Dear Kay,
I was a groupie for a band exactly once. I wasn’t very good at whatever it is that groupies typically do—you know, the low-rent behavior, the screaming—because it wasn’t really that sort of band. I think we went to Shoney’s once and overdid on Hot Fudge Cake. Beyond that, it was pretty mild stuff.
The band was The Young Nashvillians, and it was 1982. When I look at this footage of the band rehearsing in my husband’s parents’ basement, I see 19-year-old me sitting on the steps with my much cuter sister Buffy, and I think: I’ve loved The Young Nashvillians for a really, really long time.
I broke groupie etiquette by marrying the guy (Hubbo is the one faking it on the drums at the beginning), and now, The Young Nashvillians have returned after a bit of a hiatus. A 32-year hiatus. This past summer, this band of friends reunited to record songs that have been percolating for three decades, and the result is a new EP, “Two Sides of the Young Nashvillians.” Two sides, four songs, including two songs just in time for Christmas: “Me and Mrs. Claus” and “Christmas Vacation Time.”
Here’s “Me and Mrs. Claus,” the love song of a heartsick elf.
The Young Nashvillians make me laugh, every time. They have a legion of fans who know the words to “Vanderbilt in France” and “Jumper Cables,” including Nashville Scene editor Jim Ridley who checked in with the lads in this week’s issue.
Here’s the promo for “Two Sides of The Young Nashvillians”:
The vinyl edition is available at Grimey’s in Nashville and online at CD Baby. Digital edition available at Bandcamp.
Forever young? Maybe. Forever Young Nashvillians? Absolutely!
Love,
Ann
Jumper Cables!!!! “from my car to your car!” oh my gosh! thanks for the trip down memory lane! i don’t think i ever saw them live, but i must have heard them on WRVU. i miss that station!
Thanks Ann, I loved this. The world needs more songs about casual footwear. Not sure about the elf and Mrs C – the last thing we need at this time of year is Santa stressing out. 🙂
PRICELESS!!!! I love this and what a tribute to everlasting relationships! Thanks so much for sharing this, it really made my Sunday morning! xo Tammy
Sunday morning belly laugh material…”Me and Mrs. Claus” getting us in the spirit….
In the spirit for what exactly? ????
How wonderful to wake up to the Young Nashvillians!
And there was me, studying Torts when I could have been hanging in the Shaynes’ basement.
LOVE the Christmas songs particularly.
Smart lyrics & cute boys – it’s surprising they didn’t have a basement full of groupies! Cheers to old friendships!
I am calling Connie Britton with a suggestion to put the Young Nashvillians in an episode of “Nashville.”
Wow super-impressed with their sound as a teenage band (they were really good!)… and evolution to adults. Thanks for the ongoing entertainment, Ann and Kay. Merry Christmas to both of you!
What a hoot! Good looking then, good looking now! What a great sound with a 60’s vibe in 1982, I love it! What a great “how I met my husband” story to share!