John Prine

I'll put a picture up here soon to go with this blog, I promise, but right now I don't have time for it. Sadly, I also don't have an actual picture from the show (I was worried they would stop me at the door and not let me bring my camera inside the venue). I did, however, want to blog a wee bit about my experience at my most recent music show. This show being a John Prine concert in Chattanooga, Tennessee.


There are a few things that made this particular show a great deal more special than other shows I've been too. See, I come from a musical family. There are lots of folks from the Nunn clan that either play musical instruments, sing, or at least have music around them quite often. Some of my earliest memories are of music with my family, whether it was singing along to the radio, attending bluegrass festivals, or on the rare occassion, making our own music videos to popular songs at the time.

I'll never forget once when I was quite small, my Mom, Dad, Aunt Ida, and a couple of cousins, acting out the song "It's My Birthday" for me in our living room. You know the song, right? "Its my birthday and I'll cry if I want too..." Anyway, I had a record (that's right, an actual vinyl record) of The Chipmunks (yeah I know, I know) singing that song (actually it was probably the Chipettes, but I'm pretty sure the album was supposed to be primarily The Chipmunks...and I'm also pretty sure I still have it lying around in my closet somewhere). Anyway, they all got together and actually performed the song in the living room. Acted out the parts and everything. It was one of my best memories from childhood. :-)

My Dad used to play music to me on the guitar at night when I was small. He's not the best musician in the world, but he knows his stuff all the same. So my lullaby at night was often times "Wildwood Flower", sometimes he sang the words and sometimes he just played the melody, but to this day when I hear the song, I think of him and of that memory.

Which brings me to the John Prine concert. My Dad and I used to listen to WMMT on the radio while we milked cows. WMMT (if you aren't already aware of this wonderful radio station) comes out of Whitesburg, Kentucky and from my beloved Appalshop studios. WMMT is my absolute, all-time favorite radio station. You really can't get any better than that. Anyway, WMMT plays a lot of John Prine songs and so several years ago I bought one of his albums and fell in love with the songs. The lyrics...the melodies...all of it.

Circumstances being what they were though, I didn't really have the time or money to go to one of his shows. So I never bothered looking. Earlier this year however, I happened to hear one of his songs on the radio and it reminded me that I would like to see him live. So I looked it up and the closest show I could get (and one that wasn't on a work night) was at the Tivoli Theater in Chattanooga, TN. So without a second thought I ordered two tickets and then called my Dad to tell him not to make any plans for that night.

Last night was the show.

We drove the four hours South to Chattanooga. I fell in love with the city in just one night. It wasn't too big and it wasn't too small. I loved the way the streets were laid out. Which I guess is an odd thing to love about a city, but if you take into consideration that I was the one driving, then you will understand. The Tivoli was beautiful inside and out. My only real complaint was that the seats were really uncomfortable.

The place was packed and what was really funny about the entire thing, was that just by looking at people you could tell they were there for the concert. I don't know how to describe it other than to say that. They just looked like John Prine fans. Well, except for me I guess. I kinda looked like a priss, but it was completely unintentional. Most of the folks there were probably in their fifties or sixties. Some of them were what I would classify as "old hippies." The dude that sat next to us was wearing tye dye and smelt a LOT like he'd been visiting with his old friend Mary Jane right before coming to the show (if you know what I mean). But all in all, everyone was pretty laid back and seemed to be really excited about being there.

Leon Redbone opened up for Prine. He was amazing as well. Live jazz and blues are great and when you couple them with an old fashioned theater it made me feel like I had stepped back in time. It was awesome.

There were jokes and stories told and sing-a-longs with the audience. Prine performed all his hits and even closed out with "Paradise" which was nice. Of course I couldn't leave without a concert t-shirt...and a new CD. :-)

In may Old Crow Medicine Show is gonna be there and I would love to go back for that, but I have to work. Oh well...another time. :-) Next up...Tom Petty and the Heart Breakers in July!!! Gonna be sweet!

