The ZZ Top Files: Nashville, Part One

As we resume the background notes for my 2013 Austin Chronicle cover story on the Lil’ Ol’ Band From Texas, the setting is Nashville, where Billy F. Gibbons continues ducking our interview.

Billy F. Gibbons, wondering where he can find a good dentist in Nashville. (Pic courtesy zztop.com)

Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2013: Nashville, TN

Nashville's a beautiful town where the weight of country music history comes crashing onto your shoulders every place you turn. You can't help but think everywhere you go things like, "Man, Hank Williams went stumbling drunk down this street!" Or, "I bet Johnny Cash had a pork shoulder sandwich here!" Certainly, not five blocks from my hotel is Music Row, home to RCA Studio B, where "Heartbreak Hotel" and every damned Everly Brothers and Roy Orbison hit was cut, as well as country chestnuts from Charlie Pride, Dolly Parton, Don Gibson, etc. 'Twas the very place where Chet Atkins schemed up the accursed, strings-n-choirs-washed Nashville Sound the bastards haven't shaken since. Around the corner lies Columbia Studio A, where Blonde On Blonde was tracked. On the next corner is Owen Bradley's Quonset Hut studio, where Patsy Cline recorded "Crazy," Brenda Lee tracked "I'm Sorry," The Byrds began Sweetheart Of The Rodeo, and many immortal Johnny Cash records were conceived. You can't spit without hitting history around here.

Conversely, the next block over, someone's built a Chuy's. Which proves every cool town wants to be Austin....

But just try and get checked in at the Embassy Suites on Broadway.