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A Grand Night at the Grand Ole Opry with TajMo and More in Nashville
by Rich and Laura Lynch
Our Memorial Day Weekend kicked off on May 23, 2025 at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee. The Grand Ole Opry is the world's longest running radio show. For 100 years, The Opry has been presenting and preserving the legacy of country music. People from around the globe tune in or in some cases travel to Music City to experience it live. In honor of the holiday, a number of Friday's artists made it a point to thank those who have fought for our freedom.
We were invited to cover TajMo on their album release day in Music City.
Although The Opry is known for country its stage has hosted other types of music during its lengthy history. In fact, one of the reasons that we were at this concert was to celebrate the release of Room On The Porch from TajMo who might be better described as a blues duo. Room On The Porch finds the pair back in peak form, playing to each other's strengths while exploring new creative horizons more than a half-century into their storied careers. The album runs the gamut from Americana to blues, folk, jazz and even country.
TajMo also had an all-start backing band that included their sons to round out the record in fine form. Almost a decade ago, these two talents combined their names and skills on the TajMo album which was a smash hit winning a Grammy along with rave reviews so Room On The Porch is their sophomore effort.
Taj Mahal and Keb' Mo' proved that their award-winning duo is no fluke in Nashville.
Taj Mahal's early sound echoed of the Mississippi Delta and soon expanded into jazz, rock and world. Over the course of more than six decades and nearly 50 albums, Taj has won five Grammy Awards along with other accolades and he has collaborated with the likes of Bob Marley, Eric Clapton and the Rolling Stones. Keb' Mo' started off as a well-respected session guy before going solo in 1994. He too has a number of Grammys and has worked with Bonnie Raitt, Lyle Lovett and Willie Nelson to name just a few.
"That first album turned out so great that part of me wondered if maybe we just got lucky," Keb' says with a laugh. "I always figured it was a one-time thing. But when we got back into the studio together, I felt that same magic again, and I realized it wasn't luck at all."
"The two of us collaborating has always been a very organic thing," Taj reflects. "We have different skill sets that go well together, and even though it'd been a while since we'd played together, it was easy to get back to that same creative place we landed with the first album."
Matthew West, Dustin Lynch, Connie Smith and John Conlee helped celebrate Opry 100 in Nashville.
At The Opry the dynamic duo opened with the title track. It had a warm, welcoming vibe. "That song started out as a little guitar piece I used to play by myself after shows when I was still wired from the stage," Taj recalls when taking about tune. "I shared it with everybody in the studio, and then Keb' and Ruby built this whole beautiful song around it."
Quite a few of the tracks from the new album are about community, friendship and love. Next, the engaging "Better Than Ever" - (featuring Wendy Moten on the record) - focused on the silver lining in every cloud. "All Around The World" from their previous effort was an animated anthem calling for peace, love and happy children something very much needed in these turbulent times.
TajMo got a standing ovation on what we found out during their post-segment interview by Opry host Charlie Mattos was proclaimed TajMo Day by Nashville's Mayor Freddie O'Connel. It was then announced that the first 80 fans who purchased Room On The Porch would not only be getting a CD of great music but an after-show intimate gig with the two who were scheduled to play a few more songs from the new release. Extras, surprises and unannounced invites to join The Opry can happen at anytime which only adds to the uniqueness of each Opry broadcast.
TajMo was part of a grand night of music at The Opry, however there were quite a few more grand moments on Friday. Matthew West who has penned plenty of number ones encouraged the crowd with the song "Nobody" telling people that they have a purpose. Matthew made a few humorous comments before presenting the heartwarming "18 Summers" written for his daughter. West ended his set with a reminder to be kind because everybody is fighting a battle with the advice "Don't Stop Praying".
Ashley McBryde, The Band Loula and Restless Road rounded out a grand night at the Opry.
John Conlee - an Opry member since 1981 - played his classics along with the moving "Scars In Heaven" which is a tune that Matthew West had co-written with the band Casting Crowns. The talented trio that goes by the name Restless Road caught our ears with their refined harmonies and concluded their fine presentation with a new song about where they each are in life right now which included an introduction to the special ladies in their lives.
Connie Smith has been part of the Opry family since 1965 so she brought a more traditional country sound to her segment with the highpoint being "Way Up On The Mountain" a spiritual that took us from despair to hope. The Band Loula who are a duo portrayed a darker side of country as they presented a story about a marriage that ends in murder before ultimately seeking forgiveness. The tale got a standing ovation which must have made their first time playing The Opry even more memorable.
Dustin Lynch and closer Ashley McBryde have been in the circle quite a few times. Lynch shared that he always plays "Cowboys and Angles" when here as it was that song that got him to the Opry in the first place. Plus, it is a sentimental piece penned for his grandparents. He also played something called "Chevrolet" which he explained was a red-neck spin on the classic "Drift Away" by Dobie Gray. Ashley - who will be performing at Nissan Stadium during CMA 2025 - presented her contemporary tunes but chose to end the evening with the classic "Cheating Heart" (Hank Williams Sr.) to close out TajMo Day and another great and grand night at the historic Grand Ole Opry.
Brian Sutherland opened the Opry 100 Plaza Summer Concert Series on Friday night in Nashville.
Related Links:
For more information on TAJMO and the other organizations mentioned please visit the following links -
TajMo |
Grand Ole Opry
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