Keith Urban at the Grand Ole Opry 2012

During the many years that I have been teaching, faculty have always been frustrated by the early departure of students before the start of any break or long holiday weekend. For example, on the Friday before spring break about one-third of the students may be in attendance, everyone else having caught their flight or their ride home. Some professors may schedule an exam to combat this, but I've never had the heart to do so. But this year has been so stressful and frustrating - with a surprise increase in my teaching load (I'm now expected to teach almost double what my deal was when hired) and then this week's announcement that the university is closing down 50 majors and minors (without any faculty consultations) because of the budget crisis, I was ready to go-with-the flow - the student flow, that is, and leave these stresses behind a little early. All of my classes were tickled when I gave them the link to the online lectures I prepared to substitute for all my Friday class periods. Thursday night I flew to Nashville to celebrate my spring break!

Since I was arriving about 11:30 pm I picked a near-the-airport hotel with a free shuttle, then shuttled back the next morning to pick up a one-day car rental (Nashville has the cheapest rentals in the country in my experience - $21 last trip and $25 this time, total price!!). It was a lovely spring day in Nashville and I spent the day just wandering the town (with short jaunts to Franklin and Leiper's Fork : ) ). I walked around the Opry grounds a bit, enjoying the blooming trees and flowers that have not yet shown their faces in Iowa. I hoped I might find a spot to catch a view of the band coming in for rehearsal or perhaps catch sight of Keith's Mustang, but no such luck. I had a nice dinner with concert buddies before the show and then we all headed back to the Opry parking lot. They had lucked out with stagefront seats, but it seemed my call from the Opry about the exchange of my ticket from the cancelled performances was slow coming, so I was sitting way back in row Q this evening.

It is rather amazing that we diehard fans travel so far for a mere four songs, but desperate we are for each and every KU fix! Keith looked just great, was all happy smiles, and sounded fantastic. But at the same time that I savored every second, in the back of my mind I was worrying about how quickly the performance was passing by and just how long it is likely to be before another. The plight of the truly addicted!

The band was looking sharp as well, with Danny looking particularly cute (I love his hair this year but can't say that Brian's does much for me). The short set began with Better Half. I was on the aisle and hoards of Keith fan were moving down the aisle for a closer view, making it hard sometimes, to keep Keith in view, hence my Better Half is in 2 parts: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXP5TzjsQ1A and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqlub8iYJoc . Then we got You Gonna Fly http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9c_U9Z0ZkC0 . But the big surprise and JOY for the night was Keith's performance of The Luxury of Knowing!! Here it is with Keith's fun introduction to the song as well http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKyqYyxYIkg We have been waiting for this song since the release of the album and it was so, so special to hear it at this more intimate venue. Just wonderful!! At the end of this song of course he got a huge response from the audience and I just had to shout out at the top of my lungs "Thank you Keith!!!"

Kiss a Girl was last, complete with a Kiss-a-Girl contest! I wonder if the Opry knew that was coming and what they think of it!? It was fun as usual and featured a nervous young lady whose voice shook, a spunky guy and a darling tiny little girl. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6QPWLTBKS8

I was happy I had parked behind the Opry avoiding the post-show traffic crunch of the front lot.
I had an early morning flight back north. After arriving in the Quad Cities, however, I wouldn't immediately be driving home. Saturday night I would be attending the second concert of my "Spring Break Celebration" - seeing Trace Adkins in Peoria!

Welcome Back Keith! Urban's Return to the Ryman

It has been 115 days since Keith Urban's Get Closer Tour ended, but to many of us it has felt much much longer. This was especially true after he had to cancel three scheduled performances at the Grand Ole Opry late in the fall to have throat surgery. We fans really empathized with the wearing wait and worry Keith experienced during his post-op mandatory silence because we were feeling it too. Would that sweet voice survive intact??

I had had tickets to the canceled shows at the Ryman Auditorium and was so pleased to hear that one of the rescheduled performances would take place there the first weekend in February. I have long hoped to hear Keith perform in that intimate and historic venue. When I called to claim my seat at the rescheduled show, they were already full to Row U of the back floor, but at least I would be there. I had heard others say that there really are no bad seats at the Ryman and I was hoping that they were right.

