This past week was quite an experience for me. I had just gone on a 2-wk. vacation home in Orlando, FL, which I hadn't done for 4 years (or taken ANY vacation, for that matter). We spent 9 of those days in a cute little house across the street from the beautiful Cocoa Beach. We had a non-tourist, more secluded area, and aside from the thousands of jellyfish in the water (which got National news) we had a relaxing beach time.
My blog cohort, who has agreed to accompany me to many of my show reviews, works for a French magazine specifically and only about country music. That just proves to you that there IS a magazine out there for everything and EVERY kind of music all over the world. Come to find out - the people of France LOVE country music, and even though that doesn't probably match our images of France and its inhabitants, it does prove that we cannot ever classify any humans in any stereotype in this day and age.
My friend, the journalist, had asked me to tag along with her on CMA/CMT Week here in Nashville, which began on June 7. She thought it would be good to "open up" my heart and knowledge of country music, plus she wanted a photographer as she interviewed. Of course, with pad and pen always available, I also interviewed these people she was set up with.
This post will mostly explain the event. My following post will be my first two interviews, up-and-coming DJ Miller and the already well-known Richie McDonald.
Anyone who is in the Nashville area during this week of festivities would know how grueling it was --- the temperature started off each day around 80 and then climb upwards in the low 100s F. Therefore, even a Floridian like myself fresh off the beach with salty, moist breezes all day had trouble coping with getting around during the day downtown.
The CMA Week brings people from all over the US and the world. There were many dialects I was unfamiliar with, and was amazed the array of style I saw walking the downtown streets of Music City. It was definitely a one-of-a-kind spectator-watching event for me! I would pass "hippies," Elvis lookalikes, Johnny Cash-style dressers, modern country and of course the tourist shopper, complete with their idols written all over their newly-purchased shirts. The modern country girl dress fascinated me the most; this would consist typically of a cute, flowery top, denim miniskirt, mid-calf-high cowboy boots, cowboy hat, and - most important - a guitar. Yes, many would walk around carrying their guitars up and down the busy city streets without even a case to carry them in the heat. Many were hurrying from venue to venue for their side performances.
This event was events within the events within the events.......make sense? Yes, there were the big-name signings and camera-posing events which then would mean stage performances, from the Bridgestone Arena to the Riverfront stage (outside) to the Acoustic Center (located inside the Convention Center) to LP Field, the Titans' stadium. On top of that, there were smaller stages located all over downtown - Fort Nashville, Hard Rock Entertainment Stage, the Power Zone Stage, the Bud Light Stage, the Chevrolet Stage, even Centennial Park had a stage. Then, every downtown venue in Nashville (i.e, Tootsies, Bluebird Cafe, Wild Horse Saloon, etc.) all had some constant live performances. Finally, every little watering hole in Nashville has something, someone, some band playing live music. This week is a dream-come-true for someone wanting to have 24/7 country music anywhere they went!
What I really will remember the most, as a new country music lover, is that these people who come to the festivities, which also have food galore, kids' activities and games, even electronic game buses are all happy as a whole. There didn't ever seem to be discord anywhere I went. The heat seemed to not deter these tried and true fans.........they stuck it out!
My time at the event was spent 90% in the Convention Center upstairs in the Media Only (Press) section. This section was press pass only, and featured several large rooms for large press announcements and smaller rooms and areas for 2 - 10 people interviews, which is what we were doing. One day when we arrived we came in at the tailend of a press event featuring newly crowned American Idol winner and his runner-up Country singers Scotty McCreary and Lauren Alaina. It was hard afterwards as the television followed them out to the elevators and didn't allow snapshots, but I did manage to catch Lauren from behind in a backhead shot. BTW: this young lady is dropdead gorgeous, with the tiniest little waistline!
Another time I was able to catch Keith Urban posing with media as we arrived, and I caught him in one shot as he looked right over my way. These two pics are included in this article.
This experience, thanks to the heat, was exhausting.......... but exhilarating! I would get home everyday wiped out but incredibly happy. The biggest thing this past week has done to me? Well, guess who's into Country music a little now? Yes, this pop-rocker Karen Kozy is now finding herself on GAC and CMT channels watching videos and looking at more interviews. How's that for a week putting such an impression on me???
Finally, yesterday my new monthly issue of high-fashion magazine W arrived. I love fashion and love how couture is so big even during a struggling economy. There is an article in the magazine on pages 40 & 41, written by Marshall Chapman entitled "Nashville Rising." This article speaks of how Nashville has become the new Los Angeles or New York, take your pick. There is more music, art and fashion in each square foot of the Music City than the other two megatropolis' have nowadays. I believe it! It is worth reading, especially after "doing" the CMA Week!
I will write about my first two interviews next: DJ Miller & Richie McDonald.
In Chord and love of music,
Karen Kozy
XOxoKK
No comments:
Post a Comment