My Weekend In Nashville

An Adventure

Here I am again, writing about another trip to Tennessee's other "Music City" where I saw a concert. However, unlike my first two trips, I decided to make it a mini-vacation in Nashville. I wanted to experience Nashville without the restraints in my previous trips when I had to keep things buttoned up, as in not getting drunk. Not that I have any regrets about my past Nashville runs, but I felt that I was on the outside looking in on everyone else having fun. This time, because this concert was happening on a Sunday, I decided to leave Memphis early so I could have a day of fun in Tennessee's capitol.

My plans for the trip began last December, when I saw that Alanis Morissette was going on tour with Joan Jett. With Alanis being one of the ladies on my "bucket list" of singers that I wanted to see before I die (something that I hope doesn't happen in the near future), I knew I had to see her. Technically, this wouldn't have been the first time seeing her sing, for I saw her before at Memphis' Beale Street Music Festival (or whatever it's called now) several years ago. Although I enjoyed the show, I didn't feel that I got the full "Alanis" experience at an outdoor concert. It was the same feeling when I saw Sarah McLachlan at the festival several years before the "Alanis" concert. The festival didn't have the intimacy and ambience of a concert hall where a performer can "cut loose" before thousands of devoted fans who are there for her/him. Not that I have any criticisms about any particular musician, but most of them "water down" their performances to appeal to a broader audience who might be unfamiliar to them. In Alanis' case, I'm not sure if she would agree with my take, but seeing her perform in an indoor arena provided a slightly different perspective of her act. In order to get that experience, I had to hit the road again.

This time around, I had a lot more time to prepare. In doing so, I did diligent research and extensive planning for a weekend trip that I hoped would be memorable. As with any trip, a major key is the hotel/motel, something that in the past wasn't that important to me. However, as I get older, I'm growing to appreciate the benefits of a good night of sleep in a safe and relaxing environment. Also, because I was without a car, I wanted a hotel that offered walkability to nice restaurants and stores along with access to public transit. After considering several options, I settled on a Hyatt Place hotel in the swanky Green Hills neighborhood. Green Hills is similar to Germantown (the suburban Memphis version) in terms of demographics (in my opinion, judging from what I observed) and landscape, although Green Hills is obviously more hilly. Like Memphis' Germantown, Green Hills has a lot of upscale stores like Nordstrom and the Apple Store. By the way, those stores are located in The Mall at Green Hills, an upscale mall that is almost adjacent to my hotel. If you're into something fancy, that mall is the place to go. Across from the mall is both a Kroger and a Walgreens, two stores that I needed later in my trip. As for the hotel itself, it is nicely designed with a bit of chic. Regarding amenities, my room had everything I needed including an iron & ironing board, a couch and (unlike my stay at a Rodeway Inn when I saw Suzanne Vega), it had plenty of soap and a Chromecast-equipped TV that I didn't have to pay extra for.

The one thing that I can't offer much commentary on is the hotel's food. Although it has a restaurant (actually, it's the hotel lobby that supposedly doubles as a restaurant), I didn't take advantage of it when I was there (although I did get some grub from the breakfast buffet that I will talk about later). When I arrived at the hotel, the "restaurant" had closed for the evening but the bar was open. I got a Modelo beer for nine dollars, which for me was a bit pricey but I wanted to chill after a four-hour bus ride. It helped that the bartender was friendly, welcoming me to both the bar and lounge. Because the beer was expensive, I didn't indulge in more of that in order to stay within my budget. I ended the night by ordering a delicious cheeseburger through Uber Eats and going to sleep soon after.

To The Nosh!

I woke up the next day feeling eager to explore Downtown Nashville. But first, I wanted to get familiar with the neighborhood near my hotel. My goal was to seek out potential places to go later after my impending foray into downtown. In addition to the mall, Green Hills has a lot to offer, including an outdoor mall called Hill Center Green Hills. Although this "mall" (seems more like a town square) has some things worth exploring like hair salons and cool restaurants (including the James Beard award-winning Mexican restaurant Taco Bamba), I wasn't letting it distract me from my itinerary. Fortunately, I discovered a "greasy spoon" diner/deli that's south of the "mall" that oozed a "cool" vibe that I couldn't resist. So my breakfast plan was set.

