That’s not exactly a group of guys who decided one day they should start a band.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That’s a group of guys who already knew what they were doing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Bluefields apparently came together when Blanton moved back to Nashville and reconnected with Hodges. Hodges introduced him to Baird, and the three started writing songs in Blanton’s basement studio. Pemberton eventually joined them, and The Bluefields were born.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Their own description of the band talks about platinum records, a Grammy nomination, a Lifetime Achievement Award and songs that became rock-and-roll standards. That’s quite a r\u00e9sum\u00e9 for a band that, honestly, I don’t remember hearing much about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And that’s the thing I can’t quite figure out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why weren’t The Bluefields bigger?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n I’m not saying they weren’t successful. They made four albums, toured, played overseas and developed a following. But put those four names on a poster and you’d think people would have been lined up around the block.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Maybe Nashville has always been a little weird that way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Back in the late ’80s, Nashville had a pretty impressive rock scene. Jason and the Scorchers, Royal Court of China, Raging Fire, Walk the West, The Questionnaires and Webb Wilder and the Beatnecks were all part of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And apparently I wasn’t paying nearly enough attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nashville actually looked like it might become a legitimate rock-and-roll town. There was a local radio station playing the stuff. Record companies were signing Nashville rock bands. Music people were coming to town looking for the next big thing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Then, as happens with these things, it didn’t quite happen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Scorchers didn’t become the next U2. Royal Court of China didn’t become the next big rock band. Webb Wilder developed a devoted following but never became a household name. Nashville’s rock scene eventually got overshadowed by, well… Nashville.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And I wish I had seen more of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I did get to see Webb Wilder and the Beatnecks back then, which I’m particularly glad about. Webb is still out there “spankin’ the plank”, and I still try to go see him whenever he’s playing nearby. There’s something pretty cool about seeing somebody decades later who you remember from when they were part of that Nashville scene.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But I wish I’d seen the Scorchers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I wish I’d seen Royal Court of China.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I wish I’d gone to see some of those other bands that were playing the clubs around Nashville when all of this was happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And now I discover The Bluefields.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I’m not even sure The Bluefields are still an active band. Joe Blanton has gone on to other projects, including Million Dollar Emperors and The Chefs, and the Bluefields’ own website seems to be pointing toward some of those newer endeavors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Maybe that’s OK.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Bluefields weren’t trying to recreate their younger selves or become the next big thing. They were four guys who had spent years making music, got together, plugged in some guitars and made some very good rock and roll.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Which makes me wonder how many other Nashville bands I’ve missed over the years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Probably a bunch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And that’s the frustrating part.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I was there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I just didn’t know I was supposed to be paying attention.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Every once in a while, I discover a band that makes me wonder what the heck I was doing when they were playing. The Bluefields are one of those bands. The Bluefields were a Nashville rock band that got together … Continue reading