Musician's Widow

Yesterday morning, I woke up to rain falling on my roof. I stretched and rolled over… snuggling down into my pillows for a few more hours of sleep. What a difference from a year ago.

Nashville Flood 2010

A year ago, my beloved Nashville flooded. Rain fell and seemed it would never stop. Tornado warnings added to the stress of the days of rain.

From my blog post about the flood: We had pillows and blankets in our guest bathroom tub, ready to take cover any second. To say I was beside myself scared would be an understatement. As we watched on TV, the interstate that we take into town every day turned into a lake. A portable classroom literally floated down the interstate, and LaVergne was declared a disaster area. We couldn’t have gotten out if we had to… all exits out of town were flooded. …

Sunday became almost a vigil, watching the waters rise.  Belle Meade has neighborhoods where the houses are up to their roofs with water. People taking boats and jet skis to help others. 185 cars got stranded on I-40 over night last night when the road flooded both directions. Opry Mills Mall was flooded. The Grand Ole Opry house got flooded — water up over the stage. …  Opryland Hotel has over 10 ft of water inside, and the 1500 guests there had to evacuate to a high school. Downtown flooded up to 2nd avenue. … Our Symphony Center lost a $2.5 M Organ and two Steinway pianos in flooding. And right now downtown is dark, as a transformer has blown…

Nashville Flood 2010

It is almost eery that our neighbors to the South are dealing with the aftermath of last weeks devastating tornadoes, almost a year to the day of our catastrophe. But just like us, they will come together and rebuild.

There are still plenty of signs the flood occurred. A big one being Opry Mills Mall has yet to reopen. Some people just chose not to rebuild, and there are homes that sit abandoned. But on a whole? We’ve come back… in most cases, better than before. (The backstage of the Opryhouse is AMAZING!)

We still cringe at a lot of rain. But we’ve been there together before… and we pulled through. We’re all stronger for it.

When I look back to the years before the flood, it’s sad to realize that when I would see news reports about flooding in other areas of the country, my thought process would be, “Oh no!” and then move on with my day. I never saw the bigger picture until I lived it myself. (Well, mostly. My husband and I were thankfully spared loss of property, etc. But we were here first hand to witness the devastation.) I guess on some level, I never realized how destructive a flood can be to a person, to a community.

Nashville Flood 2010

Today, when something happens, I am far more compassionate… much quicker to want to know how I can help, if at all. I see the faces behind the news coverage. I see the businesses lost. I want to hear the personal stories. I want to reach out. I find myself wondering about the rebuilding afterwards.

The flood was definitely a rough time for Nashville. But I think it left us all wiser, stronger and more compassionate. I hope that as we mark this one year point, we will continue on this positive path with one another. I hope none of us ever forget this bond, because it is truly something special.

Last night, the Grand Ole Opry returned home to the Opry house after the May floods.I watched the show on GAC along with thousands of other Country Music fans. My heart literally swelled with joy to see that stage and the circle and all those Opry greats on stage together for one huge homecoming night.

I can not wait to get to go and see all the changes and work that was done to bring it back home myself.

[Start rant.]

First off — I have to say this. I felt a deep anger when on my twitter feed I saw a hand full of people complain that its just a big tourist trap. Non-country fans even said during the flood that they were glad to see the Opry “go.”

Statements like that are ones that fall under, “If you don’t understand it… just shut up.” (TM – Me) Its up there with people who give me crap about being an Aggie. Some things are deeply personal. The Opry is deeply personal and revered by country music fans, artists and musicians. You don’t have to like it or understand it, but you need to respect that it means a LOT to people. A. LOT. And statements like those, are hurtful, spiteful, uncalled for and simply show an ignorance. So again. Just… shut up.

[End rant. ]

It’s been amazing to see the Opry  not miss a single performance post-flood. Thanks to the many venues around town that hosted the show the last five months, music fans could still see this wonderful show that brings the past, present and future of country music together in one place.

I remember the first time I got to go backstage at the Opry. I was in awe. I’d toured it with a tour group previously, but there is a different electricity in the air during the show.

I found a strange irony when I realized I was wearing the high heels I’d bought to wear to my senior prom, and they clicked on the asphalt parking long, down the sidewalk and then into the building. Ever since then, any time I’ve had the opportunity it go to the Opry (be it at the Opry House or the Ryman), I still go with a hushed respect for the history the Opry carries.

I’ve had the honor of meeting so many country greats that I know my parents and even my grandparents followed back in the day. I sometimes have to remind myself not to go all “fan girl” on them!

You can almost feel the ghosts of Hank Williams, Patsy Cline and Porter Wagner walking those halls along side you. You can see the excitement and nervousness of those getting ready to take the stage.You can see the awe in the eyes of the new artists taking the stage for the very first time.