Noshville is a New York-style diner and delicatessen that has a familiar breakfast menu with a twist. While a person can get a standard plate of eggs with sides, there's also the option of getting small plates to "nosh" on. Initially, I was going to do that but I realized that was going to be expensive. With the rest of my day ahead of me, I decided to get the corned beef hash and scrambled eggs with wheat toast and, in a diversion from the usual, a bowl of fruit. Overall, everything was great including the corned beef hash that was also a rarity for me. I thought about washing my breakfast down with a beer from Noshville's extensive selection of brews, but decided to pace myself for the long day ahead. Whenever I make another visit, I definitely will get one of its deli sandwiches that the delicatessen is known for.

Website: Noshville.com

Having A "Good Time"

After a delicious breakfast at Noshville, I walked back to my hotel for a bit of rest before embarking on a fun day in Nashville. Initially, I planned to first go to Prince's Hot Chicken for lunch but because of the fullness of the breakfast that Noshville provided, I slightly changed my plans. Instead of Prince's, I started off by revisiting City Winery to get a better look of the place. It definitely has a different vibe during the day when there weren't that many people there, other than bachelorette parties that Nashville seems to attract a lot of. While there, I got a flight of City Winery's house wines that were great, although I'm not an expert on the vino despite living in Italy for four years. After knocking out the flight, I headed out to the heart of Downtown Nashville. Going for the familiar, I stopped at AJ's Good Time Bar on Broadway, where I had a few beers while watching a country band perform. For those who are unfamiliar, Broadway Street is the main entertainment hub of Downtown Nashville. Broadway is Beale Street for those who love Country Music and things related to that. Although I'm not deeply immersed in the genre, I occasionally listen to music greats like Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson and other "old school" artists, with Nanci Griffith being one of my all-time favorites. I regret never seeing Nanci perform in person when she was alive. It's because of her death that I started my "bucket list" of singers that I wanted to see in person before the Grim Reaper gets either me or someone on the list. The previous year, I checked both Tori Amos and Suzanne Vega off the list during past visits to Nashville, but this time around I intended to experience Nashville a day before the show. I was anxious to experience Nashville without the risk of being too drunk to see the concert (if that happened for Alanis' concert, I at least have the experience of seeing her at the now defunct Beale Street Music Festival albeit without the intimacy of a concert hall). For the day, my intention was to have a "good time" without getting too drunk or worse. As a diabetic man in his upper fifties, I don't have much stamina for alcohol so I really have to pace myself, especially when I'm not in my hometown. At AJ's, I mostly drank Michelob Ultras with some Stella Artois mixed in. The bar itself, like most places on Broadway, isn't a large venue that seats many people. The good thing about that is the camaraderie among the patrons, many of whom I got to meet. Overall, it was a friendly affair with a great performance from the band. The only drawback at AJ's (named after Country music star Alan Jackson) was that it doesn't serve food, other than potato chips (this was a surprise given that Memphis bars and restaurants that sell alcohol are required to serve food). Overall, AJ's is a great place to hang out, chill and have a "good time".

Website: AJsGoodTimeBar.com

¿Yo Quiero Esto?

After leaving AJ's, I wondered around Downtown Nashville for a bit, taking in the sights and sounds of it. After about thirty minutes, I decided to check out Taco Bell. What makes this noteworthy is that this isn't an ordinary "Taco Bell" that most are familiar with. This is a Taco Bell Cantina, a restaurant that not only features the fast food chain's food menu but also serves alcohol and (at least this location) has live music. It gives some heft to the restaurant's "Live Mas" slogan, but it comes at a price. When I say "price," I literally mean that. When I ordered one glass (12 oz.) of Dos Equis beer, that cost me fourteen dollars, not including tax or tip. When I saw that, the letters "WTF" came to mind. Look, I know that running a bar in Downtown Nashville isn't cheap, for I'm guessing the lease/rent is expensive. But fourteen dollars for a beer! Geez, I can get a better deal at Bridgestone Arena. If I'm going to pay that much for beer poured from a tap, it had better be pure. Unfortunately, the beer was a bit tainted, so I will assume that the tap lines aren't maintained properly. Normally this isn't a big deal, but if you're charging me fourteen dollars for a beer, it needs to be flawless. Because I paid over twenty dollars for one beer (including the cash tip that doesn't show on my debit card receipt), I didn't bother with getting any food. Unlike the alcohol, the food menu is typical for Taco Bell in terms of both selection and price. If you're looking to eat on the cheap while not drinking alcohol, then Taco Bell Cantina is the place to go. You can get your grub on while watching a live band perform. However, indulging in some Tennessee whiskey is going to cost you.

