One of my favorite things about attending music conferences and festivals are the crazy comments that you hear along the way. Here are a few choice selections from this year’s AmericanaFest.
If you’re gonna sign to a major label, do it in the 1990’s – it’s the best. Rhett Miller offering advice as he and his Old 97’s bandmates accepted a lifetime achievement award
If you’re gonna be in a band, be in a band with your best friends. Rhett Miller’s parting advice
My immediate response was, “oh no, they think I’m gonna die”. Joe Henry on receiving a lifetime achievement award
We normally lose when we attend. Gillian Welch upon winning duo of the year award
If you want to know what I’m gonna say, just look behind you. Emcee John C. Reilly acknowledging the teleprompter at the awards show
Wish I knew a joke. I do but it’s very dirty. And this is a house of worship. John C. Reilly stalling for time and going off teleprompter during the awards show at the Ryman Auditorium
We’re literally the last showcase on the app. So I called my publicist and told her to tell her to tell everyone that I’m headlining AmericanaFest. kirby baby on his 11pm Saturday night set
It’s a cut throat business to ride high on that big folk dollar. Ben de la Cour
“You’re from Texas, shouldn’t you be wearing a cowboy hat?” If it’s sittin’ on my head, it is a cowboy hat. Joshua Ray Walker recalling a conversation with a ranch kid in California
Your songs are so sensitive and sincere and in between the songs you’re such a little shit. Brian Dunne recalling what a bartender told him after a recent gig
It isn’t easy to make a room feel sexy at 2pm. Langhorne Slim playing at…
I didn’t wanna follow Langhorne Slim but you gotta go somewhere. Brian Dunne
I’ve got some stuff with my name on it. I’ve got the market cornered on that. Joelton Mayfield hawking merch
I’m gonna do a song about my poorest Austin friends moving to NYC and becoming poorer. Colin Gilmore of West Texas Exiles introducing “Running Circles in the Yard”
I try to stay true to the country music topics of relationships, alcoholism, and jail. Darrin Hacquard
I went on tour for two months and if I’m being honest, it was really nice to get out of the house. Langhorne Slim on having a new born baby
I noticed that since I lived here 10 years ago, there seems to be more hot chicken places. Thank God. There were only 15 back then. Robert Ellis
Pick that up and see who it is. Langhorne Slim when a audience member’s phone rang loudly during a serious story he was telling
Someone turned me on to Langhorne Slim when I was in high school and I thought, I gotta get a hat. Brian Dunne
You have time for two more unless it’s like a “Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” situation. Olivia Ellen Lloyd responding to kirby baby’s question about how much time he had left in his set
Sing this one with me if you know it, and especially if you don’t. Langhorne Slim introducing “Changes”
Someone was singing harmonies and it was so beautiful. And instead of enjoying the moment, I was worried that I was gonna screw up the words and you were gonna get them right. Jade Bird covering Big Star’s “Thirteen”
I’ve got lots of parties to see and people to be at. William Prince on the AmericanaFest experience
Rookie mistake. Blow it out the first night like a 15 year old. Anonymous, after night one
This is my first 7 inch record. I might even get one. William Prince
I put out the first single from my new record which will come out in 37 years. It’s a long cycle, I don’t know why. Langhorne Slim
He may be the godfather of that movement. Will Hoge about John Prine starting his own label
One ten. [looks at watch] Oh, it’s one eleven… Artist responding to club staff member’s question about what time he was going on
You know it was meant for one person, “stop throwing tobacco in the urinal, Steve”. Anonymous artist on the sign below.
About the author: Mild-mannered corporate executive by day, excitable Twangville denizen by night.