Ironically, a week or two before the flood, my husband played the Opry. We stood outside the bus and watched the sky churn grey to black to green with spring storms. We prayed there were no tornadoes in the area, all the while clueless to the fact that in a few short days, the area where we stood would be deep under water.

The footage of the Opry underwater made so many people just sick to their stomachs. Tears were shed over it. The people who say things like  I  mentioned in my rant above could never understand what that stage means to so many. There’s a respect and love that comes from the Grand Ole Opry. There are no words created to accurately describe the feelings people have for it.

It was those same feelings that brought such joy last night as those curtains parted and the show began. The circle of wood from the Ryman floor back in its place. Country greats standing on that stage singing, “Will the Circle Be Unbroken.” Because amazingly enough… the circle was never broken. The show went on to eventually come back home.

Welcome home, Opry. Welcome home.

Whenever I look around sites like Facebook or MySpace, I am often struck by the irony that a vast majority of the time, the very first item listed under interests is “Music.” These aren’t just musicians that write this. Its seen just as prevalent on the profiles of music fans. Fans of all types of music.

I think everyone has a soundtrack to their life. Songs that touched a person, or it meant something to them at a key time in their life. I know I do! Songs that will throw me back to a certain place or time. Songs that dragged me through a tough time, or that helped me celebrate a joy.

Then there are those songs that just make you appreciate them for the work of art that they are. Be it killer lyrics, or a solo that makes you take notice — even if you couldn’t find your way through a song with a map and metronome!

A musician's gear is their paintbrush they use to create pieces of art

Music is art. And a musician’s gear is like a painter’s paintbrush, as the guitar or drum or piano paints notes across space to evoke emotions or convey a message. Some pieces of gear have painted masterpieces in pop culture.

When I read the blog today, “Musician’s Hall of Fame future uncertain, instruments damaged in flood,” it was the music lover in me whose heart ached.

Watching friends pull their own personal gear from Soundcheck made the friend and “Musician’s Widow” in me feel sick. It’s not hard to put myself in their shoes, imagining how it would cripple my husband (and me) if his gear had been among the thousands of pieces lost. So when I see photos from friends, or I hear their stories, I will feel physically ill.

But to hear of such wonderful pieces of gear that hold a major place in music history, such as the bass Lightning Chance used for Hank Williams’ final recording sessions, the music fan in me buckles.

Any time I go to the Grand Ole Opry, or I walk through the alley behind the Ryman, I find myself stilled in my soul, to realize what great talents have walked those same steps in the past. And when I watch the video in that blog, I think about the talented hands that cradled those guitars. The way those guitars were possibly hand picked precisely for their tone or feel. They hold a place in music history. And after this flood, they are ruined. (Not to mention the guitars that never had a chance to find their way into the hall of fame, but would undoubtedly been in there in time!)

Sidebar: Don’t EVEN get me started on the Musician’s Hall of Fame being closed to be moved. I didn’t like how it was handled from the beginning, and now I really don’t like it.

We hold tight to our recordings of the songs these priceless pieces of music history made happen, and we are thankful to always have that. The musicians who lost all their gear last weekend will get new gear. Key pieces of their collections could never be replaced, but the music WILL continue to play. History will continue to be made. History will never be forgotten. But for now, we mourn the loss of tangible pieces of history…

A history that so many say they have an interest in… music.

Everyone is volunteering to help flood victims. Distributing water. Donating clothing. Donating money. Helping people rip out things from their flooded homes. Opening homes to strangers in need of a place to stay…

I wanted to find a place to help out, preferably somewhere that would allow me to use my talents.

A friend posted on her Facebook page that she was starting work to plan a benefit concert to raise money to help flood victims. I’d worked with the friend before on fundraisers, and I definitely wanted to help her again.

So last Wednesday, eight of us gathered in a house in Nashville to plan out this benefit concert that my friend had already set far into motion. Dividing up the work, bouncing ideas off one another. Some good ideas. Some not so good ideas. But by the end of the night, we had a solid game plan formed.

Joe Diffie, Lee Roy Parnell, Billy Dean, Lee Brice, Jeremy McComb and Jerrod Niemann are among artists scheduled to perform.

On May 17th, music fans are encouraged to join us at Limelight in downtown Nashville for a night of great music, good times, and a chance to raise money for several great organizations who are working hard to help flood victims.

