Summer just somehow doesn’t seem the same here in Nashvegas without shows at Starwood. I was in high school when Starwood was built, and have seen many, many shows there–some of which I remember quite fondly, some I barely remember through the haze of many beverages, but in spite of the overpriced beer, it was always great fun. There’s nothing quite like seeing a show outside under the stars on a beautiful night, and summer to me always meant shows at Starwood. Granted, it was never my top pick acoustically, although I have heard it when the mix was dialed in just right and it was mighty sweet! But the people watching was always fun, and they always had a wide range of acts–everyone from perennial faves Hank Jr., Jimmy Buffett, and James Taylor to Poison, Judas Priest, The Cult, Dwight Yoakum, The Black Crowes, Billy Idol, Lenny Kravitz, The Allman Brothers, Steely Dan, Alan Jackson, and on to teen scene and Ozzfest & Loolapalooza. Live Nation closed out Starwood and a couple of other venues because they weren’t "profitable"–and real estate in that area (like everywhere else in Nashville and surrounding areas) has shot through the roof. We keep hearing rumors of the baseball park/amphitheatre in downtown–who knows if that will ever come to fruition, but I never thought we’d see professional football or hockey here either (although we’re still touch and go on the Predators). A much more likely (to me) scenario is the redevelopment of the Fairgrounds–rumors have been swirling for quite a while, and although I sure would hate to see the track go (Music City Motorplex) since some of my earliest memories are watching my dad race there when I was a couple of years old–I keep hearing rumbles about it. I imagine any outdoor venue is going to be a good deal more sizable than Starwood–gots to fill those seats to get the top-tier talent–and parking and access is going to be another issue. You can hit the Fairgrounds from several directions. Anyway, I just miss the stars as the backdrop for all those fine tunes.
What are some of your favorite Starwood memories/shows?
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