Website: TacoBell.com

"Mellow" Music

Once I left Taco Bell Cantina, I was about to go back to AJ's but I eventually went to a bar next door. It turned out to be a Mellow Mushroom, but not like one of their typical restaurants. Just like with the Taco Bell "cantina," this Mellow Mushroom has a stage for live music along with a bar. Given that Mellow Mushroom is known for pizza, I grabbed a slice of pepperoni to munch on. The pizza was decent, not exactly mind blowing but I wasn't there for the cuisine. Now I know this isn't much of a food review, but I have been to a "normal" Mellow Mushroom several years ago that impressed me a lot. As a music venue, this Mellow Mushroom was just as good as most places in Downtown Nashville, but you can enjoy the show while eating modestly priced pizza.

Website: MellowMushroom.com

Hypocritical Hype

My day continued with me walking around Downtown Nashville, taking in the good vibes of the Music City. Among the many Honky Tonks that grace Broadway Street, there is one that really stands out. Before I go on, I don't usually comment on places if it's not remotely related to food/dining. Although there are some exceptions to my rule (such as my comments about AJ's), if I'm not biting, I ain't writing. That said, I have a few thoughts about a bar owned by a former Hip-Hop star turned Country Music icon. Despite the spectacle of the "kid" obliterating bottles of Bud Light with an assault rifle to protest a transgender woman's embrace (via TikTok) of the beer, the bar that he owns has continued selling Bud Light. To me, this smacks of hypocrisy, for "Michigan guy" is trying to score political points with the Far Right while profiting off the popularity of one of America's most popular beers (one that I'm not a fan of because it is a watered down mess). As an "ally" of LGBTQ causes, this pisses me off a lot. However, his bar hasn't suffered any backlash from his actions, for most of people I saw there were having a good time while putting down bottles of Bud Light. Initially, I thought about passing it by and boycotting it, but I gave in to my curiosity to see what it was about. I limited myself to one overpriced Bud Light that served as my de facto "ticket" for my presence in the rapper's establishment. Unlike most Honky Tonks in Downtown Nashville, "kid's" place is huge, for it consists of three floors and a rooftop that seemingly can accommodate almost as many people as the Ryman. The band that I saw was a typical Country band that plays in Nashville's nightclubs and bars. Overall, I had a good time there but felt guilty in lending any support to a homophobe that, if I had to guess, has a few gay friends in the music business. I was going to post pictures of the place but I'm not going to promote a business that has a homophobic owner. As you might have noticed, I didn't mention the bar/music venue's name but you can look it up on Google.

On The "Riviera"

Before heading to dinner, I made one last stop at another bar. Scratching the curiosity inch again, I went to the Redneck Riviera to see how "neck" it was. The bar/music venue is about the same size as AJ's so there was more of an intimate feel to it than the previous place that I left. I don't have much to say about it other than the band that performed there was great. I wish that I had gotten the name of the band in order to hype them up, but I was kind of hammered by the time I saw the show. I want to give a big shout out to the violinist... er, fiddler who was phenomenal both on the instrument and her vocals. Because I was going to dinner later, I didn't get anything from Redneck Riviera other than a few Pabst Blue Ribbons. The bar serves burgers, sandwiches and other food that you would expect at a place like this. Whenever I make my return (probably in 2025 to see Shawn Colvin, provided that her travel partner Keb Mo' doesn't have a heart attack), I will likely grab a bite to eat there. Until then, I will have memories of a great show at Redneck Riviera.

If anyone knows the name of this band, please let me know.

Website: RedneckRivieraNashville.com

Primed For Dinner

After leaving the "riviera," I had to get back to Green Hills for dinner at Char. My plan was to have a nice dinner to end the day. However, I didn't factor in how "hammered" I would be after a day of drinking. Also, because I didn't bring my "power bank" that was weighing me down, my phone was low on juice and needed a serious recharge. Nonetheless, I managed to get a tasty prime rib that was very delicious. Cooked a perfect "medium rare", the tender prime rib was so good that it didn't need horseradish or au jus sauces. It was seasoned, juicy and downright flavorful. My only regret about the dinner was not getting a great picture of it because my phone's flash couldn't function because of its low battery. However, I know a little something about Photoshop so I was able to enhance it a bit. I highly recommend it to anyone that dines at Char. Given my experience with the prime rib, I am motivated to go there again for a steak (which I eventually did). Fortunately, Char Restaurant has a few locations throughout the South including a restaurant in Memphis (unfortunately, prime rib isn't on the menu there).

