Brian Mansfield
@brianmansfield.bsky.social
Storyteller. “An inveterate collector”—Variety. Managing Editor, Country Insider. He/him.
The thing about this new season of “The Bear” is how thoroughly the show has conditioned me to refuse to accept that any of the apparently good things might actually be good.
June 28, 2025 at 4:01 AM
The thing about this new season of “The Bear” is how thoroughly the show has conditioned me to refuse to accept that any of the apparently good things might actually be good.
Nashville is a great city in which to be a vinyl collector.
June 25, 2025 at 2:59 AM
Nashville is a great city in which to be a vinyl collector.
I got a press release today that contained the most obviously AI-generated quote I've ever seen.
In related news, I have officially banned the "It's not just this—it's that" and "It doesn't just do this—it does that" sentence structures at the newsletter I edit.
In related news, I have officially banned the "It's not just this—it's that" and "It doesn't just do this—it does that" sentence structures at the newsletter I edit.
June 10, 2025 at 8:48 PM
I got a press release today that contained the most obviously AI-generated quote I've ever seen.
In related news, I have officially banned the "It's not just this—it's that" and "It doesn't just do this—it does that" sentence structures at the newsletter I edit.
In related news, I have officially banned the "It's not just this—it's that" and "It doesn't just do this—it does that" sentence structures at the newsletter I edit.
It occurs to me that when the couple from Rotterdam asked if it was OK to park on the side of the street on Music Square East that it might’ve freaked them out a bit when I replied, “Sure, now walk around with me to the back of this building and let me show you a little piece of a quonset hut.”
May 24, 2025 at 7:15 PM
It occurs to me that when the couple from Rotterdam asked if it was OK to park on the side of the street on Music Square East that it might’ve freaked them out a bit when I replied, “Sure, now walk around with me to the back of this building and let me show you a little piece of a quonset hut.”
The Lower Broadway of Earthly Delights.
April 14, 2025 at 5:32 PM
The Lower Broadway of Earthly Delights.
If you think the weather in Nashville is crazy these days, you should’ve been here on St. Patrick’s Day in 1892.
March 17, 2025 at 10:06 PM
If you think the weather in Nashville is crazy these days, you should’ve been here on St. Patrick’s Day in 1892.
One of the most unnerving experiences I ever had was standing outside a school in Camden, Tennessee, on March 5, 2003, and seeing a guy come up the sidewalk with a rear wing from a Piper Comanche in his arms.
March 6, 2025 at 1:37 AM
One of the most unnerving experiences I ever had was standing outside a school in Camden, Tennessee, on March 5, 2003, and seeing a guy come up the sidewalk with a rear wing from a Piper Comanche in his arms.
The one time I got to see Badfinger's Joey Molland — who died Saturday night at 77 — was in 2019 at one of the weirdest bills I've ever witnessed: Mickey Dolenz, Todd Rundgren, Christopher Cross, Chicago's Jason Scheff and Molland performing songs from the Beatles' White Album in Danville, Kentucky.
March 2, 2025 at 8:19 PM
The one time I got to see Badfinger's Joey Molland — who died Saturday night at 77 — was in 2019 at one of the weirdest bills I've ever witnessed: Mickey Dolenz, Todd Rundgren, Christopher Cross, Chicago's Jason Scheff and Molland performing songs from the Beatles' White Album in Danville, Kentucky.
Two straight Fridays seeing Zach Top. Yeah, that’s a good thing.
March 1, 2025 at 3:54 AM
Two straight Fridays seeing Zach Top. Yeah, that’s a good thing.
Today in my personal concertgoing history:
I sold my baseball card collection to raise the money to buy tickets for this concert.
A friend had floor seats, so I snuck down to hang with her. Bruce jumped into the audience right in front of us. He raised his hand into the air, and I grabbed it.
I sold my baseball card collection to raise the money to buy tickets for this concert.
A friend had floor seats, so I snuck down to hang with her. Bruce jumped into the audience right in front of us. He raised his hand into the air, and I grabbed it.
February 26, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Today in my personal concertgoing history:
I sold my baseball card collection to raise the money to buy tickets for this concert.
A friend had floor seats, so I snuck down to hang with her. Bruce jumped into the audience right in front of us. He raised his hand into the air, and I grabbed it.
I sold my baseball card collection to raise the money to buy tickets for this concert.
A friend had floor seats, so I snuck down to hang with her. Bruce jumped into the audience right in front of us. He raised his hand into the air, and I grabbed it.
Twice in the past week, I've heard a prominent country act sing a song positioning his Christianity as self-satisfied rebelliousness against cultural enemies. Today, I have Andrew Duhon's "Shotgun Religion" on repeat to drive the first song's memory out of my head.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWtr...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWtr...
