Howdy Ya’ll. Greetings from Nashville, Tennessee. What a place to celebrate Cinco de Mayo. This is more of a beer and Tequila holiday and today we are right in country music’s epicenter. Talk about as far away from wine as you can get - we found it. The ever adventurous Trixie wanted to explore Second Avenue and Broadway where all the pubs (honky tonks as the locals call them) are located. We go moseying along (gotta look like we fit in by “moseying”) checking out the different venues. Country music was echoing out of every door that we walked by. Resisting the urge to buy a cowboy hat and big belt buckle, we found the Hard Rock Café. Yes! Music that I understand. I poked my head in the door and asked if they know where any live rock music was playing. They looked at me as if I was from Mars. Laughing, they said “Rock music around here? Not a chance!” OK, Trixie talked me off the ledge and said just roll with it Angus. Tonight we’ll fake it as country music fans and learn what it’s all about. I had a feeling this was going to be a bad night.
As we continue “moseying” along Broadway, Trixie spots a place called “Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge”. She yells out “Wholly Shiraz - I didn’t know I had a cousin that lives in Nashville - and she owns a bar!” Of course we have to go inside. This was one of the oldest honky tonks where many of country music’s biggest stars played before they became famous. It is the ultimate in elegantly tacky decor with a twist of fun and insanity - right up our alley. This place had a huge beer drinking crowd so in a very quiet voice Trixie asks what kind of wine they have. I’m thinking don’t even bother girl, you know the answer to that question. Yep, here comes. The predictable answer, we have both kinds red and white. Where have I heard that one before. OK, we’ll have two whites. Of course it was served in plastic cups and was everything you would expect it to be.
Pretty soon the band took the stage. Wow, this is embarrassing I actually know most of the songs they played and they were really good. One of the songs was a Grateful Dead tune. This is awesome! - or so I thought. Then the band announced it was written by some famous country music person that I can’t remember. They never did mentioned the Dead.
Before long I was tapping, thumping and foot stomping like everyone else - horrified, I realized I was becoming a country music fan. No this can’t be happening - I almost felt like ordering a beer. Trixie saw what was happening and gave me a smack on the back of the head yelling “Snap out of it Angus” I don’t want to own a pickup truck. Dazed, I came back to my senses and ordered another glass of “white wine”. It must have been the plastic cup, but the second glass was much better than the first.
I have to admit, I was completely wrong thinking tonight was going to suck. Spending an evening with Trixie at Tootsie’s (say that three times fast) listening to the band play their heart out and singing about lost loves, old dogs, rusty pick up trucks and cheatin’ hearts was a hootin good time.
Happy Cinco Ya’ll
Angus
