So much for the “Chick-fil-a of honky tonks” I guess?
When Garth Brooks announced that he would become the latest artist to open their own bar in downtown Nashville, I was cautiously optimistic.
I mean sure, other than Alan Jackson and John Rich, most of the artist owned bars are pretty much the same: Massive multi-story nightclub-type venues that play more classic rock and top 40 pop music than country and are about the furthest thing from a honky tonk that you can imagine.
But as Garth started explaining his idea for his new concept, appropriately named Friends in Low Places (getting real creative there), I was hopeful that we might actually get a real country bar in Nashville – something that’s become pretty unique around here these days.
āIād love it to be a classic honky tonk. Cause country music to me has been so good to me.
And I want to hear, on lower Broadway in 2022, I want to hear King George coming out of that honky tonk. I want to hear Haggard coming out of that honky tonk.
And I donāt think thatās impossible to ask. But I also think you can play Luke Bryan in there, I think you can play Chesney in there, I think you can play Yearwood, McEntire, Dolly with the new group too, the Ashleys.
Whatās coming out of those speakersā¦ undeniably country music. So thatās what Iām hoping, Iām hoping this place is a thumpinā place that always looks like something is going crazy in there. I like that.
But when you walk in, I hope itās country music that you hear.ā
As Garth would say: I like that.
But Garth recently took to social media to unveil the logo for Friends in Low Places, and now I’m just confused.
So are we getting a honky tonk or a tiki bar?
Not gonna lie, nothing about that logo screams “classic honky tonk.” That looks like a logo for Kenny Chesney’s (inevitable) bar, not somewhere you’d go to hear King George and Merle Haggard.
Then again, Garth is kind of a wild card (that’s the nicest way I could think of to say that he’s a weird ass dude) so the logo could have nothing to do with the actual concept of the bar. Maybe he was just listening to “Two Pina Coladas” when he came up with it. Who knows.
I guess we’ll find out soon what we’re really going to get from Friends in Low Places. Is it a honky tonk? Is it a tiki bar? Is it something completely different?
Looks like we really are, slipping down to the oasis….
I guess with Garth you never really know what you’re going to get.