opry backstage

this lunch stop became, unexpectedly, the highlight of our trip.  miranda and levi wanted to go out for a special meal, just the two of them (it was their anniversary while we were down there), and barbara and james just wanted a quiet afternoon, so diana, lissa, aaron, and i headed out for lunch.  we decided to go to the opryland backstage restaurant.  it was a nice place, the food was pretty good, but the amazing part happened as we were leaving.  they had a gift shop that lissa wanted to check out.  as we were at the cash register, lissa struck up a conversation with the guy working there.  he said that he was one of the 'singing waiters' at the restaurant.  lissa asked what that was, and he told us that he's usually a waiter but sometimes goes up on stage and plays his guitar and sings for the customers.  well, lissa was all about that and asked if he could go up and play for us.  he said 'sure' and proceeded to strap on his guitar and walked up on stage!  we headed back in and grabbed a seat to enjoy the improptu show.  he started playing and all four of us were shocked at how fantastic he was- like really really good!  the best part of the show? we were literally the only people there so it was a show just for us!  as he was on stage he just kept talking to us and giving little stories about his life and different songs he would then perform.  his musical tastes run similar to mine (keeping in mind this is nashville)- he loved 90's country and garth brooks.  he asked if we had any requests, so of course i called out 'blackhawk'!  he was absolutely thrilled with that one and told us a whole story about how much he loved blackhawk!  he dared me to try and stump him, so i called out 'thinking problem' by david ball.  well it worked, he was stumped- and felt really embarrassed about it!  he asked for another request, whatever i wanted.  since he had mentioned michael jackson earlier, i told him i'd love to hear a countryfied version of a michael jackson song- he then proceeded to play the coolest 'man in the mirror' cover i've ever heard!
finally, after about an hour, he wrapped it up saying that he really should get back to work.  oh, that's right, he was actually on the clock this whole time!  oops!  well, we were absolutely amazed with his talent and willingness to humor us for so long.  like i said, this turned out to be one of the greatest part of the whole week in nashville!  thanks again for the amazing concert, bradley brassfield!
(more pics)