Anyway, I have to say, even though it was 8 hours on the road (four down and four back), I'm really glad I bought those tickets. Not just because I got to see John Prine in concert, but because it was a nice night out with my Dad. It was something that he would have never done on his own and I think it was a good experience for him and a good memory for me. :-)

Busy Little Bee

I've been super busy lately and haven't had a lot of time to post anything new about my life. Not that there has been much to post actually. I lead a fairly boring existence. However, this past weekend was fun filled and more exciting that usual. So I thought I'd blog about it a little.

First...I got a car! Finally!!! I've been without a vehicle since last September. Yes, that's right, Little Miss Road Trip has been car-less for roughly six months. Unbelievable! I'm not sure what has taken me so long to get a car, I guess its just been because I've had so much on my plate recently. All I do is work and go home and when I am home, I have about a zillion things I need to do. So I never really had time to do more than just browse the internet for vehicles. What I did know was that I wanted something a tad bit more roomy than my precious Cherry Darling.

Cherry was my first ever brand new car. She had five miles on her when I bought her. It was grand! A cherry red 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt. I've always been a Chevy girl and I was in love with her the minute I saw her. Plus red is my favorite color, so that helps. ;-) Anywho...Cherry and I had a good run. We went a lot of places together in the two short years I owned her. We even traveled half-way across the country together that first Summer, but alas, all good things must come to an end and Cherry was no more as of September 10th, 2009 when a little green Camaro hit me head on, totaling my little red Cobalt.

After months of fighting with both my insurance company and the other guy's company, I finally received an insurance settlement (which I did not expect). A week later, I was on my way to a dealership in Nicholasville to get a 2009 Dodge Caliber. It was perfect. It was the very basic edition (which means no power anything - and I like that!) and a standard to boot! Plus it was RED!!! I was excited! However, when I got there I found out they had sold it the night before. Bummer. :-( I let the salesman talk me into test driving a Toyota Matrix, which I really liked, but it was when they put me behind the wheel of a 2009 Chevrolet HHR that I realized I had found MY car. I've named her Maisy (well technically its Juniper Maisy, I just call her Maisy for short). She's not exactly what I wanted (she isn't red, she has power everything, and she's automatic - darn), but she suits me perfectly. Furthermore, she is plenty roomy enough to haul around the wee ones in my life (Bella-Bonita and Turnip Head, and any others that may come along).

Saturday found me hitting the roads (who can blame me, I've been without a car for six months). My good friend Amy and I went to Richmond and ate at Olive Garden where we both had super yummy chicken and then we both got a tattoo. Her's was a moon and star on her bum...or at least just above her bum. It was cute, but not really my style. I don't typically go for a lot of color or anything TOO girly (the one exception being the daisy on my wrist in honor of my Mother who has a matching tattoo on her chest). I opted for two feathers behind my left ear. They are in honor of  my Cherokee heritage (something I get from my Mother's side of the family). Now I just have to figure out what to get for my Irish side (which makes up the rest of the majority of my blood line).

After dropping Amy off at her home, I headed to Richmond yet again (like most of my peeps, Amy lives back in Jackson County). I was supposed to be picking up another old friend that I've not seen in years (whatup Mel!) but sadly she wasn't able to meet up with me. We'll make plans for another time I'm sure, but in the meantime, I headed back to Rich City by myself. This time to the Paddy Wagon (Richmond's version of an Irish pub) to have a little St. Patrick's Day celebration with some cousins and friends. My lil' cousin Kayla's boyfriend was playing a show out back and it was a lovely day for it. I missed watching Jacob perform, but I had a blast anyway. A coupla hours later, my friend Hattie (and her boyfriend) showed up and we all hung out a bit while the UK game blared out from the screens inside. More live music followed, as did some yummy food, and well...I'm not gonna tell too much else on myself. I have enough people out there in the big wide world
 that know enough dirt on me, I'm sure not gonna go and help them along with even more. ;-) Nothing too bad though. Promise.

All in all it was a great weekend! One of the best I've had in a LONG time. :-D





(The last two photos were stolen from the other gal in the pictures. You know, my super cute baby cousin Kayla.) :-)