Tag Archives: NECM

Kip Moore Expresses His Love for New England Fans at Cape Cod Melody Tent

Kip Moore put on a high energy show only matched by the high temperature at the Cape Cod Melody Tent in Hyannis MA on June 29th. Feeding off the intense energy of the surrounding 360 degree crowd, Kip played a diverse set featuring tracks from his 3 full albums and his latest EP. His love and appreciation for his fans was present throughout the entire show and even after as he stayed to sign something for and talk with every fan who was willing to wait in line.

Jordan Fletcher opened the show with a 30 minute set, starting off with his original, ‘Cover Song.’ He quickly admitted that this was his first time in Massachusetts and that it was great to see the ocean view. He jokingly asked the crowd, “You think there are fish in there?” as he disclosed that he hadn’t had fresh fish in months. After connecting to the crowd, he delivered another original then treated the audience to an amazing cover of Josh Turner’s ‘Your Man.’  Continuing with the cover songs, Jordan supplied us with his version of Riley Green’s ‘When She Comes Home Tonight,’ a song that Jordan co-wrote with Riley and Ryan Nelson. Once the crowd heard something they were familiar and with, everyone warmed up to Jordan’s southern drawl and easy listening love songs. He then gave us a passionate performance of ‘Me On’ before rounding things out with ‘Miles To The Moon.’ Released just four months prior, the single brought out something special in Jordan, as he danced around the stage and played so hard he broke a guitar string.

The mood was set with the smell of incense in the air and a tent full of fans. When Kip Moore finally made his appearance, he immediately delivered a high energy rendition of ‘Wild Ones‘ for a ready and eager crowd. Quickly following it up with ‘Plead the Fifth,’ his energy along with the audience’s did not falter.

It quickly became clear that this show was going to be something special as the crowd roared louder and louder for each song performed. An early warning from Kip let us know, “[I] Got a long set tonight. Y’all are in for a wild time.” Radio hits and album cuts were sung back to Moore all the same. Kip beamed as we watched him do what he does best through a set of TWENTY songs. As the stage turned to face every fan in the tent it created a very intimate show. Interactions with the crowd were special and often. Just to mention a few Kip accepted and drank a beer with a generous fan, stole a woman’s phone, and danced up and down aisles.

Barely half way through, Moore expressed,”This is part of the country that always gets what we do. It’s always been nice to come to the northeast and experience the love. There is a few places I always talk about on stage and this part of the country is always one. Let’s find out what kind of rock and roll you got in your blood around here.” Next he gave us a cover of ‘Baba O’Riley’ by the Who and it was clear that rock ran deep in the veins of this crowd of country fans.

Before Kip closed the show out with an acoustic encore of ‘Guitar Man,’ he took a few minutes to create a special moment. Moore reflected on each of his band members’ personal stories before any success. Then he told his own story of not being able to afford the heating bill in his Nashville apartment and seeing his breathe while laying in his bed as a result. He explained to us, “To be here right now and see the smiles on your faces. Tonight, I can see you all enjoying it. I wrote these songs in the dark when no one knew who we were and all I cared about was these songs. I wasn’t going to play this song tonight, but I see this is a real fan base in here tonight so I’m going to play it.” He then divulged that he has a new record coming out really soon. The ‘Guitar Man’ performance immediately cued the appearance of a sea of cell phone flashlights for the second time of the night. When the song was over the band stood together to thank the roaring crowd before everyone lined up to meet Kip at the merchandise booth for a signing.

If you’d like to experience the magic of the Cape Cod Melody Tent with its turning stage and circular audience upcoming country shows include Lee Brice on July 19th, Aaron Lewis on July 29th, Brett Eldredge on August 9th, Brothers Osborne on August 22nd, and Midland on August 25th. You can get your tickets here.

