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 Ok! It’s May. I am writing to you from Nashville, TN, a town famous for bachelorette parties, hot chicken sandwiches, and Predator Hockey. Tonight, I am sitting on the front porch of an Airbnb in a fancy neighborhood. My eyes roll back. I can just about see it all on the back of my eyelids…. It’s 1993: Martina McBride, Alan Jackson, and the big league hero Garth Brooks. Music Row is humming with energy from young music executives. Broadway is teaming up with good American tourists searching for a real country music star. Videos from CMT play in the windows of the Rocking Horse Saloon. There is line dancing. Pink cowboy hats purchased in the airport are perched on the heads of vacationers drinking in Tootsies Lounge. On Music Row, the songmakers hope to be heard by someone who can get them a “cut” and a publishing deal so they can quit their job at the TGIFs and finally move to Franklin. It is a slug. Garth Brooks. Music Row is humming with energy from young music executives. Broadway is teaming up with good American tourists searching for a real country music star. Videos from CMT play in the windows of the Rocking Horse Saloon. There is line dancing. Pink cowboy hats purchased in the airport are perched on the heads of vacationers drinking in Tootsies Lounge. On Music Row, the songmakers hope to be heard by someone who can get them a “cut” and a publishing deal so they can quit their job at the TGIFs and finally move to Franklin. It is a slug. In Bobby’s Idle Hour, Old timers guzzle Pabst Blue Ribbons. On the jukebox, a Howard Harlan song plays. At the Bus station a young hopeful waddles off a Greyhound bus, into the sunlight, and heads into his dreams. A record executive in a Chrysler Town Car almost runs him over on his way to eat Sushi. The money is flowing and the hits keep coming. It is a high time. Sweet Mother of Country Music. I need to snap out of it. Back to the matters at hand. Back to the work.
Here’s what’s up: I am in town here to play one of the very best places in the world for a songwriter: The Bluebird Cafe. It’s a night of songs “In the Round” with Jaimee Harris, Ari Hest, and Tommy Womack. Heavy hitters. Bad-ass song makers. Serious business. The show is Tuesday night May 7. It’s sold out but there are always last-minute seats popping up. You can take your chances and line up. It will be worth it. It’s a magical place.
After that: I will head to North Carolina for the SERFA. Conference. It’s glad-handing and song-singing in the mountains..a good weekend of connection and relationship-building. It’s a hoot. On May 18 I make a quick run to Rochester NY, to play Huntington Hills House Concerts with my good friend Amelia White. Amelia White is the Queen of East Nashville. You can attend by sending an email to: ricmon31@aol.com
All of it is leading to the release of my first full-life record in 10 years: "THE BEAUTY OF THIS NOW” produced by Ron Flynt and Walt Wilkins. The date is May 31. if you were part of my Kickstarter experience, you will receive a copy and the days leading up to the official release date. On the 31st, it will be available on all the streaming services and all the normal places. By now, you probably know the story of how I made the record in Austin. It was a beautiful experience. I can’t wait to share it with you.
 June will bring a release party at The United Theatre, Westerly with Abbie Gardner, The CarLeans, Brother Chris Berardo, Capt. Jim Paradis and more. It will be a hell of a day. I will leave for the western places the next day with in Colorado and The Red Lodge Songwriter’s Festival in Montana. (I will also fly to Block Island from Colorado to play with some pals (Doc Westchesterson, Sandy Allen, and Rob Davis) at Capt. Nick’s for a June night of songs. I will fly back the next day because I love it all). You can find information on all shows including how to attend on my website HERE or at marcdouglas.com Hey, I am feeling good about the future times. I hope you are too. I am honored to be friends with you. I am lucky to know you. MDB |
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