GM FYI Blog

By Jillian Beauman
Guest blogger

We could not have asked for better weather today as we cruised the 565 miles from Nashville to Pittsburgh on the Chevy Silverado Drive for Farm Aid. With sunny skies and Willie Nelson’s On the Road Again classic playing on our bus, we have perfect driving conditions as The Drive makes its way to the next benefit concert.

Yesterday, after the long trek from Dallas,The Drive arrived in Nashville just in time for the street party at the Riverfront Park after the long journey from Dallas. This was my first trip to The Music City and Gnash, the blue saber-tooth mascot for the NHL’s Nashville Predators, made sure we felt right at home. Gnash’s trademark is his incredible stunts, and he gave the Heritage vehicle owners a good laugh as he theatrically viewed their trucks.

One of these trucks was a 1957 Chevy 1/2 Ton owned by Mickey and Nancy Miller from Canton, Ohio. Mickey, a Chevrolet dealer by trade, said that his mission is to keep the car so that it looks exactly as it did 51 years ago. The aqua-and-cream finish is the shade of the popular color scheme from the 50’s, Mickey made special arrangements to travel with The Drive, saying that he wanted to be a part of something special.

“Traveling with the Silverado Drive for Farm Aid gives me the opportunity to share my love for trucks with people from all over the country,” he said. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

Mickey and I then went over to the main stage, where the street party was kicking off with a performance by The Lost Trailers. The five group members, who are featured next to a 2007 Chevrolet Corvette in the new Chevy Country Music Calendar, instantly ignited the crowd with high energy.

Stokes Nielson, the band’s songwriter, said that the name came after a trailer full of instruments and equipment was stolen when the band was first getting started. The band, performed their first live concert at Willie Nelson’s 4th of July picnic.

“We are happy that we could team up with Chevy to support Willie and the Farm Aid cause,” said Stokes.

Next I sat down with country music sensation Phil Vassar on his tour bus before his show. Phil told me he is so passionate about the Chevy brand that he wrote a new song titled “My Chevrolet.” Phil is known as one of Nashville’s finest songwriters and has penned hits for Alan Jackson, Collin Raye, Tim McGraw, and Jo Dee Messina. Now a smash recording artist himself, Phil performed some songs from his latest album, Greatest Hits, Volume 1.

Tonight we will be in Pittsburgh to watch the fourth and final concert for The Drive. Montgomery Gentry will be performing at SouthSide Works, and there will also be an autograph session by some Pittsburgh Steelers. If you’re in the area, stop on by to support the Farm Aid cause, see a great show, and enjoy the crisp autumn weather.

Take a look at our Flickr photo set we’ve created for The Drive, too.