Stephanie Quayle is Bringing the Cowboy State of Mind to Foxboro

We may only be halfway through 2019 but we’re already dubbing it Stephanie Quayle’s year. So far, she has been inducted into CMT’s Next Women of Country Class of 2019, she made her Grand Ole Opry debut, and Quayle’s latest single ‘If I Was a Cowboy’ was a Top 10 Most Added song at Country radio (Mediabase) in its first week – not a bad start. The aforementioned single gives fans a first taste of what’s to come on Quayle’s forthcoming EP, set to be released this fall. We can bet that her new project will catapult Quayle’s career to new heights. 

‘If I Was a Cowboy’ was written by Nicolle Galyon, Shane McAnally, and Ross Copperman, but when Quayle first heard the song she thought it could have been written about her life. It was the perfect fit, “like putting on the perfect pair of jeans, you never want to take them off,” she described. The title alone, Stephanie said, is what first drew her to the song, “I grew up in Montana with the cowboy state of mind.” Beneath the surface, the lyrics describe raw, real emotions with vibrant imagery. It’s top-notch writing, but we would expect nothing less from a group of writers who are no strangers to the GRAMMY awards. “They are three of the top songwriters of our time,” Stephanie gushed, adding how incredible it feels to be trusted to bring their words to life. 

Stephanie has also given life to this song through the music video, which recently premiered on CMT. The video gave Quayle an opportunity to strengthen her personal connection to the song as it was shot on her ranch in Montana. “It was really cool to be able to bring it home and be able to share where I grew up,” Stephanie said, but went on to explain that it wasn’t the original plan. She had worked with producer Jeff Johnson on multiple projects and they had always talked about shooting a music video in Quayle’s hometown. “Jeff is a busy guy, and the weather in Montana is tricky,” she said. So the shoot was planned for Las Vegas instead. “Two weeks prior I was in the area for a show and Montana just put on the most incredible performance… beautiful sunrises and sunsets,” Stephanie described. With a gut feeling that her home wouldn’t let them down, she called Jeff and insisted they relocate the shoot. However, the original cast resided in Nevada, so Stephanie was quick to make some calls. “My husband is in the video, my cousins, family friends…” the list goes on. The folks in Quayle’s community pulled through making this video even more special.  

‘If I Was a Cowboy’ has “set the sonic stage” for the rest of the EP. Quayle can best describe her sound as a mixture of western country meets modern traditional. “I came alive in the studio when recording ‘If I Was a Cowboy.’ The baritone guitar sound, when I hear it, I feel like I’m in Montana,” she said. That feeling is what fueled the direction for the rest of the project. Her EP shares a name with the lead single and will feature five tracks, three of which were cowritten by Quayle. In choosing what made the cut, Stephanie consistently returned to the thought, “if you take all the bells and whistles away, does the song matter? Will I still want to sing it in 30 years?”  While her sound has been an evolution, fans can expect 100% authenticity on this project. 

If you’re anxious to hear more from Quayle, your best bet is to catch a show as she will “absolutely” be playing her new music for fans this summer. “I work for the fans. My job is to make sure I create music that makes them feel good, feel something, where they can escape,” Stephanie said. It’s fun for her to “test out” the songs and see which ones listeners gravitate towards. So you can definitely plan on hearing some new music at her upcoming show at Six String Grill & Stage in Foxboro, MA this Thursday, July 11th. Stephanie is looking forward to returning to the area to play the new venue. “I’m excited to see what they’ve done to the place!” she said, adding that she can’t wait to see her incredible fans from the Boston area. We also have three chances for you to meet Stephanie at the pre-show VIP meet and greet and acoustic performance – head to our social media pages to enter! 

Tickets for Thursday’s show are available online here:
Also, make sure to follow Stephanie on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. 

NECM’s WCW: Martina McBride

We, at New England Country Music, are continuing our series spotlighting women in country music. While the acronym WCW, standing for ‘Women Crush Wednesday,’ is often used for physical attraction, that is not the case here. This series will feature talented women who are crushing the country music scene.

