Americana Highways brings you this video premiere of Mike Aiken’s “Nashville Skyline” from his recent album Wayward Troubadour (Northwind Records). There is an additional bonus track of “Put a Sail on It” track 12 on the vinyl release that came out October 26. Aiken says:
The release on vinyl was made possible as part of a Kickstarter campaign. A “vinyl supporter” was given the reward of being the executive producer and picking any song of mine to be included on the record. Colin Mack of Mack Sails came in for this reward and choose the song. We had to go back and remaster the song for vinyl to include it. This record is the only place you can hear “Put a Sail on It” on vinyl. Its inclusion also makes the vinyl version of Wayward Troubadour unique and different from the CD.
The video features Mike Aiken on guitar, Amy Aiken (on drums), and Chris James, who co-wrote the song, on guitar; with all three characters also in transit. It was directed by Amy & Mike Aiken, while the cameras and editing work was done by Amy Aiken and Sean Dugan. Watch scenes from an Airstream coach as it navigates through the Appalachian mountains of Tennessee and Nashville, across the country and back, with Aiken’s “Nashville skyline I’m starting to roam, the highway is calling me…” but in the end, the Nashville skyline calls him back home.
The video was shot over a three-month time period getting the ‘road’ B-roll and state signs footage. This was shot while I was out on tour and filmed by Amy or me. The performance parts and Airstream parts were shot in Nashville over a two-day period. Chris James, who is a member of The Burrito Brothers (since mid ‘80s), made a guest appearance in the video and also was a guest vocalist on the recording of the song. The Vintage Airstream coach belongs to a friend of mine. The Airstream was originally designed and built to be a funeral coach. The spot that you see me unloading gear from was built to hold the casket. I believe that only 14 of these were built. The coach was found in a salvage yard two years ago and he’s (we’ve) been working on getting it up and running. During the shooting of the video was probably the longest run it’s been on in 10 years. It has plates but no insurance. I took a bit of a gamble running it over the Korean Vets bridge and downtown Nashville. We did that run about 8 times. Luckily never got pulled over… But I did tell the camera guy that if I got stopped to keep the tape rolling! The porch scenes and Chris getting picked up were filmed in East Nashville. The interior bus was filmed on my bus. The Airstream has no AC and it was 95 degrees outside; just too damn hot in there.
I wanted this video and song to show the more gritty side of a hard working road dog Nashville musician. I didn’t want a fancy Prevost tour bus and glamor. Most of us don’t live that life. It was during the short first test drive with the Airstream that I thought this would make a great platform to create the video with. Amy, who is a band member and been on the road with me for years, and Chris James (Burrito Brothers) another lifer of the road, were all into working on pulling off the vibe and feel of the song during shooting the video. I mean after all it is who we are and what we do! — Mike Aiken
Check for tour dates and album info here: http://www.mikeaikenmusic.com/ while you are watching right here: