2008 AMA/Nashville Report
by Joan Hathaway
9.26.08

First Trip to Music City

I have been tempted many times to visit Nashville, but the stars never aligned. This time seemed different. The Americana Music Association has been putting on these great conferences/festivals with a lot of great roots artists. Many I've played on 3RC or have visited the 'Circus. So there were plenty of friends going down. Levon Helm was bringing his ramble to the historic Ryman Auditorium, Jason & the Scorchers were getting together for a reunion, and my buddies Girls Guns and Glory were going to make their Nashville debut. The weather was looking good, airfare was reasonable and they have a zoo for when my ears need a break. I really didn't try to talk myself out of it or into it. This year felt like the right so I pulled the trigger. After I made the commitment, my choice was reaffirmed when they announced the American Beauty Project was going to do a set in honor Jerry Garcia who received the AMA's President award. Yes, this was looking and sounding good.

On Broadway
The Convention Center, Ryman Auditorium, and Country Music Hall of Fame were all within blocks of each other on or near Broadway the main road in town (pictures on to the right). Think of it as the Fanuel Hall of Nashville, but instead of Legal Seafoods, you have Jacks BBQ (recommended) and instead of the Black Rose, you had loud honky tonk after honky tonk (not so recommended). I didn't spend anytime on Broadway just to walk pass the cacophony of sounds competing with each other... similar to 6th Street in Austin on a Saturday night. Cover band after cover band. No thanks I'm off to the Ryman Auditorium to see Levon Helm's Ramble.

Levon Helm's Ramble at the Ryman 09/17/08
The show starts 45 minutes late. I guess its a combination of preparations to record the set for TV/DVD and coordinating all the guests scheduled (and not scheduled) to appear. Billy Bob Thorton introduces Levon and the crowd goes bonkers. The couple next to me cheers, they tell me they've seen Sling Blade a dozen times, it is their favorite movie. OK. I like the movie, but why would anyone watch it a dozen times? Not exactly entertaining. Anyhoo, Billy Bob has been putting out some records recently with his band The Boxmasters. I listened to both CDs of his latest release. I tried, I really did. His band is very good and I can tell Billy Bob loves the music. There are a couple of fun songs in there, but he dropped the f*bomb or some other FCC unfriendly word so no air play for those songs. The others, well, er, uh, his singing totally bums me out. But maybe I'll change my mind when he I see him live. Crap, it was worse. Billy Bob joined the Ramble about half way in and after hearing some really beautiful harmonies, his monotone was a musical dud. However, the audience felt differently as the applause and excitement crecendoed the couple next to me were already making plans to go see him a couple nights later for his full set. Have fun with that.

OK, now that we got that off my chest, Billy Bob didn't tank the show, he just wasn't of the caliber that the other guests and the stellar band which included Larry Campbell (guitar, mando, fiddle, vocals) and his wife Teresa Williams (guitar/vocals), Amy Helm (mando, vocals), Tony Leone (drums when Levon was playing mandolin) with frequent participation by Buddy Miller (guitars/vocals) and Sam Bush (mando, vocals).

Here's the set list with some notes (if you have corrections/confirmations, please email me)