With a song titled ‘Independence Day,’ it seems most fitting to feature Martina McBride as this week’s WCW. The soon to be 53-year-old singer/songwriter grew up on a dairy farm in rural Kansas. As a little girl, Martina would listen to legends such as Reba McEntire, Patsy Kline, and Linda Ronstadt. When she was nine, she began singing and playing the keyboard with a small band, The Schiffters, that her father started. Appropriately titled after the family’s last name, The Schiffters performed in and around her hometown. When she was older, McBride joined The Penetrators, a rock band based in Wichita followed by the band Lotus. Lotus rented some rehearsal space from John McBride. It was here that the two met, fell in love, got married, and moved to Nashville.

After moving to Nashville, John McBride landed a spot as Garth Brooks’ concert production manager. Martina enjoyed traveling with her hubby, and often worked the table selling Garth’s souvenirs. It was during this time that Garth Brooks really got to know Martina McBride and offered her the opening act spot on his tour. In 1991 she landed a recording contract with RCA Nashville Records. She released her debut album, ‘The Time Has Come,’ in 1992. One year later she dropped her second studio album, ‘The Way That I Am.’ ‘Independence Day’ was the third single to be released from this album. Although it never hit Top 10, it went on to win the 1994 CMA Award for Video of the Year and the 1995 CMA Award for Song of the Year. McBride’s third album, ‘Wild Angels,’ was released in 1995. The title track became her first number one single. Her next album, ‘Evolution,‘ came out two years later. The fourteen-track record went double platinum and produced five top-ten hits: ‘A Broken Wing,’ ‘Valentine,’ ‘Happy Girl,’ ‘Wrong Again,’ and ‘Whatever You Say.’ Adding to her accomplishments, in 1999, Martina McBride took home the CMA Award for Female Vocalist of the Year. Her sixth album, ‘Emotion,’ came out in 1999 and the lead single ‘I Love You’ was number one on the Billboard Country chart that same year. Her ‘Greatest Hits’ album dropped in 2001. It was her highest selling album, and it received an RIAA Quadruple-platinum Certification. She went on to release seven more albums, ‘Martina,’ ‘Timeless,’ ‘Waking Up Laughing,’ ‘Shine,’ ‘Eleven,’ ‘Everlasting,’ and ‘Reckless.’ Over the past twenty years, Martina McBride has headlined seven tours. She is a loving mother to three beautiful daughters, and has since stopped touring to care of her girls.

We can’t wait to see what Martina McBride has for us in the coming years.

Happy ‘Independence Day’ from all of us here at New England Country Music!

Be sure to download ‘Independence Day’ on iTunes here.

You can stay connected with Martina McBride by following her on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Stay tuned for our next installment of WCW in country music. It is set to hit our page on Wednesday, July 17th.

Kenny Chesney Returns 6 AM EST July 12 with ‘Tip of My Tongue’

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – After the decidedly introspective Songs for the Saints, Kenny Chesney gears up for his first true Blue Chair/Warner Music Nashville project with the release of ‘Tip of My Tongue,’ a decidedly grown up song from the man who Variety called “country music’s only long-term stadium act.” With its sweeping groove and an almost humid melody lift, ‘Tip of My Tongue’ merges desire and connection over a figure of speech in a classic songwriting technique.
 
Having spent the first half of the year taking the music to the people, focusing on the markets that have not been part of his massive stadium tours, his Songs for the Saints Tour reconnected him to a whole other segment of his audience. With a short break to recalibrate his focus, the man hailed by The New York Times for music that “gives him heroic, wide-open spaces” and USA Today has cited “its whirl of dizzy romance, of love in its intoxicating inception” is at work with longtime co-producer Buddy Cannon recording what will be his first real album for his new home.
 
“It’s funny how a figure of speech can lead you to all kinds of places,” Chesney marvels. “You start talking, and words fall out, and anything can happen. When you go in and write on any given day, the chemistry is what it is. When the idea fell out, we all just laughed and went, ‘Well, what can we do with that?’
 
