This authors adventures to record stores and a live performance by Maggie Rose
I decided to do a little record shopping on Saturday, as one does when they want to relax. At least, that’s what I tend to do. I wanted to get a lay of the land as Record Store Day approaches. It’s a good idea to check out your local shops and see how the store is laid out, and to also inquire as to what they might be carrying on that day. I went to Phonoluxe Records, The Groove, Vinyl Tap and Grimey’s on this particular outing.
Each store has its own vibe to be certain and I love them all like my children. You can’t pick a favorite; they all have something to offer. Although, I know my parents would certainly pick me as their dearest. I dug through the vast amounts of crates, boxes and shelves at each location and found some real goodies. At Phonoluxe I picked up a copy of the 50th anniversary album by The Band, Music From the Big Pink. I feel like The Band gets overlooked in many conversations about the greatest bands of all time. They are absolutely on that list. Robbie Robertson is a genius in every sense of the word. I would one hundred percent put this record in my top listing of best albums, yet I didn’t actually own it until now. I also snatched up PJ Harvey’s, UH HUH HER- DEMOS and Outkast’s Stankonia for nostalgic purposes. Music always measures time for me. I love that feeling of listening to an album and drawing a memory of why I hold it so sacred.
At The Groove, I picked up a copy of Mama Zu’s debut album, Quilt Floor. Jessi Zazu, who was an original member of the beloved Middle Tennessee musical act, Those Darlins, died of cervical cancer in 2017. This was before sessions with multi-instrumentalist and producer Linwood Regensburg, Zazu’s fellow former Darlin and the other half of Mama Zu, would be completed. “It doesn’t get any better than being able to collaborate with another artist you really believe in, and who motivates you to be your best,” Regensburg told Nashville Scene. “And even though that time was fleeting, it’s still something to be grateful for.” The album simply makes me smile. She is no longer here with us physically, but the music is eternal.
Now, I was craving a beer, but wasn’t done probing the shops for the wax that could ease my soul. That meant my next voyage was to Vinyl Tap. Craft beers and vinyl records are my ideal kind of day and this place has them both. The staff was absolutely lovely, and I grabbed a few pints and an autographed pressing from Be Your Own Pet, Mommy. I have recently discovered these Nashvillian superstars and heard some of their stories from a breakup in 2008, but they are back now and stronger than ever from what I heard on this record. Hand Grenade is my favorite track boasting the lyrics “I’m no survivor/ I’m no survivor/ Another lit match on the pyre (I’m not afraid)/ I’m my own person (I’m not afraid) / I’m not some casualty (I’m not afraid). I also picked up a copy of The Tragically Hip, Saskadelphia, for my friend Andrea, because that’s what friends do. We all need to share and live in the music more.
The last leg of my journey was to Grimey’s. Not only to see what was hiding in the racks, but to see Maggie Rose. She was doing a short set with her band in the store to promoted her new album, No One Gets Out Alive. I had seen Maggie just a few weeks back at The Grand Ole Opry with my sister and my mom. This time my neice-ish, Becca was joining me. She calls me Uncle-ish, as do her siblings. They are the daughters of my stepsister, which also include Blake, Brooke and Brianne (don’t ask me which one is which). So “ish” becomes our moniker, but family is family, the lineage is moot.
Maggie is a powerful vocalist and a talented songwriter. She has quickly become one of my most treasured Nashville musicians. Today she does exactly what I watched her do before and that is, she mesmerizes the audience. Her voice powers through the room as her band backs her brilliantly. She plays the songs I was hoping for, including “Underestimate Me”, “Fake Flowers” and of course, the title track “No One Gets Out Alive”.
If you want to hear more about her singing and style, go back and read my article “Tuesday at the Opry”. What I want to showcase here is her graciousness. I bumped into Maggie out back before the show and she couldn’t have been nicer. She could have been all rockstar-like and blown me off which I totally would have been okay with, but she didn’t. Her manager (I assume) was also very kind and introduced me to her with a smile. She is larger than life on the stage when she is belting out commanding and melodic numbers, but she is a dainty person. Where does this power come from? She is gifted to be certain.
She asked questions about me and asked where I was from. When I told her I was hailing from Seattle, we talked a bit about the city and some of her favorite spots she had played there. The fact that she took the time and looked me in the eyes and genuinely cared about my responses, was special to me and she knows that. She then posed for a selfie with me and even adjusted my angle whilst saying, “We need to see your beautiful face”. My angle was probably off as I had imbibed in a few beers along the way, thanks to The Vinyl Lab who was sponsoring this event and had brought the onlookers of age free margaritas and PBRs.
After the show Maggie Rose did a meet and greet and signed copies of her record that had been purchased by her fans. Her fans are also an assortment of amazing people. It shows the character of this artist, by the folks that she attracts. She was once again lovely as it was my turn to get her signature on my album. We awkwardly engaged in that thing where i went to fist bump and she went for the handshake and she shook my fist. I’m an idiot. And then she posed with a thumbs up and I pointed towards her as my neice-ish said “both do a thumbs up” and then we reached out to shake hands and did this weird interlocking of hands that looks like we are about to arm wrestle. I got a good laugh for sure.
What a stunning Saturday. Becca and I headed over to Living Waters Brewery, right next door, afterwards for one more libation. On the way over we happened upon the drummer and the guitar player who also were so kind to sign the record as well.
Today was filled with vinyl, beers, some family and a whole lot of music that will shape my memories forever. I think I really like it here in Nashville.