Website: CharRestaurant.com

NOTE: For a more thorough review, please click here to get my entire thoughts about Char including its Prime Cowboy Ribeye.

An Epiphany

Once I left Char, I was barely able to get back to my hotel. Fortunately, I was sober enough to acknowledge the "Walgreen" illuminated sign that was near my hotel. Originally, I planned to go to the legendary Bluebird Cafe to see more music acts but my drunken body was screaming "NO MAS!" I just didn't have the stamina to continue the evening any further so I used Walgreens as my guiding light to my hotel. As I was heading in, I came to the realization that my party days are long over. Never again can I spend a day just drinking beer and other alcoholic drinks with reckless abandon without consequences. Due to both my age and diabetes, I am usually out of it after a few drinks. Even with pacing myself slowly throughout the day, I just can't get after it like I did when I was younger. Having said all this, I had few regrets about my Saturday in Nashville, although I'm glad that I didn't watch Alanis Morissette's concert that day. If I did, I would have been a mess and missed out on a great show.

The Day After

I woke up the next morning feeling awful. I was both hung over and queasy after a day that ended at about 9:00 PM. In recovering from the day before, I had come to the realization that my youthful party days are over. To remedy my ills, I needed both Pepto Bismol and a BC headache powder. Fortunately, both Walgreens and Kroger were only a short walk from my hotel so I took advantage of that in order to get right. As I headed back to my hotel room, I stopped by the breakfast buffet for some nourishment. Despite its swanky name, the Hyatt Place didn't offer much in terms of what to choose from. The breakfast buffet only had the basics like cereal, scrambled eggs and bacon along with fresh fruits. I ended up getting lukewarm scrambled eggs, sausage and hash browns. None of it was impressive, particularly the eggs that tasted flat and in need of salt. Fortunately, the fruit plate of blackberries and diced pineapple made up for the lackluster breakfast that help set me straight. If I ever stay at this Hyatt Place again, I will not plan on eating there (especially when there are places like Noshville that are nearby). By the way, the hotel overall is nice and isn't too expensive if you reserve well ahead of time. And with great restaurants nearby, you won't have to worry about food.

Website: Hyatt.com/Hyatt-Place

Heading Out

After recuperating for several hours, I finally became able enough to go to the concert. In heading to the show, I decided to save a few bucks by taking a city bus to Downtown Nashville. While some Memphians might see this as a bad idea that's based on the Bluff City's unreliable transit system, Nashville's WeGo Public Transit is first class because its buses are consistently on time and comfortable. At the Green Hills bus stop where I caught the bus, is a mini terminal for passengers who might need shelter while waiting for transit. Given the kind of affluent neighborhood that Green Hills is, I'm astonished at the level of support that Nashville has for public transit (can't imagine Cordova, a similar neighborhood in Memphis, not going NIMBY over the idea of a bus terminal in its 'hood).

Website: WeGoTransit.com

And Now The Show

Once I arrived at Broadway, I immediately got dinner before going into Bridgestone Arena. Because I spent a lot of money the day earlier, opted for a burger and fries. With that in mind, I went back to the food court to eat at Shake Shack. A chain restaurant with locations all over America except for cities like Memphis, I was curious about the restaurant's reputation for burgers. I went for the Double SmokeShack Burger with fries and a drink. A cheeseburger loaded with applewood smoked bacon and chopped cherry peppers atop two beef patties, the burger was extremely flavorful. The cherry peppers really stood out, giving the burger a nice pimento flavor. Along with the tasty fries, the Double SmokeShack Burger was a treat to eat, even if it was bit pricey (at this point, I've come to realize that Nashville itself is a bit expensive). Whenever I'm Nashville again (or anywhere else where a Shake Shack is at), I'm definitely paying the chain burger joint another visit.

Website: ShakeShack.com

Finally...