“I’ve written so much with Ross (Copperman), that’s always easy. He brought Ed (Sheeran) in, and he is such a great writer… The way creativity works in creative people is so different, but it’s always exciting. As a co-write with a new writer, it’s one of the most fun sessions I’ve done in a long time. I get why people love working with him.”

For Chesney, signed to a publishing deal with Acuff Rose before Phil Walden put him on the relaunched Capricorn, songs have always been his strongest currency. Whether ‘The Tin Man,’ an early hit from his very first album, the surging ‘Beer In Mexico,’ ‘Out Last Night’ and ‘Keg In The Closet’ which musically time-stamps moments of pure joy, the explosive protest ‘Noise,’ reflective ‘I Go Back’ or Rascal Flatt’s No. 1 ‘Take Me There,’ as well as the female-empowering ‘Wild Child,’ his writing maintains a standard and presses what a country song can be.
 
“With all the great songs that have been written in this town, I think you always want to do something a little different,” Chesney explains. “I think there’s this moment when you look at someone and you know they contain everything. You want to know everything, consume everything about them. It’s why we say ‘It’s a long way down,’ because you want to know it all. And the best part: we got a melody that feels like what’s going on lyrically. The music matches the words, and you can just drift in it.”
 
From a quiet, almost watery open, ‘Tip of My Tongue’ builds to a full-bodied chorus with layered vocals, muted bass, keyboards and a rhythm track that balances the tension of the quiet vocal-forward verses. Like tides rising and falling, a consuming back and forth to the track, which turns on the tumbling profession “It’s a long way down,” before finding the contrasting attraction of “I love you salt and sugar…”

‘Tip of My Tongue’ arrives July 12, 5 a.m. CDT. For a man who’s broken ground with ‘American Kids,’ ‘Setting The World On Fire,’ ‘Noise,’ ‘Save It For A Rainy Day’ and ‘Get Along,’ look for a whole new dimension from the man with a record-setting 30 Billboard Country No. 1s.

Luke Bryan Repeats Success with Sold-Out Gillette Concert

Four-time Entertainer of the Year Luke Bryan, touted as the ‘consummate showman’ by the Boston Globe, repeated his stadium success story as he performed before a sold-out crowd at Gillette Stadium on Friday night. The Sunset Repeat Tour concert was Luke’s fourth appearance in the home of the six-time Super Bowl Champions the New England Patriots is also his most-played stadium. His career headlined stadium concerts now tally at 35.

Special moments during the show included Luke’s 2019 touring mates Cole Swindell and Jon Langston joining him onstage to perform the 1995 hit ‘Dust On the Bottle’ and the evening’s special guest Brett Young appeared with Luke to perform ‘Sweet Caroline.’ One of the night’s high points came when Patriots favorite Rob Gronkowski strolled on stage playing catch with Luke sending the stadium crowd into fever pitch cheers.

Before the concert Luke, Cole, Jon and Brett spent some time with NBC’s TODAY Show for a behind-the-scenes look at what it’s like to perform in one of America’s most revered stadiums and Luke’s journey to a stadium headliner. Tune in to NBC’s TODAY Show on Tuesday, July 2 to see the story. Later that week, Luke will perform on NBC’s ‘Macy’s Fourth of July Fireworks® Spectacular.’

Photos: Ethan Helms

Old Dominion: ‘One Man Band’ Single Review

Much to the delight of fans, Old Dominion recently released their second single off of their highly anticipated upcoming third album. Written by Josh Osborne along with band members Matt Ramsey, Brad Tursi, and Trevor Rosen, ‘One Man Band’ is the group’s first true love song. In an interview with People Ramsey explained, “I can’t wait to hear what people think about this side of us. I don’t think our fans have heard us show the type of emotion that they will hear in ‘One Man Band.’” We must say we’re absolutely loving this romantic side of Old Dominion. We were hooked from the very first notes. The soft melody, predominantly produced by an electric guitar, provides the perfect backdrop for the genuine, heartfelt vocals.

