We were geared up tonight for our tenth time seeing our favorit
e band, Train, at The Ryman in downtown Nashville (this would be the third time seeing them at this beautiful venue). We were even more excited about this particular performance because after the show we were going to get to meet the band! We had opted for VIP Meet-N-Greet tickets which not only gave us great seating right up front, but a chance to say hello after the show and get some autographs.
e band, Train, at The Ryman in downtown Nashville (this would be the third time seeing them at this beautiful venue). We were even more excited about this particular performance because after the show we were going to get to meet the band! We had opted for VIP Meet-N-Greet tickets which not only gave us great seating right up front, but a chance to say hello after the show and get some autographs.
We began the evening with dinner at Watermark Restaurant and thanks to the mild early spring weather, we enjoyed outdoor seating for the first time this year with a beautiful view of downtown Nashville. Dinner was excellent and we opted for a seafood-themed evening with BBQ shrimp as an appetizer
and Cajun-style mahi-mahi and a pesto-inhanced halibut dish for our entrees. We usually sample each other's dishes but tonight we did a complete swap a few bites in as we realized we liked each other's dish more (photos right and above). We also found a nice $25 bottle of sparkling wine on the menu from Spain and finished up splitting a trio of seasonal ice cream scoops with the pistachio being our favorite.
We arrived at the beautiful Ryman (photo below) and found our seats just a few feet from the stage just in time to see the opening act, Butch Walker and the Black Widows, take the stage. These guys were awesome and Walker's front-man energy and voice were very impressive. Walker (photo below) is known more for his music produci
ng than his music itself, but it's clearly evident his passion for performance is something that needs to be shared. The band's original songs are catchy and well put-together and hopefully their success and notoriety will grow. And the band's theme of "Little Guitar = Party" shows their wide-ranging musical talent. I mean who else gets that excited when they pull out a mandolin for their next number? They closed their set with a rocking cover of Hall & Oates' "Rich Girl" and Train lead singer, Pat Monahan, even took to the stage with them, complete with a cheesy fake John Oates mustache.
and Cajun-style mahi-mahi and a pesto-inhanced halibut dish for our entrees. We usually sample each other's dishes but tonight we did a complete swap a few bites in as we realized we liked each other's dish more (photos right and above). We also found a nice $25 bottle of sparkling wine on the menu from Spain and finished up splitting a trio of seasonal ice cream scoops with the pistachio being our favorite.
We arrived at the beautiful Ryman (photo below) and found our seats just a few feet from the stage just in time to see the opening act, Butch Walker and the Black Widows, take the stage. These guys were awesome and Walker's front-man energy and voice were very impressive. Walker (photo below) is known more for his music producing than his music itself, but it's clearly evident his passion for performance is something that needs to be shared. The band's original songs are catchy and well put-together and hopefully their success and notoriety will grow. And the band's theme of "Little Guitar = Party" shows their wide-ranging musical talent. I mean who else gets that excited when they pull out a mandolin for their next number? They closed their set with a rocking cover of Hall & Oates' "Rich Girl" and Train lead singer, Pat Monahan, even took to the stage with them, complete with a cheesy fake John Oates mustache.The Train train pulled onto the historic Ryman stage next and the sold-out theater went nuts. It is great to see these guys get the applause and respect from Music City that they deserve for cranking out great music for well over a decade. In these days of TV-show-produc
ed "idols" and flash-in-the-pan gimmick acts, it's great to see a real American rock-n-roll band stick it out this long with their original members and continue to put out real quality work. The hour-and-a-half set seemed to fly by and before we knew it, the show was over. Or was it? We slipped on our VIP laminates and awaited instructions on how we were going to be able to meet our favorite band of all time.
ed "idols" and flash-in-the-pan gimmick acts, it's great to see a real American rock-n-roll band stick it out this long with their original members and continue to put out real quality work. The hour-and-a-half set seemed to fly by and before we knew it, the show was over. Or was it? We slipped on our VIP laminates and awaited instructions on how we were going to be able to meet our favorite band of all time.
This wasn't our first "brush with greatness" since we have had to the priviledge of meeting the members of another of our favorite bands, Sister Hazel, as well as one of our favorite actors, William H. Macy (s
ee previous blogs), but this was the first time we were offered the opportunity at The Ryman. We were given a tour poster for the guys to sign, but we had already bought a beautiful original Hatch Print for the show that we intend to have framed. We have started a collection of these show posters by getting them framed and hung in our house as we can afford them (man, quality framing is expensive!). While it wasn't as casual an experience as the "mingle and meet" situations with Sister Hazel and Mr. Macy, it was organized and fairly personable. We stood in line and waited as each person or couple or small group met Scott (the drummer) Underwood (photo below far left), Jimmy (lead guitar) Stafford (photo below far right) and Pat (lead singer) Monahan (photo below center). All three guys were all smiles and very warm with hand shakes and arms around each other for our picture together. They gladly signed the Hatch Print (photo above) with no qualms and even personalized it with a "We love Ashlee!" They were impressed that we had seen them ten times and thanked us for the continued support. Kind of hard not to love these guys even more now than we have before. It's time to start looking for another chance to see them...in Chicago in August maybe??? We shall see!
ee previous blogs), but this was the first time we were offered the opportunity at The Ryman. We were given a tour poster for the guys to sign, but we had already bought a beautiful original Hatch Print for the show that we intend to have framed. We have started a collection of these show posters by getting them framed and hung in our house as we can afford them (man, quality framing is expensive!). While it wasn't as casual an experience as the "mingle and meet" situations with Sister Hazel and Mr. Macy, it was organized and fairly personable. We stood in line and waited as each person or couple or small group met Scott (the drummer) Underwood (photo below far left), Jimmy (lead guitar) Stafford (photo below far right) and Pat (lead singer) Monahan (photo below center). All three guys were all smiles and very warm with hand shakes and arms around each other for our picture together. They gladly signed the Hatch Print (photo above) with no qualms and even personalized it with a "We love Ashlee!" They were impressed that we had seen them ten times and thanked us for the continued support. Kind of hard not to love these guys even more now than we have before. It's time to start looking for another chance to see them...in Chicago in August maybe??? We shall see!
1 comment:
eh-hmmm, I get excited when anyone pulls out a mandolin... but that's just me. LOL
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