It was hard for me to get passed the “Boooo” sounds at the Sommet Center when I went to see Bruce Springsteen last Thursday. I soon learned it was a good thing, they weren’t saying boo but Bruuuuce. Uh huh! Springsteen followers may think I’m an idiot, but it was my first show and definitely not my last. There were even fans in the stands with letters on their T-shirts that spelled out Bruuuce.

I have always cherished Bruce’s writing style and scruffy voice, but I had no idea his show would be as entertaining as it was.

He kicked the show off with Out in the Street and continued to rock with classics like Born to Run. Half of his set list came from request signs that Springsteen collected from the audience. One sign had a black and white pic of Bruce clad in short jean shorts (pictured), that’s when he went into Girls in Their Summer Clothes. He shared stories of his guitar before singing Growin’ Up and he played a little bit of Johnny Cash’s I Walk the Line, before rolling into I’m on Fire. The tunes continued as he slid across the front stage on his knees, did back bends into the audience and even danced on stage with a fan. It was awesome! He also sang I Fought the Law in honor of Joe Strummer’s birthday.

Dave Bielanko from Marah joined him onstage for a bit. Afterward, the crowd was left chatting that it was Jack White or Kid Rock with died black hair.

Ticket prices were high at $100, but the show was well worth it. During the final encore he thanked the crowd, saying the audience had been fantastic.

Andrew Seward from the band Against Me! was in the crowd (pictured with Stephanie Langston/me & The Clutters‘ Jake Rosswog). He boasted that he had seen the show three times on this tour and Nashville was the best. Also pictured- Bobby Bare Jr., John Hardin, Desiree & Blaze and Ashley Russell from Yahoo! Sports.

It’s true; I am slightly obsessed with the fair. What is there not to love… freak shows, carnies, people watching, rides, lights… oh and did I mention food? The Wilson County fair is hands down the best fair I have ever been to. I LOVE it! I go every year and this year I went five times (I know, but 4 were for work).

Lee Holyfield, Melanie Barone, sheep shower Charlie Skillington, Aimee, Britt Johnson, Elisa Enger and Cote Adams all joined me in the fair festivities.

Some of the highlights- Aimee riding the bull and getting hypnotized, watching the fireworks while riding the Ferris Wheel, The Crazy Mouse and eating fried snickers, fried Oreos, chicken on a stick, traveling tacos, corndogs, Italian sausage, and sipping fresh squeezed sugary lemonade. Yeah we went overboard, but it was yummy.

We walked around Fiddler’s Grove and checked out broom makers, leather makers, old school pharmacies and a doctor’s office. We also watched Gus and his Guitar (pictured) trick one person after another. He was staged as a robot, but he was actually real. We even had a celebrity sighting (for a fair anyway)- we ran into this years Fairest of the Fair winner (pictured).

Don’t think for a second I have had my fair fill, now it’s time for the Cheatham County Fair and the Tennessee State Fair. Yay!

Really. It’s been a week and I’m still cleaning the blue icing off my shoes from Cory Hosack’s 30th birthday. Cory,one of Nashville’s favorite bartenders, threw a party chocked full of surprises at Bar 23.

There was beer pong and Guitar Hero, but things got crazy when his buds rolled in a big birthday box/present. At the end of Happy Birthday, out popped DJ Lunchbox clad in a a small white wifebeater, shorts and white platform shoes with little gold fish swimming in the heels. It was pretty awesome, but I was hoping he would dance.

A cake fight followed suit. I bet there’s still icing in Cory’s ears…
If you can hear me, happy birthday old man!

You have one last chance this summer to check out one of Nashville’s hottest Sunday parties. That’s right folks Tea Dance at Radius 10 will come to an end on Sunday August 31st.

The Elevator Music Collective has been throwing down all summer on the first & third Sundays of each month. Mindub has booked some of Nashville’s best DJs to keep the booties shakin’ on the patio.