            One of the most special things about ‘One Man Band’ is the lyrics. They’re very creative, and they act as a metaphor that compares playing music alone to being single. Ramsey sings about longing to find a significant other so he’ll have someone to accompany him on his musical journey. This can be seen in the lines, Baby we can take our own show on the road, I’ll lay down the beat, you’ll carry the tune, We’ll get tattoos and we’ll trash hotel rooms, Baby take my hand, I don’t wanna be a one man band. The sense of desperation in the lyrics is a common theme amongst much of their new music say Old Dominion. We can’t wait to hear the rest of the album when it’s released later this year.

            You can catch Old Dominion on their Make It Sweet Tour on Friday November 8th at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence, RI.

Favorite Lyrics: I don’t wanna be a rolling stone alone, Putting miles on a run-down van

You can buy ‘One Man Band’ here.

The Unofficial Kick Off to Summer With Chris Young!

Memorial Day may be the unofficial kick-off to summer but Chris Young’s Raised on Country tour with Chris Janson and Dylan Scott just kicked off the summer of country concerts at Xfinity Center in Mansfield this past Friday night. We’re not sure if we could have asked for a better day besides maybe the show being on a Saturday but we’ll let that one go.  The sun was shining, tailgates were down and the country music was blasting!

Dylan Scott started the night with ‘Hooked,’ ‘Ball Cap’ and ‘Nothing to Do Town’ which got the crowd going. He slowed it down a bit with ‘Nobody’ and then honored his 90s country artists with Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s ‘Fishin In the Dark,’ ‘I Like it, I love it’ by Tim McGraw, David Lee Murphy’s ‘Dust on the Bottle,’ and George Strait’s infamous ‘Check Yes or No.’  Rounding out with what would soon become the theme song of the night, he played a favorite of his, Keith Whitley’s ‘When You say Nothing At All.’ He wrapped his set with the single that put him on the map and the song that he wrote about his high school sweetheart who is now his wife, ‘My Girl.’

The crowd continued to fill in as Chris Janson took the stage.  Let us just say, if you haven’t seen Chris Janson live before, we highly recommend adding him to your concert lineup!  Janson won our very own NECM Laurel over as a fan when she saw him open for Sam Hunt.

The entertainer he is, opened with ‘Redneck Life’ and ran around the stage showing off his harmonica skills.  Followed by ‘Everybody’ and his second #1, ‘Fix a Drink!’ He followed those up with his new single ‘Good Vibes’ and then slowed it down. He introed ‘Holdin’ Her’ by explaining how he may be portrayed as a wild man on stage but regardless of his image, he is a Christian man who loves the Lord, his wife and his kids.

Referencing his recent Rolling Stone article, Janson proudly claimed the title of the most open minded redneck stating ”I was raised to not care what others think about me.”  And that he doesn’t. Soon after, he was making pterodactyl and bald eagle movements on stage asking the crowd to join him. Janson’s stage presence isn’t something you’ll get every show and we loved every minute of it!

Wrapping up his set, he killed another harmonica solo which transitioned into Billy Joel’s ‘Piano Man’ where Janson had a harmonica headset and just a keyboard. It was only right that he played his ACM award winning ‘Drunk Girl,’ as Boston was very first place he played it live.

He joked with the crowd as he stepped up to the drum set, “bet you’d never seen a country boy play the drums like Tommy Lee from his time in Motley Cru.” A jack of all trades, Janson killed the drums and then ended his set with his first #1, ‘Buy Me a Boat.’

As the crowd waited for Chris Young to take the stage, the Chris Young Dance Cam panned over the crowd catching those who were blessed with happy feet. Happy feet quickly turned into finding those with full beers and a chugging contest.

Finally, it was time for the main act. The baritone started the crowd off on a slow set, making the girls swoon with a run of “Hangin’ On,’ ‘Getting You Home,’ ‘Lonely Eyes,’ ‘Losing Sleep,’ and ‘Who I Am With You.’  And just like that, a better man dropped to his knee and we had a front row proposal!! Wishing you the best Brittany and Justin wherever you are! Taking a brief detour from the set list, Young covered the theme song of the night singing Dylan’s Scott’s favorite again, Keith Whitley’s ‘When You Say Nothing At All.’

