The Americana and roots music authority

ABC's "Nashville" - The Newest Source for Americana Music?

I'm intrigued by the ABC's new dramatic series "Nashville," not because a soap opera set in Music City is in any way compelling to me (it ain't) but because said dramatic series has tapped one of the Godfathers of Americana, Grammy winner and Oscar nominee T-Bone Burnett , to be executive music producer for the show.

Isn't this like the chicken being put in charge of the fox's den?

Burnett's stewardship is made even more perplexing when you consider the show also has ties to the Nashville big label system. Big Machine records (Taylor Swift, The Band Perry) will be releasing music featured on the program. First up is the single "If I Didn't Know Better" co-written by the Civil Wars' John Paul White (video below)

I imagined Burnett to be the ultimate Nashville outsider. Musician, producer and guiding hand of the neo-rusticity movement stemming from movies (O Brother, Where Art Thou?, Cold Mountain, Walk the Line, Crazy Heart) rock crossovers (Elvis Costello, Robert Plant, Jakob Dylan ) to full on champion of Americana ( Alison Krauss, Gillian Welch, etc., etc. etc.)

Apparently Burnett has ties to the show that begins at home. He's married to “Nashville” executive producer Callie Khouri ( who won an Oscar for penning the “Thelma & Louise” script. There is also the link from Taylor Swift to the Civil Wars (who she championed early on) to Burnett, who produced the recent Hunger Games soundtrack, which featured both Swift and the Wars. What the hell is gong on here?

Burnett says of music being chosen for the show: “I hope that we become the platform for the people who are writing from their whole hearts.”

Isn't this exactly what's wrong with current commercial pop radio? it's not written from the heart, it's written from the wallet.

So we have a story about Music City that is given musical dimension by the the more dynamic and emotional genre of Americana. Part of me thinks that the show should be stuffed to the gills with whatever stupid truck song is currently cluttering the airwaves and dare the audience the endure it. Aren't there any compelling stories of talented musicians struggling to make great music without cutting each others throats to fill arenas that can better fit the greatness of this music?

In the end it's about artists getting exposed and building a fan base to make enough money to focus in their craft. No one has done more for exposing Americana to the broader public AND commercial interests that Burnett, (except perhaps NPR) so there's no doubt he's the man for the job. Hell he's even got Lucinda Williams to contribute songs to the show

And , truth be told, I deeply enjoy the irony of a Music City soap opera being a powerful format for discovering great Americana and roots music. I look forward to hearing Jason Isbell during a love scene and Hellbound Glory during a road race or bar fight.

originally posted on TwangNation.com

Tags: Nashville, Nation, Twang

Comment by TwangNation.com on October 21, 2012 at 9:59am: There is a great low brow/high brow tension in this thread. Sneering railings against a pedestrian mainstream medium, like the Opry and Hee Haw in their day, championing music that has deep roots in America's blue collar. Keep our precious culture from the proletariat, they'll just screw up up! HA!

Comment by Liz McNicoll on October 21, 2012 at 5:56pm: Shakespeare??!! I imagine if one lives in the town of Nashville ( which I do not) . it is extremely thrilling for many residents to see familiar sights and locales on a tv show, feel part of "Hollywood", and play the game of guessing who the characters are supposed to be, or composites of. Personally I find most television abysmal, and how one spends their time is their own business, but this is certainly no "Sopranos", "Deadwood", "Mad Men", "Downton Abbey" or 50 other shows. Heck, it isn't even "Dallas" or "Desperate Housewives", and while it may survive to a second season, I highly doubt it.

Comment by denton fabrics on October 21, 2012 at 7:47pm: Alan Harrison, yes, I do prejudge a Tv show by what network it's on. Typically, shows on the smaller networks like AMC or HBO market a show to a tighter demographic than a major network, and because they have a smaller audience, they're more apt to take liberties with story lines and production values. They're also usually less beholden to self imposed censures. Lets face it, do you think you'd ever see a show like Breaking Bad or Homeland on NBC? It's like the difference in playlists on a Clear Channel radio station vs an indie one. The major radio network casts a wide net trying to get as many listeners and sponsors as possible. The indie station takes chances on new bands and new sounds which often makes for more interesting listening.

Comment by Will James on October 21, 2012 at 8:19pm: Can see why you don't get many visitors in your neck of the Northwoods.

Comment by Sue Rarick on October 23, 2012 at 9:12pm: @Will James: Just checked and I have a session on the 2nd otherwise I'd be at Douglas Corner to give ya a good Nashville hiyas. I have to agree that the Corner is about even with the Bluebird now. Which is a good thing since I can't stand the Bluebird.

y'all have a good time at the show.

Comment by Will James on October 23, 2012 at 9:22pm: Thanks. Come on down if the session ends early. http://grambash.us.

Comment by Sue Rarick on October 25, 2012 at 3:06pm: Will try to make it

Comment by Will James on October 26, 2012 at 5:24pm: One of the best pieces I've read recently on the TV show, Nashville and country music.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/therecord/2012/10/25/163642602/nashville-d...

See y'all next week (watch The Tennessean for an article on us): http://grambash.us. (The Bluebird, mentioned every five minutes on the TV show, is actually a soundstage lookalike. Check out our show a week from tonight at the other great Nashville listening room: Douglas Corner Cafe. You'll love it... and the music!)

Comment by Will James on October 27, 2012 at 1:42pm: Sue did you steal anything in between sessions at Kroger's? (You have to be watching the show to get that.)

Comment by Alan Harrison on November 9, 2012 at 12:35pm: Can I just say that I've interviewed/chatted to 4 musicians who are based in Nashville during the last month and each one told me that they are loving this show and taping it while on tour in Europe.

I'm guessing it's not all bad after all.