Ophelia - Levon sings, plays drums, smiling and interacting with the crowd. Swells of feedback threaten, but his enthusiasm and charm gives us extra patience.
Baby, Won't You Please Come Home: w/ Little Sammy Davis
Scratch My Back: w/ Little Sammy Davis
You're Gonna Miss Me When I'm Gone (Bye Bye Love): Amy sings
Long Black Veil: Teresa sings -nice
As Long As That Woman Stands By Me: Levon Sings, Amy on drums - nothing complicated, but she keeps the beat.
Ashes of Love: Tony Leoni takes on drumming duties as Levon continues on the mandolin and Larry on fiddle for this cajun infused rocker.
Got A Wide River To Cross: Larry introduces Buddy Miller and Sam Bush, Buddy sings this song after thanking Levon for including it on Dirt Farmer. It was written by Miller and his wife Julie.
Sitting on Top of the World: Sam Bush sings, Levon and Sam trade some vocals, really nice.
Black Girl (in the Pines): Robert Plant and Allison Krauss, Plant sends the song out to Ledbelly w/ Love. Crowd goes cuckoo. Sam and Buddy are still playing.
Deep Elem Blues: Larry sings, Sam and Buddy still playing, Levon on mando, Tony still on drums. I was a bit worried after Plant/Krauss it would be tough to follow, but Larry delivers and keeps the crowd excited.
No Depression: Sheryl Crow plays this on autoharp after telling the audience "I'm a frustrated country singer."
Jesse James: Levon on drums, Crow, Miller, Bush and Levon's band all on stage.
Anna Lee: Just Levon (mando), Larry (guitar), Teresa and Amy on stage. The harmonies are gorgeous, Levon delivers with eloquence although his voice begins to fade.
Rag Mama Rag: Sam and Buddy return, keyboard player is singing, I can't see who he is - could be Glenn Patscha of Ollabelle (?). He's nailing it though. Larry and Sam trade off some killer fiddle and the trombone solo just adds some funky sparkle to the song. All smile when they sing the line " they drink beer in the Ryman."
Everybody Loves A Winner: Amy on vocals, Levon back on drums, Larry on guitar, horn section adding some nice flavor here.
Take Time Out For the Blues: Teresa sings, Larry on guitar and Levon on drums
Holy Cow, What Are You Doing to Me: Delbert McClinton sings, Buddy and Sam return. Levon on drums.
Slow Train Shuffle: Billy Bob Thorton w/ the Boxmasters, plus Larry on guitar, Levon on drums.
The Shape I'm In: keyboard player singing (Glenn Patscha?) another tuba or trombone solo, my view of the horn section is blocked by Levon.
She's a Sea (?): Larry sings, he sounds a bit like Steve Winwood to me. And that's a good thing.
The Weight: Larry introduces John Hiatt, Little Sammy Davis, Sam Bush, Buddy Miller, Sheryl Crow return to the stage. John only sings one verse. He was advertised as playing this show and I can't help but think he was cut because they wanted to squeeze Billy Bob in for a song. Thinking like that gets me agitated. I'll stop.
Forever Young (Encore): Levon calls Steve Earle & Allison Moorer from the audience to the stage. All performers sans Krauss and Plant return for a pretty messy version of the song. That's OK, everyone's having a good time and Levon is smiling. It's a special night indeed.

Sorry no pictures. I could not secure a photo pass and I won't do covert picture taking. You'll just have to find them elsewhere (there were lots of photographers there) or look out for the TV broadcast or DVD. I'm sure they will have that info at levonhelm.com.

Americana Music Association Music Awards Show ~ Ryman Auditorium, 09/18/08
Awards shows are tough beasts to manage. There's a lot of patting on the back and thanking mom, god, and other loved ones joined with musical performances and one-off pairings. Too much chatter and folks won't wait it out, but it's an awards show so its all about the back patting. Jim "Americana" Lauderdale approached the MC task with an upbeat manner that mixed a bit of PT Barnum (hocking Americana) and touch of Opryland camp. It worked for the most part and kept the show moving along. The only real putter at the show was the long acceptance speech by Mike Farris who won the New Emerging Artist Award. I think it went for a few minutes, but he redeemed himself with his scorching version of Oh Mary Don't You Weep. Wow. I'll go see him play anytime, I just won't go to a book signing of his anytime soon. Joan Baez gave the most eloquent and gracious acceptance speech. Looking swank and composed, she spoke of the Nashville musicians she worked with in the past and her recent collaboration with Steve Earle (Earle produced her upcoming release). She performed The Day After Tomorrow from the upcoming release of the same name. Earle also presented Baez with a Lifetime Achievement Award for Spirit of Americana Free Speech in Music.

Performing highlights from the awards ceremony include Robert Plant singing with Buddy Miller on an upcoming Miller release in which Plant sings the bluesy song Whatcha Gonna Do Leroy. Miller was awarded Instrumentalist of the Year. Justin Townes Earle singing Hard Livin' from his Bloodshot records debut, with the fabulous house band that included Larry Campbell, Buddy Miller, and Dennis Crouch (bass). Jim Lauderdale performed Hittin' It Hard from his Honey Songs release (Yep Roc) in memory of Chris Gaffney. It was nice to have Gaffney recognized given his tremendous contributions to Americana music. Levon, Larry, Amy and Teresa reprise the beautiful rendition of Anna Lee. Levon was awarded Artist of the Year. John Hiatt delivered a beautiful solo/piano performance of Have a Little Faith in Me. Hiatt was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award for Songwriting. Jerry Garcia is awarded posthumously the President's Award. He is called an "American original" and I couldn't agree more. The house band, Levon, John Hiatt, Mike Farris, Lauderdale, and others close the show with the Grateful Dead's Tennessee Jed. It was sloppy as hell, but luckily Levon knew (most of) the words and kept the large impromptu group from derailing the song. A nice intro to the next portion of the evening. The American Beauty Project at Cannery Ballroom.

