Concert in a Cave

Moonshine, mushrooms and a mythical night of music.
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I’m on my way to see a concert in a cave, at a venue called, The Caverns. The celestial beauty of my drive down dark switch back canyon roads in Pelham, Tennessee  felt like a nocturnal migration to a sacred gathering place. My car was practically on autopilot, destination: possibility.
Once I turned onto Charlie Roberts road, there were graveyards, trailers and old Pontiac Grand Ams. Horses living on small farms were illuminated by headlights as they noshed on their evening hay. I was definitely in the country and already inside an unforgettable experience upon arrival.
When I pulled into the lot, I was greeted by a local in a Carhartt coveralls, bundled up against the cold. His accent was thick as syrup as he directed me to park in the row of trucks. When I got out, there were two people sitting in the bed of their truck discussing the dosage amount for their mushroom trip. As for me, I didn’t need any substances that night - I was riding high from being one step closer to making my music venue dreams come true! 

I grabbed my jacket but knew I wouldn't need much layering. Between my surging adrenaline, all the dancing that was about to go down, and the cave’s constant temperature of 55, I bared the short, cold walk towards a blazing fire that signaled the start of the line to enter the venue.
Standing in line by the roaring campfire, people checked our bags and scanned our tickets. I walked by tour buses parked next to barns and was drawn to the cave’s entrance lit up in neon pinks and purples.

A man in overalls strolled by me, mumbling something about moonshine. The slope into the mouth of the cave was gradual but the momentum of anticipation and the buildup of the journey swept me up and practically carried me inside. The cave was just on the other side of a curved doorway. It was a bright chalky room, super expansive and boundless. I walked by the merch table, where a very long line of people were waiting to purchase a custom made poster to commemorate the night.

Like everyone else in the cave, I’m looking around, mouth agape. Like where am I? If you have ever been to Red Rocks, this place felt like an inverted version, but more homestyle and way less stairs. Easy conversation is made along the railing, naturally talking about the venue and other common travel talk topics; it feels communal. Before long, I notice out of the corner of my eye that the band is lining up, instruments in hand, waiting to be escorted on the stage. …
Once 8pm hits, Railroad Earth plugs in and plays a new song titled, “Bird in a House”  
Just another bird in the house / trying to get out / I want to join my own kind that's all. 
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We were all at that time, birds in the cave, but not wanting to get out. Hunkering down for a bit, fluttering with joy to be inside such a unique experience. The temperature was comfortable and the sound quality was too. I had wondered if the cave would swallow the sound or provide an opportunity for echo, but I was happy with no obvious sonic annoyances. John Skehan, the mandolinist, played on, and I rode the rail for a bit. After the 3rd or 4th song, I began my orbit around the venue to experience the different pockets of people's energy.

There was a lot of room to dance and I had a great time saddling up next to the lighting designer who was so full of creativity, bouncing around behind the console like a DJ. But rather than playing music, he was playing the lights. Spinning and toggling and moving dials to orchestrate lights with the music. Blues, yellows, whites, patterns, lasers, they were all dancing on the cave walls, and because the ceilings were rather low, it felt like I was under a blanket of lights.

I eventually danced my way out of the cave back to my car and back down those dark country roads, onto the highway and back into the city. My first foray into a subterranean venue was unforgettable and I’d like to make it a stop on my seasonal migration across the country. 
Naturally, now that I’ve seen a concert in a cave, I’m stoked to record a podcast in a cave. I want to know about the venue’s backstory, the geology…so many why’s and hows! This was one of the coolest live music experiences I have had and sharing a full on audio immersion with you would be just as cool. If you know the area, give me a shout with intel! 

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