On Broadway - Chris Lane

On Broadway is a bi-monthly web series that delves into the food memories of the talented musicians of Broadway in downtown Nashville. Every other week, we’ll pair those memories with a relevant recipe and information on how to listen to each musician’s material. Our aim is to connect the passion of food to the passion of music—two mediums that evoke instant reactions and memories, and remind us of the incredible people that pour their heart out every day to make their living in our backyard.

It was quite cold last Tuesday on the rooftop of Rock Bottom Brewery on 2^nd and Broadway. I cursed myself not just a few times for leaving my gloves at home and my shoes might have been slightly inappropriate for the weather, which, I might add, I was also feeling a bit under. But I gave thanks (a week early) for the earl grey infused IPA I was drinking and the velvety sound of Chris Lane’s pipes, soaring over the buildings and bountiful neon below and warming me from the inside like apple pie in the oven.

Chris isn’t exactly accustomed to the chilly conditions, having spent most of his life in Kernersville, North Carolina. Though, some things he does seem to be quite familiar with are hard work and the unexpected. Chris’ childhood dreams centered around chasing professional careers in baseball and football, yet, here he is––an American Country Music Award nominated and country chart top ten star. “I played sports my whole life, but after I graduated college, I started learning how to play guitar just for fun. Never in a million years did I ever think I would be in the spot that I’m in right now. I didn’t sing my entire life, but when I started trying to figure it out, I worked as hard as I could to get good at it, and [I] played a lot of shows which helped with that; learning how to entertain a crowd makes your vocals stronger––singing that much. I started out playing four-hour acoustic shows by myself, then picked up a band along the way and years later I ended up getting a record deal and moving to Nashville.”

Three things I knew about Chris prior to this day were: his previous album, Girl Problems, skyrocketed him into the mainstream spotlight (rightfully so––it certainly made me a fan), he’s super easy to look at, and according to his Instagram, he enjoys food and cooking. “I just love food in general. I’m not a very picky eater,” he said confirming what his posts show to be true. Sounds like it’s a good thing he moved to Nashville––with the bustling, ever-growing food scene, it has a lot to offer alongside musical success. Chris is a self-proclaimed lover of the city’s staple, hot chicken. “I feel like that’s popping up everywhere. I love it. I eat it up.” It was his favorite dish on the menu at Rock Bottom that day, too. “I love Nashville. I love that [Rock Bottom] is bringing a Nashville based menu. I like the hot chicken, it was delicious.”

So, what does one of country’s biggest rising stars look forward to over the holidays? “[My] holiday go-to are these no-bake oatmeal fudge cookies that my mom taught me how to make. I used to make them all the time, but now I try not to eat as many of them. But I can’t wait to eat them for the holidays. Baked Macaroni and Cheese for Christmas. For Thanksgiving, my mom makes a great broccoli and cheese casserole. And who doesn’t love a good casserole?” Who, indeed.

This Thanksgiving week, swing by Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery and give their new Nashville-inspired menu items a try. Having a big get together? Show them some southern hospitality by frying up a batch of their Southern Flyer Hushpuppies. You can download Chris’ new album, Laps Around The Sun, on iTunes or Spotify to jam out to while you cook. Better yet, get a jump on your holiday shopping and pick up a copy.

Visit iamchrislane.com to keep up with Chris' latest tour dates and releases.