With dinner done, I was ready for the show. The layout of Bridgestone Arena is similar to the FedExForum. The interior of the arena seems a bit more rustic in design, probably a nod to the locals. The concessions at the arena are standard fare, with the difference being the vendors involved. One notable among them is Hunt Brothers Pizza, America's favorite gas station/convenience store pizza that I reviewed years ago. Although I didn't get a slice, I'm guessing its more expensive at Bridgestone than at a truck stop or convenience store. Of course, attendees in an arena are a captive audience so no competing food and beverages are allowed, giving way to higher prices (I once paid eleven dollars for a 12 ounce Bud Light at FedExForum during a Chris Stapleton concert, taking the taste of "Tennessee Whiskey" out of my mouth). Before going to my seat, a posed for a picture of me standing in front of a poster for the concert that was cool. After that, I went to my seat for what turned out to be a great concert.

TIP: For many concerts at venues like Bridgestone Arena, all seats are usually available, including the top level (aka "nose bleed" seats). Unless the artist is super popular like Taylor Swift, there's a chance that the place won't sell out. So, instead of giving the appearance of a sparsely full arena, upper level ticket holders are reassigned to lower level seats. Once that happens, the upper level is closed off and covered, giving the impression that the show is well attended. Knowing this might happen at Alanis' concert, I got a lower level (aka "plaza") seat to avoid the chaos of being reassigned. Good planning on my part, for the upper level at Bridgestone was eventually closed off despite being open initially. As I will explain later, it turned out to be a good thing in more ways than one (having experience as a box office worker at Memphis' FedExForum came in handy). Anyway, if you want to avoid chaos and confusion at a concert, try to splurge for good seats (as in not "nose bleed") if you can afford it.

The concert turned out great. From the opening act by a singer who I never heard of to the legendary rocker Joan Jett to Alanis, all of the artists put on superb performances. In particular, Joan Jett fired up the crowd with hits like "Cherry Bomb" and "Bad Reputation" that sounded as good that day as it did decades ago. My personal favorite is "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" that never gets old whenever I hear it. In all, Joan Jett's performance was great and set the tone for the following act.

At about 9:30 P.M., the main act finally made her appearance, Although I was far from the stage (for the time being), I managed to get a decent view of Alanis and her band. Like most concerts arenas, Bridgestone had monitors mounted on both sides of the stage that showed closeups of Alanis that the audience appreciated. As expected, she played her famous hits like "Ironic" and "You Learn" that put the crowd into a frenzy. Along with the singing, Alanis really got into the performance with her dancing/gyrating on the stage which charged up her fans even more. As far as I was concerned, I was really enjoying myself and assumed that the concert was as good as it was going to get. Or so I thought, for halfway into the show, Alanis left the stage and headed out into the audience. Initially, I assumed that she was going to perform among the crowd, but she did something better. On the opposite end of the arena floor, there was another stage set up near me. This wasn't something that I expected, although I was very happy to see Alanis up close. While on the smaller stage, Alanis sang many of her "mellow" tunes like "Mary Jane" and "Rest." Personally, one of my favorites is "Perfect" that was the last song that Alanis performed on the small stage (the following is a small taste of it; double-click to play video).

Eventually, Alanis went back to the main stage to finish her magnificent performance, earning a roaring applause from everyone in Bridgestone Arena. Without a doubt, the concert was one of the better ones that I've seen in my lifetime, right up there with performances from artists like Prince and Miles Davis. As far as my "bucket list" goes, I have one more artist to see but she probably isn't coming to Nashville anytime soon (or any "flyover" city). Whenever I can save enough money and get my timing right, I will have to take my "Army of Me" to see Bjork, probably in a "major" city like New York or Los Angeles. In the meantime, I'm planning to see Shawn Colvin soon when she returns to Nashville to play at The Ryman. Although Shawn isn't on my "bucket list," I'm sure she will put on a memorable performance as well.

After the Alanis concert, I immediately returned to my hotel to get a good night's sleep before returning to Memphis. With this being my third trip to Nashville (with a fourth coming soon), I'm starting to believe that the city is more worthy of the title "Music City" than Memphis. With my musical tastes being somewhat eclectic (as in far from the norm of a typical Memphian), it seems like I'm chasing down my favorite musicians outside the confines of the Bluff City. Most would assume that I, an African-American, would be more into Hip-Hop and R & B, but my musical tastes has evolved over the years into something that appeals to more of my mellow sensibilities. That said, it might make more sense to move to Nashville where the music culture is more to my liking, but until I get a very good job offer that pays far more than what I'm making now, I will have to make due with living in Memphis. Nothing against my hometown, but I really like the music scene in Nashville. So until I can make a move, it looks like I'll be racking up a lot of travel points.

Website: Alanis.com