Three chords and…
Nashville’s newest music venue, The Truth, officially opened its doors last week, with Miranda Lambert delivering the first show in the state-of-the-art performance space.
The 4,400-capacity venue is located in Nashville’s up-and-coming Wedgewood-Houston neighborhood just south of downtown Music City, The Truth features a 3-level main performance space that includes seats and private boxes on the upper levels, a mezzanine bar with views of the stage, an exclusive “Vinyl Room” indoor and outdoor listening lounge, and my personal favorite, a setlist studio with an old-school letterpress that will be printing setlists from each show available for purchase.
The venue already has a ton of shows booked in the coming months, with The Chicks, Tedeschi Trucks Band, HARDY, Jo Dee Messina, Stephen Wilson Jr., and many, many more all scheduled to headline The Truth. And reviews are already rolling in after fans are starting to get their first look at the new space, but it seems that many people have the same question:
Why is it called The Truth?
The name seems to be causing quite a bit of confusion, with many not understanding why the venue is named The Truth. And I’ll admit, I didn’t quite get it at first, but as it turns out the name was thoughtfully chosen for the Nashville venue.
The name “The Truth” comes from the famous quote from legendary country songwriter Harlan Howard, the writer behind songs like “I Fall To Pieces,” “Life Turned Her That Way,” “Why Not Me,” and many, many others. And it was Howard who gave us one of the defining quotes in country music history when defining the genre:
“Country music is three chords and the truth.”
The line has gone on to be used as the title for numerous country songs and albums, books, documentaries and movies about country music over the years. And according to the website for The Truth:
“That phrase, most often credited to legendary songwriter Harlan Howard, has echoed through writing rooms, recording booths, and late-night conversations for decades. It’s both a motto and a manifesto that crosses genres from country music to punk rock. Songs built on three chords and the truth aren’t always tidy or perfect, but they’re grounded, gutsy, and full of soul.”
The venue even has Howard’s famous quote greeting concertgoers as they enter the building:
(I was really hoping the venue would have a bar named Three Chords inside, so you would have Three Chords in The Truth. Maybe someday).
So there you have it. If you’re heading to The Truth for a show, now you know where the name comes from. Although if you’re a fan of country music and its legendary songwriting, chances are you probably already figured it out.