For full list of AMA Awards please visit the AMA website here.
Again, I was not provided a photo pass for the Awards show. So again, no pictures to share other than the exterior of the Ryman just before the awards.

The American Beauty Project ~ Cannery Ballroom, Nashville, 09/18/08


Pictured left to right: Teresa Williams, Larry Campbell, Buddy Miller, Tony Leone, Fionna McBain, Cat Williams, Jim Lauderdale, Byron Isaacs, Glenn Patscha, and Amy Helm.

Early last year in NYC, the American Beauty Project, put on 2 nights of music under the glass atrium at New York's City World Financial District. One night the performance was of Workingman's Dead the other Night American Beauty. Jack O'Hara (Eggs Over Easy) had ran the sound for the shows. He was never a Grateful Dead fan, and when he visited the 3 Ring Circus a couple months later had raved about how good the scene was and how good the songs were. I could not make the trek to NYC, but was thrilled when the AMA announced that the American Beauty Project would perform at the AMA Festival.

About 300 people attended the performance at Cannery Ballroom, plenty of room for any deadhead to strut his/her stuff and a photographer to mill around. Although it was a relatively light attendance, those that were there were smiling ear to ear. This was a love fest of great songs done to the letter while others done with playful and dramatic interpretations. Tonight's band included Ollabelle members, Amy Helm (vocals/mando), Fionna McBain (guitar/vocals), Byron Isaacs (bass), Tony Leone (drums), and Glenn Patscha (keys, vocals) as well as Larry Campbell (guitar, mando, fiddle, vocals), Teresa Williams (vocals), Jim Lauderdale (guitar/vocals), Buddy Miller (guitar/vocals) and an artist that is new to me, Catherine (Cat) Williams (vocals/mando). This was a night of tight harmonies, strings and artistic interplay. Here's the set list with some notes. Corrections/confirmations please email me.

Black Peter: Jim Lauderdale sings, deadheads would call this a Country Peter given the country treatment of this song.
Candyman: Tony Leone sings and plays drums at the same time, gives a soulful performance.
Easy Wind: (no notes...oops)
New Speedway Boogie: Sung by Cat Williams with a bluesy delivery that makes it relevant for today's bad times.
Wharf Rat: Glenn Patscha delivers the vocal urgency of this song reminiscent of Garcia's moan.
Cumberland Blues: Jim Lauderdale leads this song vocally, Buddy and Larry duel on the guitars with Larry pulling away.
Ripple: Fionna sings sweetly to an rapt audience.
Box of Rain: Amy leads, Teresa, Fionna, and Cat harmonize. Amy is pleased to get through all the words without derailing. She signals 'safe' when she completes the song. Nice job bringing this one home.
Deal: Buddy takes this one on vocally and with his scorching guitar. A blaze of glory.
High Time: Cat leads the vocals on this tune.
Casey Jones: Lauderdale does vocal duty. Larry goes into a cocaine frenzy ala Speedy West increasing the time on the song like a train speeding on the tracks.
Attics of My Life: Teresa, Larry and Amy deliver a beautiful acapella version of this Dead rarity. The Dead never sounded this good. (Hey harmonies were never their forte live).
Going Down the Road (Feelin' Bad): Everyone returns to the stage except for Buddy. The feel good song about feeling bad ends the night of the American Beauty Project.