Luckily it was time for exams in all of my classes, so I got everything ready and arranged for others to administer the tests so that I could leave for Nashville at the crack of dawn on Friday, Feb 3. It was icing on the cake that Nashville was 66 degrees when I arrived and pansies were blooming outside the airport! I was able to rent a car for $21 - cheaper than cabs or shuttles would be! I headed straight to the Ryman to pick up my tickets at will call before the evening crowds. A fellow fan who couldn't make the show ended up selling me her much better seat near the front of section 7 - a bit off to the side but my church pew seat was just 4 feet from that famous old stage.

Tickets in hand I decided to try out lunch at a local favorite "meat and three" I had read about online: Arnold's Country Kitchen. The line, as predicted, was long but moved quickly and the very friendly folks in line around me were happy to suggest their favorite dishes but said that everything was good. I ended up with some of the wonderful roast beef carved off the biggest roast I have ever seen - yum! Then I went exploring for a couple hours before checking into the free room at the Hilton hubby had gotten me with some of his Hilton reward points.

Unfortunately that was when my day went bad for a bit. Checking into the hotel I noticed my driver's license was missing!! The driver's license that I needed to fly home and to fly on another upcoming trip next week! My first thought was that the rental car agency had not returned it to me. For 45 minutes I tried calling their airport location but they wouldn't answer the phone. Then I tried the national reservation number and they got me through to the Nashville manager. He went to check with all the employees but no license was found. I was a nervous wreck for another hour when I remembered I had also shown my license to claim my tickets at will call. I called the Ryman and hallelujah!! - they had my license. What a relief!!

I was tickled by the location of my new seat just 2 seats away from stage edge. As my pew and the ones behind us filled in, it was clear many Monkeys had traveled from far and wide to attend this show! We kept peeking under the stage curtains hoping to see those familiar boots. Some ambitious fans had made us small hot pink signs saying "Welcome back - we missed you!!" But as soon as the ushers saw them they sent down security to warn us that signs would not be tolerated during the show.

Although I enjoyed the Opry ambience of the entire show the more 'old-style' country numbers are not my favorites, especially when I am impatiently awaiting the star of the show. I did enjoy seeing Eden's Edge again, later Charley Pride, and then had fun singing along with Rocky Top, Elvira and Amazing Grace. I was a bit worried - I could see the stage clock and the show was running 5 minutes later than the schedule in the program - would Keith's segment be cut short?

We were puzzled as the stagehands set up for Keith's segment during one of the last radio show sponsor commercials. Out came 4 or 5 chairs and extra microphones! What was going on here?? Turns out these were the chairs for the string quartet that Keith surprised us with for a new exciting version of Long Hot Summer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfX6zZtXYvo !! What a great and unique performance that was!! I wish I knew the whole story behind this - were these student musicians that he happened to meet or work with somewhere? (they all looked quite young to me) Was their performance among those submitted in his Long Hot Summer cover contest? I'm sorry I didn't include them very well in my video but I was just too entranced by Mr. Urban!

Keith sounded and looked great (if a little thin) in form fitting black jeans and a longer sleeve olive knit shirt. He came out with a big "Yee haw!" and received and huge screaming welcome - the somewhat staid auditorium suddenly came to life when he finally walked out on stage (with a slightly embarrassed but also delighted smile). "You guys are crazy!!" he said and then went on to thank the Opry for being so compassionate and understanding when he had to cancel the earlier shows and for having him back.

Of course despite all the Urbanites that made it to the Ryman, the majority of the audience were the usual Nashville tourists making their visit to the Grand Ole Opry which just happened to be holding its final winter show at the old "mother church of country music." So I think many of them were baffled when, during his second song, Making Memories of Us http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNUA_QdGK2U ,Keith said that one of the things he loved about the Ryman was its incredible intimacy. To prove it he went on to say that we could sing together there even without the trimmings of the stage microphones and amps. With just his acoustic guitar he stepped out in front of his microphone and sat on one of the amps to sing another chorus of the song with us. All of us Monkeys joined along but, a bit different from the arena shows of the tour, here we were a kind of quiet angelic choir responding to Keith's pure pluckings from the stage.