The stage design and graphics definitely kept the crowd hooked as ‘I Can Take It From There’ and ‘Hold My Beer’ rolled on through.

A video montage of artists including Brad Paisley and Florida Georgia Line came on, all sharing a tid bit of how they were raised on country music ending with Chris explaining his love for country and how he was raised on country music! The montage was a perfect transition into Chris addressing the crowd recognizing this was his first amphitheater tour on his own, he couldn’t thank the crowd enough. “This song did it. It’s almost like a graduation for me to be on this tour.” The crowd began to sing along with ‘I’m Comin’ Over!’

Chris introed his next song by sharing the story of one of the first concerts he attended. His mom had won tickets to a show at the Starwood Amphitheater in Nashville. They sat on the grass, watched Vince Gil and he thought how great it would be to do exactly that.  Little did he know, he would work with Vince himself on one of his very own songs. ‘Sober Saturday Night’ led into ‘Life of the Party’ as Cassadee Pope sang along behind him on the big screen. Fans started slow dancing in aisle as ‘Good Man’ started and the security lit their way with his flashlight.  Country music is something special that’s for sure.

Chris was all smiles from the second he took the stage until he closed out with the exception of playing his new song. He shared how it was about a friend of his who passed away unexpectedly in a car accident.  With just some keys and guitar, the lyrics were relatable to anyone who has lost someone. ‘Today’ was REAL.

As the night started to come to an end, Chris jokingly asked how he was supposed to transition to the next song after that one and decided that he needed to cover Garth Brook’s ‘Papa Loves Mama’ instead. Followed by his own ‘You,’ ‘Save Water, Drink Beer’ and introed his band. The lights dimmed and ‘Tomorrow’ started. A perfect way to close out the night and kick off the weekend, Chris ended with ‘Aw Naw’ singing about buying a shot of patron and how we’ve all gotta be up early.

We are so happy to say that summer of country concerts is back. There’s nothing like the country community, from tailgates to chugging contests and dancing in the aisles at shows, we all share our love for country music!

What shows will you be attending this summer!?

Luke Combs: ‘Beer Never Broke My Heart’ Single Review

Luke Combs has become such a big star that whenever he releases new music it’s now an event. So when Luke announced he was dropping a new single on May 8th, we circled the date and waited patiently for what will almost certainly be his 6th consecutive #1 hit. ‘Beer Never Broke My Heart’ is a rockin’ drinking anthem that you’ll be hearing blasting in the parking lots during tailgates all summer long. Luke debuted the song back in January 2018 at a show in Wisconsin, and the crowd went crazy. We, too, were hooked right from the opening electric guitar notes.

            ‘Beer Never Broke My Heart’ features a more up-tempo melody than what we’ve become accustomed to from Combs’ previous singles. The catchy lyrics, written by Randy Montana, Jonathan Singleton, and Combs himself, are an ode to beer. Luke sings about all the things that have disappointed him in life from a largemouth bass busting his line to diamond rings and football teams. He says that he can count on one hand the number of things that have never let him down. Of these few things are bars, his guitar, and beer. One of the reasons that makes this such an appealing song is that so many people can easily connect with the lyrics. As a result, ‘Beer Never Broke My Heart’ is well on its way to reaching the top of the charts. With the success of this latest single and a new EP that was released on June 7th, the next chapter of Luke Combs’ career looks to be very bright.

            Luke is bringing his sold out Beer Never Broke My Heart Tour to Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, CT on November 22nd.

Favorite lyrics: She was a Carolina blue-jean baby, Fire in her eyes that drove me crazy

You can purchase ‘Beer Never Broke My Heart’ here.

Ladies, Please Don’t Do This.