Blind Alfred Reed Tribute at the Ford Theater, Country Music Hall of Fame 9/18/2008
An afternoon performance/lecture on Reed hosted by Tim O'Brien was a time to pick up some knowledge. I had played a couple songs for the compilation Always Lift Him Up: A Tribute to Blind Alfred Reed, but I didn't know that much about him. Reed who recorded during the dust bowl years supported his family of 5 as a blind musician. Quite a feat given the times and his disability. I only made it for the last half of the performance and was glad to catch John Lilly playing Lift Him Up & Never Let Him Down and Charlie McCoy singing The Fate of Chris Lively & Wife, while playing piano. McCoy about to be inducted into the West Virginia Country Music Hall of Fame is a session man from way back having played with Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison, Johnny Cash and more. O'Brien and Kathy Mattea took turns singing Reed songs looking at 2 different perspectives Reed had about women. O'Brien first with She's Been After Men Ever Since and Mattea with Just To Have 'Em That's All. Country legend and wife of Marty Stuart, Connie Smith, took the helm on The Prayer of the Drunkard's Little Girl and the group returned for another tune that still rings true today How Can a Poor Man Stand Such Times and Live."Pictured right concluding the performance are Charlie T, Tim O'Brien, Connie Smith, and Kathy Mattea.

Country Music Hall of Fame

While at the Country Music Hall of Fame I got to see Carlene Carter perform. She held back the tears as she introduced Me & the Wildwood Rose, which spoke of her grandmother Maybelle Carter as Carlene strummed the autoharp. I got to explore the Kitty Wells Exhibit, Gram Parson's nudie suit, and Hank's guitar. But nothing could prepare me for Webb Pierce's car . Pimped out by Nudie Cohen the '62 Bonneville convertible has steer horns up across the front grill, hand-tooled leather seats with impeccable detail, pistols for door handles, sterling horse head ornaments, a saddle console, and silver dollars wallpaper the dash that all scream country bling!

Showcases

Wednesday Night ~ The Basement at Grimey's Record Store
After Levon's Ramble at the Ryman, I trucked on over The Basement to catch a couple sets to close out the night. The Basement is downstairs from Grimey's Record Store,(think In Your Ear in Harvard Sq). Grimey's is stacked with new/used music in all media. It's cool and musty. Downstairs, the club creatively called The Basement is similar in size as the Lizard Lounge, but unlike the Lizard , The Basement smelled like a basement. Definitely had a mustiness to it, but hey that's the smell of rock being incubated. How many musical dreams started in a basement? The world may never know. Back to the music. Patrick Sweany (pictured right) never disappoints. A newly minted "Nashvillian" (Sweany moved to E. Nashville the week before) this long-time Ohio boy displayed impressive guitar prowess on Don't Think About It (note: a Dog ran across the stage during this song adding a little irony), the sharp guitar sting of The Hornet and what seemed to come from nowhere, but must be on his mind, a moody and bluesy version of AC/DC's It's a Long Way to the Top If You Want to Rock and Roll. The Dedringers from Austin played some nice Stonesy blues earlier in the night. I missed these guys at SXSW last year so I was pleased to be able to catch them in Nashville. The rhythm section looked familiar and turns out to be Hayes Carll's touring band. AMA Note: Hayes' tune She Left Me For Jesus won the AMA Song of the Year, however these guys did not play on the record.

Thursday Night ~ Mercy Lounge/Cannery Ballroom
After the AMA Awards I head over to The Mercy Lounge/Cannery Ballroom. I like this upstairs-downstairs convenience, like the Middle East here in Cambridge, but these clubs are larger and are isolated from anything else in town. A rough description would be upstairs is Harper's Ferry and downstairs is the Iron Horse. I catch some of Jason & the Scorchers at the Mercy Lounge (upstairs). Mojo Nixon introduces these pioneers of cow-punk, Nashville natives , and recipients of the AMA Lifetime Achievement Award for Best Live Performance earlier in the night, so they are pumped. Ringenberg and Co. turn it up to 11 and stay there. Original Scorcher drummer, Perry Baggs quickly joins the band on vocals (not drums) and a good time is had by all. The crowd is packed and I get beat up a bit at the front of the stage trying to take pictures, but survive to make the American Beauty Project show downstairs at Cannery Ballroom (see review above).

Friday Night ~ Some Club Hopping
I'm feeling more confident about navigating this town and timing and decide to risk some club hopping. I begin the night at the Station Inn to catch Chatham County Line. This is a great place to see them. Casual atmosphere with long picnic type tables and good sight lines from any where in the club. If I knew they served food, I would have arrived earlier for some pizza. I'm one of the last ones in, but it's comfortable and the band delivers a solid performance. Dave introduces Route 23 and comments on the gas crisis that is currently consuming central Tennessee (more on that later). I'm always impressed at their simple set up and of 2 mics and how they just mix on the fly. I zip over to the Mercy Lounge to catch Boston's Girls Guns & Glory. I was amused by the trashy drunk chicks who 'greeted' Ward when he took the stage shaking her, er, groove things at him as he opened the show. They were having fun and it was great to see the hometown boys get a warm reception in Music City. Lots of dancing and smiling faces. Given the celebrity draw of Billy Bob Thorton playing downstairs they had a pretty decent attendance and there was a lot of dancing. Paul Thorn followed and brought the fire and brimstone. I love this guy, I saw him open for Junior Brown at Johnny D's solo a few years back and he was great. Sadly here, it's too loud and I just can't seem to stay with it. I go downstairs to see a bit of Cross Canadian Ragweed, they have a hard rock sound and good too, but I have a hankering for something else.

