Back from/to Nashville

I did a fair amount of Tweeting while in Nashville at #TinPanSouth, a week-long songwriter festival featuring Nashville’s top songwriting talent, and weekend-long symposium on the songwriting business. Both were put on by the Nashville Songwriter’s Association International.

I was blown away by the talent, the community, the cost of living (a ONE BEDROOM Apartment 1 block away from my place in San Francisco rents for $2300, get can rent you 5 bedrooms, a yard and brand new kitchen in Nashville.

I had a blast and absolutely fell in love with Nashville. I have a bit of fear that my love is or would be unrequited, though. It’s the wellspring of Country Music, which isn’t widely known for appreciating “liberal” political philosophy… The city certainly has a constant influx of people wanting to be songwriters, that’s for sure.

Nevertheless, Nashville has had a deep and abiding allure for some time and my trip there last week cinched the deal. I’m going to move there for a time. I’m excited about living in Music City. It’s like a dream coming true that I never knew I’d had.

And I’m totally coming out of the closet as a Country Music fan. Hearing the original songwriters sing their songs gave Country Music a depth and complexity I guess I’d never really given the genre before. I’ve always been a closet country fan, actually. When I was in the Navy, I got turned onto Dwight Yoakum, who still looms as an all-time favorite.

Anyway, I’m going to Nashville and taking a couple of friends with me. We’re going to find a biggish place for at least 6 months and see where it goes. We’re excited about having musicians over, having a giant dining room table, fireplaces, porchswings and barbeque. Nashville, here we come!