Summer concert is upon us! Well, almost. This Friday marks the official first day of summer! And it just happens to be the same day that Luke Bryan plays at Gillette Stadium. Coincidence? We think not! What better way to kick off the summer than being at Gillette with 60,000 fellow country music fans, seeing one of the biggest stars perform!?

But ladies, let’s not do this…

Yes, a woman threw her undies at Luke.

C’mon now, that’s a tad weird, no? I mean, we get it. Nice weather, cold beer in hand, and Luke is right there shaking his ass for you (and the thousands of others in the crowd)- the mood is right. Wrong. It’s just weird for you to squat down in front of other people and take off your under garments and throw them at a married dude. I’m assuming whoever did this was wearing a skirt as if she was wearing shorts or a pants, well, the whole crowd just saw your privates. But maybe this lady just didn’t give a F… And let’s face it. If it’s hot outside, no dude wants your sweaty panties.

Behave yourselves on Friday, ladies. We love ya.

NECM’s Favorite Places to Eat in Nashville: May 2019

We just got back from a quick trip to Music City. 3 days of live music, eating and of course there was some drinking as well. During this trip, we stayed in the Broadway area of Nashville as our hotel was just a couple of blogs from Broadway and the ease of walking to places rather than relying on a Uber was nice. So where were our favorite places to eat and drink during this trip? Check it out.

Jason Aldean’s Kitchen + Rooftop Bar: 307 Broadway

When you think about Broadway, you really don’t think about food. It’s all about the music and the drinking. But Aldean’s breaks the mold as their food is probably the best that we’ve had on Broadway. The Bavarian Pretzel was huge and was soooo good. Make sure you get the queso to go with it! Also, the Southern Nachos were awesome if you’re a nacho person like me. Instead of tortillas, they use kettle chips and they top them with pulled pork and you’re favorite nacho toppings.

For entrees, the classic burger was unreal. A double patty burger that you literally do not need ketchup for. We also loved the Hot Chicken Sandwich (can’t go to Nashville and not get hot chicken) and the Mac & Cheese with beer pulled chicken.

Aldean’s features 6 bars throughout the building with our favorite being up on the rooftop with views of all of Broadway- probably the best view of Broadway. We’re not putting this list in any order of favorites but I can tell you for sure that Aldean’s was the best overall experience we had as far as food, drink, environment and service! Do not skip Aldean’s on your next trip to Nashville

Luke’s 32 Bridge Food + Drink: 301 Broadway

Sharing a building and rooftop is Jason Aldean’s good friend, Luke Bryan, with Luke’s 32 Bridge. This place is massive with 9 bars, yes NINE, with all different feels. There’s live music on different floors with an outdoor lower patio at the Nut House bar. There’s a dance floor for late night fun.

But our favorite was probably up on the roof at Luke’s Sushi Bar. Yes, sushi in Nashville. Most would probably steer away from a restaurant that is nowhere near the ocean but if you’re a sushi lover, this place is for you! Try the Bridge which literally comes on a Bridge. It has multiple rolls ranging from shrimp tempura to crab and salmon.

But if you’re not a sushi person, there are other options as well. If you want something lighter, try the avocado toast. If you want something that will stick to your ribs, the burger topped with bacon AND pulled pork will fill you up! We also really enjoyed the hot chicken bites that came in a cast iron pan with dipping sauce.

FGL House: 120 3rd Ave. South

Admittedly, we stopped at FGL House for our final dinner so we had already made some unhealthy eating choices over the previous couple days. We wanted to give our body a break so we got a couple healthier options at FGL House and honestly, they didn’t disappoint!

The Hot Chicken Salad was great with the heat of the chicken being balanced with the veggies. And the Nashville Strip with the mashed potatoes was SO good and SO tender.

We also tried their version of Chicken & Waffles which is one of our favorite dishes to eat- our go to at Loretta’s in Boston. And FGL House’s version did not disappoint with a perfect waffle topped with flavorful chicken and bacon! Can never go wrong with bacon!