Then he turned up the volume a bit and rocked the house with You're Gonna Fly http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxrQCEYtb0s , joined by the full band. It was great to see all the guys - Jerry now sporting a beard and stache, Danny with longer and lighter hair (a bit more like Keith's), and Brian with very short hair and sporting a jaunty cap (sorry Chris - my view of you was all but blocked).

Apparently three songs is the usual, so we were thrilled when Keith reported he had been asked to a sing a fourth, so he ended his set with a special Somebody Like You http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_q7Nrz4hOY , slightly tweaked for the occasion: " And it sure feels good to be on this stage and back at the Ryman!" and later "You're teaching us to be a better band!" ( Not possible! : )

But that was not the end. Steve Wariner brought Keith back out because, he said, he really needed a second guitar on his song. So Keith a Steve jammed a bit, having a good ol' time.

An extra special Opry night : ) only lacking in the absence of the predicted invitation to Keith to join the Opry : ( . Every time all the players that evening had talked about how special this evening was, we were hoping that it was special for more reasons than it being the last night for the old Ryman stage. But that extra-special event we fans were hoping for didn't materialize this evening. We'll just have to keep our fingers crossed.

A Double-Header in Nashville

>This is a belated post because I wondered if a review of Keith's part in last weekend’s Grand Ole Opry shows was needed or not. So many of you may have watched a good part of the show, or perhaps listened to both shows on the radio, so I worried that I’d be writing about things that you already knew. Oh well, since these reviews serve sort of as a diary for me, I'll go ahead and hope it won't all be "old hat" for some of you!

I got up at 4:30 AM to catch a 6:00 AM flight to Nashville. It was a lovely day in Tennessee when I arrived. Since I doubted I could check into my hotel at 10:30 AM, I headed to the southwest part of town to check out Starbucks, Bread & More, and shop at the Green Hills Mall. Then on to the patio of the Cheesecake Factory for a leisurely lunch and people watching. No sightings but it was a perfect way to spend a few hours.

I was starting to feel that 4:30 am wakeup so headed up to Music Valley Drive to check into my hotel and take a little snooze. I had arranged to meet some fellow fans at the Opryland Mall for a quick food court supper before we headed to the show. Parking was already crazy so I had to park at the end of the mall farthest from the theatre. It was great meeting some very sweet friends from the board and to reunite with others like Gaetane who I periodically run into at different concerts!

I had never seen Keith perform at the Opry so I wasn't quite sure what to expect. It is such a different environment and different crowd than any of the other concerts. Several hundred of the audience were on bus tours to Nashville, many many in the audience were elderly, and there were some international visitors (from Sweden and Germany and maybe elsewhere). Although there was definitely a "Keith contingent", we were somewhat scattered throughout the audience, but I also overheard several conversations of people unfamiliar with Keith and his music.

The program indicated that Keith would not appear until the third half hour segment and that he would follow Marty. I waited somewhat impatiently through that first hour but then was delighted when Keith actually opened the third act of the show! A wave of excited screams went through the auditorium when he walked out on stage. Oh Lordy he looked luscious in that black button down shirt we all love, sleeves rolled up, a little bit of chest showing, and black jeans, hair shining and trimmed, big grin on his face. He broke into YLGIMS with a great big “Whooo yeah!!” and rocked the house with perhaps a tad more twang than usual for the Opry’s sake and a “How about that Nashville?” and “Oh you look mighty cute in the morning” thrown in. But you could tell that many of us fans, scattered in the audience, felt constrained not to stand or dance (at least most of the main floor fans) in this rather staid audience. So we bounced in our pews and shrieked, cheered and clapped loudly at the end (in fact probably a bit too much for their strict radio show timetable!). After the last verse Keith kept it a little more modest than some shows with “ you’re looking mighty fine walking around in my little teeshirt” and when he was counting off “ 1... 2….” he left the 3 and 4 for the audience to fill in and wasn’t disappointed.

