NASHVILLE, TN. (Swayer Brown Official Website) - As "Mission Temple Fireworks Stand" sits in thermo-nuclear rotation as part of CMT's "New
Music Week" launch of the New Year - alongside superstars Shania Twain,
Tim McGraw & Nelly,
Kenny Chesney - the hardest working band in country music gets decidedly old school as they head for the Opry at the Ryman on Feb. 5th.
"That's the beauty of this music," says catalytic converter Mark Miller. "As far out as you can go - whether it's $40,000 worth of fireworks or recording with Nelly, when you come right down to it, country's roots are so strong, you'll always be grounded. I mean, we got to do 'The Tonight Show' for the first time before Christmas, and now we get to come home to one of the very things that makes country music what it is, was and always will be."
It's been four years since the award-winning band has played the Ryman Auditorium. And like a lot of acts, they hold the original home of the Grand Ole Opry - also known as the Mother Church of Country Music - in only the highest esteem.
"When you play there, you can just feel it," says the always playful front man/producer in a reverential tone. "When you look out at the Confederate Gallery, you can sense all the history that's gone on in that building... Patsy Cline, Hank Williams, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash's tv show, and so much more. All that music... You know, if those walls could talk, we wouldn't even have to play."
Also on Feb. 5's bill is perhaps the biggest superstar of them all - and close personal friend of one Greg "Hobie" Hubbard: Dolly Parton.
"I don't know if Hobie will even ask her," says Miller of the always ironic, always iconic keyboard player. "But I know if there's anybody other than Robert Randolph we'd like to blow up 'Mission Temple Fireworks Stand' with, it would be Dolly Parton! It takes a lotta personality to keep up with that song.... And if anyone's cut out for a full-on rave-on on this song, it's Dolly."
No word yet on whether Robert Randolph will be available to make his Grand Ole Opry debut at no less than the Ryman Auditorium, but the sacred steel sensation, who's toured with Eric Clapton and John Mayer - in addition to being featured on last year's Grammy Awards - has a way of showing up when he's least expected. And certainly for anyone who's heard the song, seen the video or caught the highly combustive pairing on "The Tonight Show" in December knows, when you put Robert Randolph and Mark Miller in the same place performance sparks have a way of flying.
"Mission Temple Fireworks Stand," written by Paul Thorn and Billy Maddox, snuck onto Billboard's Country Singles Chart at No 55 last year. Look for the high-energy romp to go for adds at country radio next week.