I boogie over to 3rd & Lindsay to catch Mike Farris. 3rd & Lindsay reminded me of Night Stage with a balcony overlooking a small room. For you younger kids reading cut the Paradise Lounge in half and squeeze the tables closer together and you're almost there. I head up to the balcony and find a corner to watch. Man, Farris and his band were incredible. I got my soul swayed. This is what I needed to recharge the batteries. It was a bit odd to see this large band in such a small room, but I'll take it. Three horns, a couple guitars, the McCrary Sisters on back up vocals. Wow. I felt bad for The Coal Men who followed, they had an indie rock, pensive sound, but at 1 a.m., that wasn't going to cut it for me. So I headed back to The Station Inn to catch Jim Lauderdale and his Bluegrass Band. Now I saw Jim at 11am that day at the Convention Center, the night before at the American Beauty Project and hosting the AMA Awards. If he's slept at all this week, you can probably count the hours on one hand. On the drive over I'm thinking, I've seen enough of this guy, but if he's up playing, I can at least be up watching. I'm glad I made the trip. It was good to see Jim with his band in the intimate Station Inn. He dedicated Love in Ruin to a certain ex-girlfriend who he fears may wield some mighty powers on Nov. 4 and make his life tough on him... and everyone else. He also performed a beautiful version of It's a Trap and The King of Broken Hearts. A perfect way to end the evening.

Saturday

I've learned from SXSW, I just gotta take a break from music. If I don't then I'll just fade too early or be cranky and not enjoy anything. You just have to take a zen approach and go where the force leads you. So, Saturday morning I head out to lunch and the zoo. After my quality time with the gibbons I saunter over to The Basement to catch Americanarama II showcase at The Basement. Beatle Bob is acting as MC. A film crew is following him (still?). I'm still not able to dive back into music, but find a perch just outside the main room away from the packed crowd and enjoy Uncle Monk, Seth Walker, and Otis Gibbs. I smile when Girls Guns & Glory get Beatle Bob'd (pictured left). I suspect in a couple years when they get a couple tours under their belt, they'll know who he is and why I'm amused. Until then, I explore a little bit more of Grimey's and retreat to my hotel for a little break before closing night of the AMA. I try to get some BBQ back at Jack's, but no go. There's a Titan's game in the morning or its just another busy Saturday night on Broadway. So I head toward Vanderbilt University. The Authentic Noshville New York Deli sign catches my eye. In addition to the conflicting statement, to me, this is like going to eat at Kentucky Fried Chicken when you are in Kentucky. You know you shouldn't but you think this sounds like fun. I'm not thinking too hard, that's what being zen is for me. Well, I got a really greasy Ruben, OK Rubens are greasy by nature, so maybe I just ordered wrong. Anyhoo, I sip a tall glass of ice tea and mop up the grease with french fries (I told you I wasn't thinking too hard). I head over to the Cannery Ballroom. It's a big night and its time to re-enter the madness. I get lucky. I am the second to last car in the lot. The gate closes as I am instructed to park in a makeshift spot. Whew, I don't care I'm in. Denial into the parking lot would have changed the whole night, but I'm letting zen be my guide... for better (I get into the show) or worse (greasy food).