After his first song there was "a pause for a word from our sponsors". While the announcer delivered the commercial multiple stagehands talked intently to Keith. I kept the camera on him and was curious about what all was being discussed during that break, but I couldn't connect their gestures to the show that followed. That black shirt was quite a tease because it seemed to have extra long shirttails, reaching all the way to the bottom of those handsome buns, making us wish for a glimpse when he moved this way or that! The announcer reminded us tonight the Opry was celebrating Mary’s birthday and they showed a short video about his career. Then the lights were on Keith again. He asked “Are we in a singing mood Nashville? And then he wagged his finger at us like a schoolteacher as he reminded us “We all know why we are here! Let’s bring him out” and led us in the singing of happy birthday to Marty. I was happy to see and sing to Marty but that’s not the reason I flew in from Iowa!!!

After our birthday song Marty invited us over to the house afterwards for a piece of cake. Keith asked “Is everyone feeling good tonight? It is such a huge honor to be playing at the Opry and playing for my good friend Marty’s birthday. Happy birthday Marty!! A special thank you to everyone who traveled a long way to get here. And at what the gas prices are, that’s an amazing thing you guys did!” Keith received the usual "I love you!" shouts from the audience (which Marty remarked on multiple times) and gave his usual "I love you too and I don't even know you" response, but added "but the night is young" the first time this happened. But I think he was a bit embarrassed by the fan attention in this environment and more than once focused the attention back on Marty as best he could.

Then Keith began to sing ROS and for a second there was a hush in the crowd, followed by screams and shouts. . It was so great to hear him perform ROS in an auditorium that was built for musical performances!! I almost wished everyone would be quiet for a bit so that I could just sink into that wonderful resonant voice. He did a slight head back and to the side pause at the end of the first verse but didn’t stretch it way out as he had been doing at concerts. As he did, a tiny smile played at the corners of his lips because he knew he was torturing us as we longed for the sweet pleasure of his singing to continue. When he left it up to us to sing the last “When its raining on Sunday” of the chorus and we all chimed in, he was tickled to death and shouted “I love you guys!”, sending chills washing down my body. It was a wonderful performance of ROS from the very start, through a double “sweet baby sweet baby” to the final “Just you and me waking up on a Sunday morning with the rain coming down….”

“Now That’s Country” with Marty was just great!! Keith ‘s guitar work was so hot, playing that bluesy beat and a little solo in the middle. And I just love it when he does his own lyrics to a song!

Got me a pickup

Got a little Franklin farm

Got no horse Marty

But I got a Mustang in the barn

I used to be a drinker

If it wasn’t for my wife

And the gift of country music

I just might be doing time….

They played the heck out of that song!!! Keith alternated between grinning at Marty and pressing his lips together and bobbing his head in serious sexy rocker mode. And as they finished, Marty threw in “That’s country Keith!” and said “Give me five Brother Keith Urban!” and they gripped each others hands, then Marty did a Keith-ish “1, 2, 3, 4” to close the song– so cute!

Again some “I love yous” from the crowd for Keith and Marty teased him “She loves you Keith.” Then he said “I love you too. Thank you for coming to do my birthday party - you’re my buddy. You know what I want? What I really want? I saw your car sittin’ back there (wonder which one Keith was driving?) “You can have mine” he continued. “Can I have the John Deere license plate too?” asked Keith. They are really fun together. Marty said that it was an honor to have Keith there for his birthday – that Keith was “one of his favorites!”

Then Marty, with a little stumbling, said that, since they were here in the “Mother Church” they were going to do one of the classics of country music. He said “Play somethin’ pretty” to Keith, and with a lovely little guitar run they began to sing “I’m So Lonesome” They were both terrific and I love Marty’s mandolin playing, but it was Keith’s sweet sweet voice that really grabbed my heart. Although I tried to capture both of them with my video, my camera kept drifting off to Keith’s side (sorry Marty!). I thoroughly enjoyed Keith singing the harmony to Marty’s lead.