Andrew Duhon - Shotgun Religion [Official Video]
YouTube video by Andrew Duhon
www.youtube.com
February 22, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Twice in the past week, I've heard a prominent country act sing a song positioning his Christianity as self-satisfied rebelliousness against cultural enemies. Today, I have Andrew Duhon's "Shotgun Religion" on repeat to drive the first song's memory out of my head.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWtr...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWtr...
Started the day with a surprise Beatles sighting, ended it watching Jelly Roll play the grand opening of his new Nashville club. In between somewhere, I got a look at a new Nashville venue and saw Lainey Wilson sing "Livin' on a Prayer."
It was a busy day.
It was a busy day.
February 21, 2025 at 7:05 AM
Started the day with a surprise Beatles sighting, ended it watching Jelly Roll play the grand opening of his new Nashville club. In between somewhere, I got a look at a new Nashville venue and saw Lainey Wilson sing "Livin' on a Prayer."
It was a busy day.
It was a busy day.
23 years ago tonight, I had just finished writing Waylon Jennings' obituary when I heard my wife scream upstairs. Our infant daughter, who had undiagnosed whooping cough, had stopped breathing and was turning gray. Here’s the 911 call.
on.soundcloud.com/FqP2viZjrSb2...
on.soundcloud.com/FqP2viZjrSb2...
Mansfield 911
On Feb. 13, 2002, my 6-week-old daughter stopped breathing as my wife was putting her to bed. This is what happened next.
on.soundcloud.com
February 14, 2025 at 1:32 AM
23 years ago tonight, I had just finished writing Waylon Jennings' obituary when I heard my wife scream upstairs. Our infant daughter, who had undiagnosed whooping cough, had stopped breathing and was turning gray. Here’s the 911 call.
on.soundcloud.com/FqP2viZjrSb2...
on.soundcloud.com/FqP2viZjrSb2...
The people who licensed the song may not get "Personal Jesus," but I guarantee you Johnny Cash did.
February 10, 2025 at 8:27 PM
The people who licensed the song may not get "Personal Jesus," but I guarantee you Johnny Cash did.
“What am I missing here?” has saved me a lot of professional embarrassment over the years.
February 10, 2025 at 6:49 PM
“What am I missing here?” has saved me a lot of professional embarrassment over the years.
I think Michigander's "I'll Be OK" is going to be my theme song for 2025.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFCi...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFCi...
Michigander - I'll Be OK (Official Music Video)
YouTube video by MichiganderVEVO
www.youtube.com
February 8, 2025 at 4:43 PM
I think Michigander's "I'll Be OK" is going to be my theme song for 2025.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFCi...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFCi...
My daughter’s snake, which mysteriously disappeared two months ago, has mysteriously reappeared. Alive.
We have so many questions.
We have so many questions.
February 4, 2025 at 11:45 PM
My daughter’s snake, which mysteriously disappeared two months ago, has mysteriously reappeared. Alive.
We have so many questions.
We have so many questions.
Sixty-six years ago, the plane crash that killed Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and the Big Bopper was front-page news in these papers.
February 3, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Sixty-six years ago, the plane crash that killed Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and the Big Bopper was front-page news in these papers.
Did Taylor Swift just grab Janelle Monae's coat and put it on during "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" at the GRAMMYs?
February 3, 2025 at 3:42 AM
Did Taylor Swift just grab Janelle Monae's coat and put it on during "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" at the GRAMMYs?
I’m a 61yo old cis white male music fan from the South. Without knowing anything else about me, Black music fans, recommend the music you want to set the tone for my listening during Black History Month
February 2, 2025 at 5:42 PM
I’m a 61yo old cis white male music fan from the South. Without knowing anything else about me, Black music fans, recommend the music you want to set the tone for my listening during Black History Month
Re-watched a few episodes of “Parks and Recreation” over the weekend, and I can’t help but wonder what Ron Swanson’s thinking right about now.
February 2, 2025 at 1:32 PM
Re-watched a few episodes of “Parks and Recreation” over the weekend, and I can’t help but wonder what Ron Swanson’s thinking right about now.
Somebody took Dr. Johnny Fever's breaks from "WKRP in Cincinnati," inserted the songs he introduces and back-announces, and got a full three-hour aircheck out of it. It's the best thing you'll hear all day.
www.awphooey.com/wkrp
www.awphooey.com/wkrp
wkrp | Aw Phooey
www.awphooey.com
February 1, 2025 at 2:51 PM
Somebody took Dr. Johnny Fever's breaks from "WKRP in Cincinnati," inserted the songs he introduces and back-announces, and got a full three-hour aircheck out of it. It's the best thing you'll hear all day.
www.awphooey.com/wkrp
www.awphooey.com/wkrp
My wife and I have decided we need to plan a Chocolate Gravy Brunch some Saturday morning and have all our friends over.
February 1, 2025 at 2:08 AM
My wife and I have decided we need to plan a Chocolate Gravy Brunch some Saturday morning and have all our friends over.
Tonight we eat NI
February 1, 2025 at 1:22 AM
Tonight we eat NI