It's a big night. Glen Campbell is playing at the Cannery Ballroom and Buddy Miller, Chuck Meade, Gary Louris & Mark Olsen all have sets at the Mercy Lounge, plus there's a hootenanny with free fried chicken and waffles closing the night. The decision to come here for my last night was a no-brainer. Campbell & the Sin City Allstars provided a large musical safety net for Campbell as he made his grand entrance. He sings a couple tunes from his new release of covers called "Meet Glenn Campbell" (Capitol) including Travis' "Sing" and Green Day's "Good Riddance." Honestly, I'm not familiar with the original songs so this is the first time I am hearing them. It's nice to see Campbell on the stage in good health and spirits. The stage is crowded with the Sin City Allstars commanded by Bryson Jones and includes guests such as Jesse Dayton, Chuck Meade, Jason Ringenberg, Raul Malo, Jim Lauderdale and more. It's all going quite swell, but when Campbell, who is now 72 and has been in the music biz for over 50 years utters the words, "I've been walking these streets so long..." the crowd and band go bananas. Rhinestone Cowboy is one of Campbell's signature songs and hearing it in Nashville, by Campbell, at his age - really resonates. He closes the short 4 song set with Southern Nights which makes everyone feel that they indeed, had a special Summer Night.

Pictures from left to right: ? Chuck Meade, Jim Lauderdale, Jesse Dayton, Jason Ringenberg, Bryson Jones, ?,?, Glen Campbell.

Buddy Miller is on fire these days. He's another ubiquitous Nashville musician who is spotted from dusk to dawn this week; with Levon Helm, Robert Plant and the house band at the AMA's, the American Beauty Project, now he gets this turn at doing his own thing. And he delivers a gritty bluesy set at the Mercy Lounge. The place was packed and Miller just tore it up on Worry Too Much. And he really turned up the heat when Bonnie Bramlett joined him in singing Smokey Robinson's You Really Got A Hold On Me. Yowza!

Gary Louris and Mark Olsen (Jayhawks) provided the alt-country soundtrack that I hadn't heard during the week. When they did the Jayhawks' song Clouds from Hollywood Town Hall it felt familiar and new. Its somber tones a comforting embrace and warm respite. Later, Chuck Mead & the Grassy Knoll Boys, yes, you read that right. BR549 frontman Mead kicks it up for the home town crowd with his Grassy Knoll Boys. He's got the twang, the soul, and a damn fine horn section to boot. Will he record this band? Gosh I hope so. I think I danced to this set the most of the evening, but behind the Grassy Knoll Solid Golden OIdie Dancers who were trying to out-do each other in who can do the wackiest dance (Beatle Bob has met his match).

The Sin City Hootenanny closes off the night downstairs at the Cannery Ballroom. We've got Jesse Dayton, fried chicken and waffles. This Southern hospitality is working for me. The band kicks into The Weight, which coincadinkly closed off my first night in town at Levon's Ramble. My zen senses queue me that this would be a good time to end the night and the week. A fitting punctuation to a wonderful week of music in Music City as I leave Cannery Ballroom feeling pretty good as I bite into another leg of fried chicken.

Around Town

Gas Lines and No Gas
This was really odd, across the street from my hotel there were long lines to the gas station. I thought maybe Thursday was dollar off day or something. When I returned later in the day the lines had tripled in length and were coming in 2 different directions blocking the intersection. When I asked at the hotel desk if there is a special on gas. I'm told, there is NO gas. Apparently hurricane Ike took Nashville and about a 20 mile radius off the gas line and there was no gas. I can't explain why people were in line. The hotel clerk told me she saw 6 cars run out while waiting in line, but I can tell you that fist fights broke out (someone cut in line) and it was a real traffic danger when traveling along other roads in the right hand lane. Only to abruptly come to a complete stop, then realizing, hey this is a gas line! I adapted, stayed in the middle lane, didn't take any long trips, and kept my fingers crossed the syphoners weren't out in force. The lines still looked like this when I left on Saturday and I didn't bother trying to top off the tank of my car rental. I figured they'd gouge me when I returned the car and they didn't disappoint. They charged me a hefty $6:00 per gallon. Thank goodness I only used up 4 gallons on the trip. It was a reminder that just one of these days, we will run out and the chaos we'll endure if we are not prepared.

Nashville Zoo at Grassmere
I did get an opportunity to take a music break and visit the Nashville Zoo at Grassmere. The only day it was overcast and gray, but that's OK. It's a nice zoo and part of the Zoo New England collaboration so I was able to visit using my local zoo membership. I didn't have time to explore the whole zoo, but what I do like about zoos in southern climates is the primates being able to hang outdoors. They had a nice exhibit of White Cheeked Gibbons (males are black - go figure) and I spent quite a bit of time just watching them hang around as I did the same. Click on the images for a larger view. I love monkeys.

Three Ring Circus Home