Our lineup includes performances by:  Rick Huckaby, Glen Templeton, Melanie Martel, Jared Ashley, Chad Warrix, Jeremy McComb, Lee Brice, Jerrod Niemann, Billy Dean, Lee Roy Parnell, Joe Diffie

Doors will open at 5:00 pm, and the music starts at 5:30. A $10 donation will be taken at the door to benefit the Nashville Red Cross. Silent Auction (which includes donated items from the Nashville Predators, Tennessee Titans, Marriott, area salons, Atlanta Braves, area restaurants, George Strait autographed guitar, and much more) and sale of t-shirts and koozies to benefit Salvation Army, Nashville Humane Association, and Happy Tails Humane.

In addition to the donations and the sale of shirts, etc. we will be taking item donations for all the organizations. The needs of each are as follows:

Nashville Humane Association is asking for:

• Dry Dog Food and Cat Food
• Small Size, Joy or Dawn Dish Liquid
• Kitten Food
• Puppy Food
• Cat Litter and Litter Pans
• Animal Toys
• Food Bowls
• Leashes, Collars
• Carriers/Kennels

Salvation Army is asking guests to bring:

• Cases of Bottled Water
• NEW socks, underwear, and t-shirts
• Hygiene kits
• Supplies for clean-up kits which include: mop, broom, work gloves, mask, sponge, rubber gloves, bleach, all-purpose cleaner, trash bags, and paper towels

Happy Tails is asking guests to bring:

• small blankets for crates
• Pillow Cases
• Towels

As many know, the music community was hit hard by this flood, just as many families. Millions of dollars in gear were lost when Soundcheck, where many musicians store their gear, was among the businesses underwater. The photos and stories coming out of there are heartbreaking, and they personally make my stomach turn. Unfortunately, many of the musicians did not carry insurance on their gear, and are left with  no where to turn.

At this benefit, 5% of all bar sales will benefit musicians affected by the flooding of Soundcheck storage facility.

We encourage everyone to come out and show their support.

To anyone outside of Nashville wishing to support the cause, you may have heard you can text “REDCROSS” to 90999 to donate $10 to the Red Cross. However, perhaps you are like me… I can’t do $10 more on my cell phone bill. It’s a budget thing for me. I know what my bill is going to be, and when it wavers… it throws me off big time. But, I can donate otherwise! (Or perhaps $10 just isn’t in your budget, but you can do $5. Or $10 isn’t as much as you want to donate, and texting 10 times to donate $100 is just a pain.)

We have set up a Post Office box to accept donations for our charties. Pick one of our charities you’d like to support (Nashville Red Cross, Salvation Army, Nashville Humane Association, or Happy Tails Humane) and mail a check in THE CHARITY’S NAME to:

BANDing TOGETHER
P.O. Box 23474
Nashville, TN 37202-3474

I assure you, none of the donated money will go anywhere other than the charity you make your check out to… these will be delivered directly to charity. For any new information as it becomes available, visit our Facebook event page, and please spread the word! It’ll be one AMAZING night.

Simply due to the high volume of hits this blog has had in the last four days of searches for “Printer’s Alley Flooding,” I wanted to make a brief note here…

Printer’s Alley was not affected by the flooding this last weekend! Nor did it lose power when much of downtown was left in the dark. In fact, Bourbon Street Blues & Boogie Bar has a soft reopening this week!

ALL the clubs in the Alley — Bourbon Street, Fiddle & Steel Guitar Bar, Kelli’s, Lonnie’s and, yes, even the Brass Stables are all open and just fine. Even Jesse Zane’s around the corner is good to go.

In fact, all of the clubs and bars in downtown are open and ready for a rockin’ weekend to celebrate making it through a rough week. Nashville is OPEN for business!!

“A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.”
– Winston Churchill

In every tragedy, a “bright side” can be found if you look hard enough. Luckily, in the Nashville flood, you don’t have look hard at all. It’s all right there.

This community has pulled together in a way I could have never imagined happening. People from one suburb are traveling all the way across town to help strangers in another suburb. Race, religion, age and social status mattering none. Offers to help have come in faster than requests for help can be made.

Some of my favorite stories include the ones where neighbors are helping each other — neighbors who before this tragedy had never met one another, and yet had lived next door to one another for five or more years. One news report, a man actually said that it was almost worth having this happen to find out what kind of community he lived in… one that overwhelmed him to tears with their offers to help him rebuild his home that has been destroyed.

When electricity was out, I heard a report of a man saying he had sat down and played games with his two small children — the first time he’d done that since they were born. The lack of electricity forced him to reconnect with his own family.

I always believe that everything happens for a reason, and perhaps its stories like these that are why this flood happened. Perhaps we all needed a wake-up call as to what is most important in life — the people around us. This newly invigorated sense of community is exactly what is going to pull this city back together. Both emotionally and physically.

Now I understand: This is why this state is called the Volunteer State.