The Mountain News – WA

by Bruce A. Smith

The Château Saint Michel Winery, Woodinville, WA; and Nashville

When Wynonna and Naomi opened their 2000 reunion tour in Nashville, my life in Tennessee became cross-pollinated with Judd stories.

 First, I breathed the fine, luxurious mist of enchantment spun by the Queen of Nashville, Miss Wynonna.  Her reunion concert with her mother convinced me she had earned the right to rule Music City. Continue reading →

 By Bruce A. Smith

October, 2008 – The Paramount Theater, Seattle

Attending one of Linda Ronstadt’s Tex-Mex concerts is like driving through the night to Mexico on Spring Break.  When you start off everything looks familiar and everyone is speaking English, but when the sun rises you’re in ol’ Mey-he-co and the only folks you understand are your buddies in the back seat of the car. Continue reading →

by Bruce A. Smith

Key Arena, 2004

 Several years ago I witnessed “Blonde Pride Night” at the Key as 10,000 of Seattle’s finest young cuties celebrated their Blondeness, and paid homage to their Golden Goddess, Britney Spears.  But, I didn’t know that until the show was over. Continue reading →

 by Bruce A. Smith

Editor’s Note: 

 This new column, “Stories from Backstage,” is the recounting of my experiences working in rock and roll and theater as a stagehand.  For several years I worked in Nashville and Seattle where I took calls from private production companies, especially Crew One in the Music City, and did many country and rock show load-ins and load-outs.  However, my preferred work was with the stagehand union in Seattle, IATSE Local 15. Continue reading →