill, Terry Allen, Shawn Camp, Verlon Thompson, Sam Bush, Bobby Bare, Emmylou Harris, Gillian Welch and Dave Rawlings, Joe Ely, Steve Earle, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Robert Earl Keen, Ricky Skaggs and Sharon White, Chris and Morgane Stapleton, Rodney Crowell, Lyle Lovett, Gary Nicholson, Delbert McClinton, Radney Foster and Bill Lloyd.. (thanks to Jim Moran for posting the cast of characters on Facebook).
You really can’t see ’em, but that’s who all is in the photo at the top of the post.
As I posted myself last night “I don’t need to go to any more concerts this year, I’ve already seen everybody…”
*
The Ryman was insistent throughout the evening that there were to be absolutely no photos of the show. Every time somebody in the audience pulled out a cell phone, an usher showed up to point an admonishing finger at them.
But when that stellar ensemble gathered on the stage for the last two songs, there was no way I was not gonna record that moment.
I got out of my seat (near the back of the upper deck, aka “The Confederate Gallery”) and went to the very back of the venue, got my iPhone out, discretely got it ready, and then brought it up to eye level and grabbed the ONE shot above.
Then the photo-Nazi usher ran up to me and said “No photos!”
And I said, “OK…” and went back to my seat.
*
If you were not fortunate enough to be present for last night’s tribute concert, consider going over to iTunes and investing in the tribute album that Tamara Saviano put together back in 2011, “This One’s For Him: A Tribute to Guy Clark” – which includes performances by a lot of the artists who appeared last night. Or if you still believe in plastic delivery, you can get the CD at Amazon (it does not appear that the collection is available thru Spotify).
Then listen to it and give yourself a master class in songwriting.
“This One’s For Him” – the Guy Clark Tribute album.