Not too long ago I stumbled across this songwriter themed show that had some really exciting topics and some interesting names that I discovered through this man Bryan Simpson and his show called “Uncle B’s Damned Old Opry, which has a residency at the Neon Steeple at Chief’s on Broadway. I sure am late to the party on this deal, and I suppose it is better late than never right?
I found out about his show while researching Chief’s for other things like Ashley McBryde’s new nonalcoholic bar where she has a monthly residency, and we recently released an article about her new album called “Wild”. I am very excited about her new album as an addict in active recovery now and it spoke volumes to my soul in many very vibrant ways.
I checked out a few posts and some of the many people involved from past shows (this current one will be the sixteenth) and I have supported people like he does for many years. Here is some of our conversation via email on it.
All started after a show I did during Americana fest in 24, it was just a songwriter night but John O’ Neil Talent Booker at chiefs saw something he liked and said he’d like to turn over one night a month to me. So I said yeah and Uncle B’s Damned Ole Opry was born initially called Uncle B’s Drunk with Power String Band Show but no one could remember that long name so the nickname that was already in use became the full time moniker.
I always say it’s like the Opry on acid or Billy Strings meets Barnum and Bailey. But more than anything it’s a celebration of what makes Nashville so rich beyond measure with such great singers and musicians and songwriters, and the camaraderie between them. And of course the show is a variety of things as well. Some might say a variety show as we have a lot of moment of hijinx and hilarity.
We also pull a name out of a bucket every show and if you’ve put your name in it, when we pull it out you immediately jump up on stage and perform a song with the Drunk with Power String Band so it’s a cool chance to see some unsigned talent and of course it’s ripe with shenanigans.
The two most recent shows that have transpired were called “Banned From the Grand”and then “Dylan vs. Dillon”. Both of these shows both contained artists we support on here like Britt Taylor who we wrote about on her new album, and Charlie Worsham. And apparently he is just getting started. And I will be writing about his show further in the future as they unfold.
You see on a minor echelon of the “music business” you have some truly gifted songwriters and singers in this city that most normies don’t know about and many of the artists that mainstream people do follow as well. That is because outlets like this show here are helping expose folks like Channing Wilson, Erin Enderlin and the aforementioned Hailey Whitters, and for that I felt the need to bring it to my readers.
We have not yet met but I respect his ideas and his direction and I enjoy what he is doing here. For that I did admire this here and I am glad I reached out to him to find out more about this show. In the near future I will be bringing you more on this!
