The Fabulous Time Jumpers - September 25, 2017

On September 25th 2017 Anita and I crossed one more notch off of our Bucket List (and coaxed our friend Jeanne to join us) by visiting Nashville and, more specifically, the 3rd and Lindsley Bar & Grill to see the Time Jumpers perform.

While fellow Time Jumper Vince Gill jokes that the band members bring five hundred years of musical experience to the stage, these prolific studio musicians faithfully reproduce the true sound and enthusiasm of the “Western Swing” music popularized by Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys half a century ago who, in turn, influenced many of Country Music’s legendary stars that followed, such as Merle Haggard, Asleep At The Wheel, and George Strait.

Anita bought the Time Jumpers 2011 CD after hearing Vince Gill on the Imus TV broadcast describe his joy in joining his musical icons on-stage in a small venue where both the performers and their audience savor the opportunity to play and hear the best Western Swing that money can buy, at a very reasonable price that any fan can afford (only twenty bucks). And, when I state that the band and audience alike share in the joy of watching master musicians play, closely watch the faces of the band members in my video and you’ll see the wry smiles, heads bobbing up-and-down affirmatively, and the expressions of sheer amazement that these magnificent musicians have for the talents of their peers.

In a business full of bombastic egotism, it is clear to me that not one of these self-proclaimed “old farts” has a single egotistical or braggadocios bone in his body.

Bravo, Time Jumpers; in an era where we expect to get our money’s worth but seldom do, you men are the happy exception.

Although he is a regular member of the Time Jumpers, Vince Gill was absent for this performance because he had a gig playing with the Eagles that night. As Kenny Sears stated so eloquently, “the boy doesn’t have his priorities straight…”

While we were disappointed that Vince Gill didn’t attend, we were absolutely thrilled with the Time Jumpers performance and highly recommend that if you’re planning a trip to Nashville, check-out the Time Jumpers’ schedule and buy tickets online in advance.

BUT, if you do buy tickets to attend their 8:00 p.m. show note at 3rd & Lindsley that the seating is on a first-come basis so, get there as close the to five p.m. opening as possible to ensure that you’ll get a good table. We were warned in advance by the bar’s staff that, while you’ll likely be bored arriving before five o’clock for an eight o’clock show, you’ll have time to grab a good table and enjoy a leisurely dinner and a few drinks before the show.

I’ll honestly admit that standing in the hot sun for half an hour before the five o'clock opening was brutal but, walking out of the door after watching that amazing group of talented musicians I’d gladly stand in line and do it again anytime!

I tip my Stetson to you all, men, and to the ladies and gentleman at the gate; the bartenders; wait staff; and the chefs for an unforgettable evening!

Bruce

The Band Members:

Kenny Sears – M.C. for the band; fiddle
Joe Spivey – fiddle and vocals
Larry Franklin – fiddle and vocals
Brad Albin – bass
Paul Franklin – steel guitar
Andy Reiss – guitar
Jeff Taylor – vocals, accordion & piano
Billy Thomas – drums
Douglas (Ranger Doug) Green – vocals, guitar