The Grand Ole Opry is a must, if for no other reason than to say you were there. The longest continuously running radio show in the country, with performances on weekend nights and matinees Tuesday through Thursday, it is country's version of vaudeville, with a mix of comedy and music stars, though the fare is pretty standard. But the place itself is somewhat cold, reflecting the current stale state of country music. Country boomed in the '80s, and the music industry in Nashville began churning out safe acts to keep the records selling. As a result, country music has moved toward indistinguishable ballads and novelty songs, promoted by videos of handsome guys in cowboy hats and women swirling in long dresses.
Most acts copy the formula, hoping to be the next in line.
I thought about this current state of country music as I walked down Broadway to the seedy clubs near the new Nashville Arena. The crowd was noticeably different from the Wildhorse's. Guys were wearing peg pants, their hair in pompadours. Women in leather miniskirts were smoking cigars. From these bars came the sounds of bands playing tunes by Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, and Merle Haggard, along with fast-paced rockabilly.