Last Sunday was extra special as folks came out for Aimee’s birthday. Yup, she is growin’ up and creeping closer to her “late 20’s.” Patty Ghanem was also toasting to another year, as well as the cute girl wearing the pink dress in the pic (in the middle). Sorry, I didn’t get her name but her group of gals were cute as buttons dressed in hot pink & black ensembles.

After Tea Dance wrapped up, we headed to Brent Young’s Sunday School at Aerial. The party was the most packed I’ve seen it. Don’t these people have jobs on Monday? Fortunately, I don’t. So we hooped into the wee hours of the morning and apparently held conversations with members of the band Hinder. Fun times!

Will Hoge’s condition has been upgraded to stable after a traffic accident, according to his website . It says will suffered broken bones and contusions when his scooter was struck by another vehicle Wednesday night.

Church members and atheists alike attended God and Country Day at the Wilson County Fair Sunday.

For years the fair has offered a $2 discount to church members. This year, the rules changed after a group of atheists contacted fair officials saying the discount is unfair.

“The $2 discount only to Christians is a discriminatory practice. You might as well put only white people get a discount today,” expressed Blair Scott with the National American Atheists affiliate.

Fair officials compromised and agreed to accept printouts from all organizations, including atheists.

About a dozen atheists came to the fair on Sunday wearing shirts to identify their group. Several church organizations did the same.

Check out the video & my story by clicking the link below.
Atheists attend God and Country Day at Wilson County Fair

Just do it. I love it, you will love it too. It’s the perfect date spot, but it’s not cheap.

Check out my math skills by clicking the link to the video below.


How much will the Wilson Co. Fair cost you?

Pic’s of my fair festivities still to come.

As reported on News 2:
Nashville rocker Will Hoge was critically injured Wednesday night after his motor scooter crashed into a van in East Nashville, authorities said.

Hoge, 35, was driving his scooter on Main Street around 7th Street when a van going the other way made a left turn in front of him. The crash happened around 8 p.m. Wednesday.

Police said the preliminary indication is that the van driver, Sibomana Viateur, 28, of Nashville, failed to yield to oncoming traffic.

There are no indications that alcohol or drugs played any part in the crash, a police spokeswoman said.

Hoge was last listed in critical condition.

My thoughts and payers are with him.

Kid Rock, Jessica Simpson and her friend/assistant Casey hit the honky-tonks Monday night. The group was spotted at The Stage on Broadway mingling with some members of the band Hinder.

Steph spies say they were all very cordial to the crowd and even took a few pics. Sources tell me Jessica and Kid Rock met through Hank Williams Jr’s daughters. After the honky-tonk the group headed to John Rich’s place The Spot, where I am told they partied until 3 in the morning.

Eddie George also happened to be at the bar. Eddie is in town from Chicago were he is studying to get his business degree. I ran into the former Titan at Agave Friday night after the football game.

Speaking of Hinder- apparently the band came to Aerial for Sunday School Sunday night after playing Riverfront Park. I was there and I think we may have chatted, but I’m embarrassed to say that I didn’t know who they were. Sources tell me Kid Rock was going to come to Sunday School as well, but he ended up at Agave.

Michael Jordan was spotted having food at Hooters in Hermitage last week with a couple of businessmen. Steph spies say he was in town considering to invest with Earvin “Magic” Johnson on some property. It’s been nearly a year since Magic announced that the Canyon-Johnson Urban Fund was investing as much as $20 million in The Gulch’s Terrazzo building.

If you see anyone out and about Email me HERE!!! stephnthecity@gmail.com

My high school pal Colleen Phelan finally graduated from college so her family threw a shindig over the weekend in celebration of her success. I got to see all my Father Ryan High School pals, most who have kids now. I have my dog Trinity.

Colleen is a phenomenal cook and with the help of a few family members they catered one heck of a party. There was an inflatable bounce house, games and glow sticks galore. We decided to get crafty and wrap my hula-hoop in the glow sticks. It was awesome, but only worked for a few rounds. Someone drove their gorgeous sliver convertible corvette, which we helped ourselves to a little photo shoot in. Good times!