By way of New Orleans and Bristol
I apologize to all my loyal readers as I haven’t posted in almost a month. Cars, planes, taxis and strange pillows have kept my attention the past couple weeks. Traveling can be lonely, but I have kept a familiar friend nearby… music.
Music is the perfect travel companion.
During the New Orleans trip, I listened a lot to The Kills as I had every intention of going to see them at House of Blues while I was there. Instead, I saw the largest marching band in New Orleans that frequents Mardi Gras parades.
Random jazz music was also a necessity while visiting the Pelican State. The beauty of Spotify — just type in “New Orleans Jazz” in the search bar.
Car trips are different than plane trips. Slow music just ain’t gonna cut it. My “Get Yo’ Dance On” playlist is perfect, as it is eight hours of pure awesome upbeat happy music, which is what you need while driving.
So, I had every intention of driving from Nashville straight up to Lexington and listening to “Nashville to Kentucky” on my way. Instead, I traveled by way of Bristol, Tenn., spending a few days with my parents, postponing my listening party. I listened to several albums, holding off listening to My Morning Jacket, while alone in the car with my co-pilot (see below) — all sing-along-able while maneuvering through the snowy hills of I-75.
Two words: Show tunes.
My trip from Kentucky to Nashville was when I was finally able to settle in and listen to the entire The Tennessee Fire album by My Morning Jacket, including, of course, “Nashville to Kentucky”. Although I tried, changing the words to “Kentucky to Nashville” just didn’t fit with the music.
While driving through Elizabethtown, I stopped at a gas station just off the side of the interstate since it is only appropriate to listen to “Free Bird” in Elizabethtown. Then I took time to dance with one arm in the air, in my pajama pants, at a gas station.
(If you haven’t seen the movie Elizabethtown, then I’m coming off as somewhat strange at this point in our conversation.)
What I’m saying, is a playlist can make or break a trip. Ok, that’s a little exaggeration — but it can definitely make a trip better. It can also help you avoid uncomfortable conversations with strangers in airplanes…
I’ll leave you with this quote from Elizabethtown: “To have never taken a solitary road trip across country? I mean everybody’s got to take a road trip, at least once in their lives. Just you and some music.”