Join Smilin’ Jay McDowell, guitar-player-turned-upright bassist from the small town of West Lafayette, Indiana, as he takes you on his journey from watching and playing in bands in the back room at Lucy’s to traveling the world with BR5-49.
If you lived in Nashville in the 90s and loved live music you may have known about the punk scene at Lucy’s, but you definitely knew about the resurgence of hillbilly and western swing played in the seedy honky tonks on Lower Broad. Jay felt equally at home in both places. Some nights he’d hang out and watch bands at Lucy’s or play a gig there with the band Hellbilly. Other nights he’d go downtown to drink cheap beer and watch Greg Garing, Paul Burch, Tim Carroll, or BR5-49 play at Tootsie’s or Robert’s Western Wear. When he was asked to join BR5-49 he jumped at the chance (it may have been the liquor), switching his primary instrument from guitar to stand-up bass and adding some additional style and substance to a band already bursting with it.
Jay’s tales include his favorite shows at Lucy’s, what the scene was like on Lower Broad both pre- and post-BR5-49, chatting with Keith Richards and John Fogerty, touring with Bob Dylan, and what it was like when ALL the record companies came a-callin’.
This episode is dedicated to John Van Etten (1966-1995), Timothy White (1952-2002), and Jim Bessman (1952-2021).
Smilin’ Jay McDowell heads the video department at The Musicians Hall of Fame in Nashville, TN, which opened to bring attention to studio and road musicians who play a vital role in the creation of music but rarely get the attention they deserve. He even has his own well-deserved exhibit in the museum celebrating his work as a session bass player with artists such as Marty Stuart, Dierks Bentley, The Black Crowes, Alan Jackson, Levon Helm, The Crickets and BR5-49. Go see it.
Jay has edited music videos for many country artists and in 2004 was nominated for an Emmy for his work with Jason Ringenberg on his educational character, Farmer Jason. He also built all of the video content for the Vanderbilt University class, “How Rhythm & Blues Tore Down the Walls of Segregation.” He currently produces “Backstage with Joe Chambers” for The Musicians Hall of Fame which has earned over 100,000 Youtube subscribers and over 15 million views, sits on the Community Advisory Board for WNPT, Nashville Public Television, and contributes a monthly magazine column for Now Dig This.
Episode Music
Hellbilly – Make a Mess
Los Straitjackets – “Fury“
Lambchop – “Cowboy on the Moon“
BR5-49 – “Little Ramona (Gone Hillbilly Nuts)“
BR5-49 – “Ole Slewfoot (Live from Robert’s)“
Additional Mentions/Links:
John Van Etten, The Shindigs, John Delworth, Laura Matter (The genius behind kickball), Hellbilly, The ‘Boro, Fun Girls From Mt. Pilot, Deanna Varagona, Los Straitjackets, Danny Amis, Eddie Angel, Scott Esbeck, Jimmy Lester, Lambchop, BR5-49, Tootsie’s, Robert’s Rhinestone Western Wear, Zach Taylor, Gary Tallent, Timothy White (Billboard), Jim Bessman (Billboard), Greg Garing , Paul Burch, Tim Carroll, Keith Richards, John Fogarty, Bob Dylan
Hear the stories behind the legendary 90’s Nashville record store and all-ages punk club.
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