No Joy In Mudville

Because the mighty Casey has struck out...Music City is so emotionally invested in their NHL Stanley Cup hockey team.

Depending on when you read this it could all end well ... or maybe not.

Dierks, Cole, Brett among the stars trying to focus on a huge stadium performance as backstage the Preds were getting clobbered Thursday night ... 2-0 ... then 3-0 ... then 6-0 ... It was like a death in the family. You have to be here to understand. Game 6 Sunday night.

Hopefully, this story has a happy ending for this team that has done more to unite this town than maybe anything or anyone ever has ... It is magical!

He was funny and lit up the room when he entered. He made you smile and made you feel better. Norro Wilson. Songwriter, producer, performer. Co-writer of "The Most Beautiful Girl" sung by Charlie Rich ... He signed Keith Whitley and Sammy Kershaw to record deals ... He co-produced Chesney and George Jones for a while. Norro Wilson's name was not one everyone knows and that's a shame! He was such a bright light. Kenny Chesney said he was one of the greatest music men of all time ... I agree ... Miss you, Norro, already!

Garth Brooks was the surprise guest at the CMA Fest Night 1 at the Nissan Stadium. This urban street festival had to share the spotlight with the hockey team. Nearly impossible to do, but it has been upstaged! Media kept asking hockey questions at the CMA fest stadium shows ... Not sure the bosses were happy, but it's what is on the locals' minds....

I'm glad I don't know the names of day-one performers at Riverfront stage CMA Fest ... I was on First Ave stuck waiting for someone. I was in a car with windows rolled up. The music was so loud I had to go a block away to get away from it ... Maybe the speakers were overshooting the audience, hitting the walls and bouncing back ... whatever ... It was some of the worst music I have ever heard ... If this is the future of Country music ... This stage for those bubbling under the Top 40. We are in one Hell of a mess!

It was not Country on any level of description ... It was hip-hop, very heavy bass with an occasional Southern twanged voice...

There is a lot of this kind of music watered down for radio consumption. The hip-hop influence on some of the biggest acts must be huge. Does Country music have any rules or guidelines? No, no and no. But do you know good Country or good Country rock when you hear it? Yes! I hope this was just a bad mix or something. You have to say this: EVERYTHING and EVERYBODY gets a shot somewhere during this festival. It is 100% all styles.

Jon Pardi is an excellent newish player on the scene. He seems to have all the components. The Gray Carpet at the CMTs this year featured more new signees than usual. The last half of the carpet was low wattage, for sure. Normally this is the best Red Carpet of the Year. The new artists were interesting and I hope they play and sing as good as they talk ... I know a few do: The Railers and Devin Dawson ... Runaway June deserve a listen...

It has been a week that started with fundraising Disco at the Wildhorse...If you missed Nashville's Charles Esten singing and Brad Paisley on lead guitar, doing "Play that Funky Music White Boy," you missed five minutes of raw fun. An exhausting week that still has three more days as of this writing. Whoa!