We really loved the vibe at FGL House. It is not directly on Broadway so it wasn’t overly loud or overly crowded. The decor was awesome with colored lighting and old fuel and oil signage that would make the American Pickers jealous. The Cruise rooftop bar was great to hang out and have a cocktail on after dinner- we recommend the Party People.

Sun Diner: 105 3rd Ave. South

After a late night of drinking- and let’s face it, you’re going to have at least one of those in Nashville- we all need a good breakfast. And Sun Diner is a must stop. The cozy diner is mostly bar service with a couple tables in the back but the bar service reminded us of our favorite diners up here where you can sit and watch your food being made. When we got here, there wasn’t a seat available, and there was a small line for seats- always a good sign!

We wanted a mimosa, but they didn’t have one to serve… they had their own version which was orange juice but instead of champagne/prosecco, with beer. We decided to try one with Blue Moon and it was actually pretty dang good! Recommend it if you’re a breakfast cocktail type of person!

For food, the Creme Brûlée French Toast was unreal! This plate is massive and so delicious. Their version of eggs benedict replaces the ham with pork belly and we were not disappointed! The breakfast wrap was huge and stuffed with eggs, bacon, hash browns and pico. But if there’s one thing to try at Sun Diner, it’s their Donut Breakfast Sandwich. Yep, we said it. Donut Breakfast Sandwich. It’s a sausage egg and cheese between 2 glazed donuts. The juxtaposition of the sweet donuts to the savory sausage was awesome. So when you’re in Nashville with a hunkering for breakfast, Sun Diner is a must!

Side note: if you get pancakes or french toast, or something that needs syrup- you’re in for a treat! Their own syrup line is fantastic. Make sure you try the Spicy Pecan flavored syrup!

Legendairy Milkshake Bar: 171 3rd Ave. North

Alright so if you have a sweet tooth, like me, this place is for you. It’s about two blocks north of Broadway, just up the street from Ole Red and a couple streets over from Printer’s Alley. We stumbled across this place after a recommendation from one of our friends and after checking out their menu, we knew we had to stop by.

Their menu has 12 signature shakes plus a Shake of the Day. You can also make your own but there’s honestly no need to with the signatures shakes they have. We decided on the Rolling in the Cookie Dough, Campfire S’mores, Death by Chocolate and Milk(shake) & Cookies.

When you sit down and they bring your shakes to your table, it can be overwhelming. These shakes are legitimate culinary masterpieces. They’re beautiful but big. You’re going to think to yourself, ‘there’s no way I can finish this.’ But once you dig in, you’re probably going to.

All of the shakes we got were awesome. Other patrons seemed to get the same ones we did but we definitely saw some other ones that we did not get. My personal favorite was the cookie dough one but the others were just as good. Nashville is hot at this time of the year. Whether you’re down there for CMA Fest or just to hang out, we recommend heading to the Legendairy Milkshake Bar for a sweet treat!

The Valentine: 312 Broadway

We stumbled upon this place when our pedal tavern made this one of the scheduled stops- thanks Country Music Crawler! When we arrived we were given a card for 2 for 1 shots- couple this deal with the shot special that we were already getting via the pedal tavern, and we got quite the deal. The shot was a blue lemon drop which was very good! And 2 of ’em for $5? Yes, please.

We enjoyed ourselves so much, that after we finished our pedal tavern, we decided to go back and drink some more and eat. Of course, we got more shots but we wanted some apps to fill our bellies. And we were thoroughly impressed with the Valentine. Yes, it was bar food but it was pretty damn good bar food. The chicken fingers were perfect- so much so that we ordered more. The chicken quesadillas were juicy. And the pretzel sticks had a great crisp to them to go with their warm queso. Add in some nachos and it’s a great little mid-afternoon snack to prolong your day on Broadway.

The Valentine doesn’t have a big artist name associated with it and it’s not one of the big name iconic establishments on Broadway but that doesn’t mean you should skip this place. We’ll definitely return when we go back to Nashville!