I could see a spotlight light up offstage – I guess that must have been when they briefly interviewed Keith, but we weren’t privy to the interview. Several acts later the announcer was still busy doing his commercial when you knew Keith must be coming back on stage by the sudden onset of squealing in the audience J . My oh my those guitar techs may be handy during the usual long concert, but there was something especially pleasing about watching Keith carrying his guitar on and off stage, even when he was just silhouetted in the stage lights.

A few acts later they announced Keith again and he came out commenting that “This is quite a party. Who wouldn’t want to be you, Marty? And went into WWWBM with Marty accompanying him on the mandolin!! Keith threw in a “I’m talking about Nashville Tennessee” after Georgia to Tennessee and “Who wouldn’t want to be Marty!” and then Marty sang Jerry’s usual part during the closing of the song.

Second Show of the Night

Marty began by sharing this story: My wife Connie came home from the Grand Ole Opry one night and said that she "had just heard a young singer who just sat there on a stool and it was just him and his guitar and he completely stole the house and he was magic." "And he loves you?" asked Marty. "No, he dearly loves me" Connie replied. "And I got to know him," continued Marty "and he is one of my favorite people.I love him like a brother! How about a hand for Mr. Keith Urban!!

I think Keith changed clothes for the second show. He still had on a black long sleeved shirt but it was cut shorter and he was wearing his favorite blue jeans with the pocket flaps. Keith thanked Marty and wished him a happy birthday (no song for the second show) and Marty wished him a happy birthday in return. I wonder if Keith will have an “Opry Birthday Party” in 9 years?

Another rousing round of YLGIMS, with one of Keith’s rrrr-rolling ululating bird-like calls for emphasis at one point. He got a huge round of applause, thanked every one so much and said it was “such an honor to be playing at the Opry for Marty’s birthday.” And he said that they wanted Marty to come out and “ pick a little with us” – “Welcome back Mr Marty Stuart, my brother, a fine gentleman” and Marty replied “Back at you!” (a mutual admiration society!).

Keith said he had been sitting with Marty’s mom during Connie’s song and that his mom had said that he and Marty “had the prettiest women.” And mothers are always right” Marty added and” we always look better when we’re standin’ near our girls!” “That’s right” said Keith – “you gonna pick a little with us?”And with that Keith and Marty and Jerry started in on WWWBM. Keith fooled us though – this time he relied on the audience for “I’ve gotta hole in my jeans” and there was an instant of stunned silent before we jumped in with what he wanted. (Sorry Keith - we just weren’t in full concert mode at the Opry!

Once again more “I love yous” for Keith with Marty ribbing him by pointing them out “ She loves you. And she loves you.” Heehee. Keith said we were “ a lively bunch” but again I think he was a little embarrassed to be getting more attention than the birthday boy.Marty thanked Keith and the boys for playing before they went into the final song of the night.

Now That’s Country once again was smoking’ hot with a little bit different guitar improv than the first show’s rendition and another little guitar solo. Keith sang a few more of the real lyrics but still changed some:

Got me a pickup, got a piece of nothin’ farm

Got me a hound-dog and a shotgun in the barn

I used to be a drinker, if it wasn’t for my wife

I tell you Marty I wouldn’t be here tonight

As they closed the song Marty said to Keith:

“Play me a little guitar brother Keith Urban” and Keith played a little riff for him

“Say it again, say it again” said Marty

And Keith obliged with a little bit longer riff : )

So it was a terrific evening. I’m sorry the second show people missed out on ROS and I’m So Lonesome – they were definite highlights. Keith did not seem to have any of the nervousness that he complained about in his last Opry performance, maybe because he was playing with a buddy and also had some of the band with him.

The only problem of the evening was that sinking feeling I had as I left the shows. Sort of like a man stranded in the desert who has taken the very last sip of water in his canteen and realizes it is going to be a long dry spell before he enjoys a cool drink of water again. I was already feeling thirsty for my “cool (hot?) drink of water”!!! Hey Keith – how about trying out the new music at a couple small fan club concerts sometime REAL soon!!??