• All Feature Articles

In Music City Stephen Mason Finds a New Following As Soccer Moses

by Rich and Laura Lynch

There is something uniquely exquisite about soccer culture and the effect and impact it has on its fans. Teams the world over are known for the colorful characters that emerge to lead the way and rally the troops as their teams battle it out on the pitch. In Nashville, it's no different and the second year and nascent Nashville SC has their own group whose fame is growing by the day including the team sanctioned Tempo, the youthful Goal Zilla and heaven sent Soccer Moses portrayed by the city's already legendary Stephen Mason.


In 2021, Soccer Moses was in the running for favorite mascot in Music City.

It is written that back in 1997, Stephen Mason was in London recording the second album with his multi-platinum, Grammy Award-winning rock band, Jars of Clay. The sound engineer for the record had extra tickets to see the famous footballers Arsenal and invited the guitar player to the game. Mason was instantly hooked. Years later as Nashville USL was gaining a foothold in town and Mason was establishing a new identity as a turn of the last century barber known as The Handsomizer a World Cup game was on the television in his shop when Nigeria's Victor Moses scored for the Super Eagles. Mason's customer stood in his chair and shouted "LET MY PEOPLE GOAL" and inspiration arrived like tablets handed down from heaven.


With the impressive and packed Backline a game of "Where's Moses" becomes possible.

Soon after, Mason was acquiring a cloak and beard and a series of Moses related banners he would hold up in the Backline section at Nashville SC home games. He was captured on an ESPN broadcast and soon after he was taking his gospel of goal scoring on the road. For Soccer Moses, the 2021 season has been especially blessed. His worlds collided when the team invited him to perform the Gibson Opening Guitar Riff of the Game earlier in the year in full costume. Late in the campaign the local brewery Yazoo put his image to use on their brand new "Let My People Gold" lager becoming an instant hit of the flavorful kind in Music City.

But, it keeps getting better for Mason. His band Jars of Clay is set to return to the stage for their annual Christmas concert in Franklin with two shows on December 12 after the plague of Covid-19 canceled the 2020 affair. For this writer, I even have had a personal relationship with the man himself as I have seen Jars of Clay in concert (4) times; had my hair cut by The Handsomizer (2) times and met Soccer Moses once (1) for a total of (7) heavenly encounters overall with Stephen Mason aka Soccer Moses. In my book, that's not only lucky - it's might even be Biblical.


The author Rockin' Rich Lynch and Soccer Moses before the last game of the regular season.

Related Links: For more information on SOCCER MOSES and the other organizations mentioned please visit the following links - Soccer Moses | Rockin' Rich Lynch | Nashville SC | Yazoo Brew | The Handsomizer | Where to Get a Rock Star Haircut in Nashville | Jars of Clay Jars Of Clay Leave Circus; Return to Zoo


.









• Music City Open Gets Bigger and Better at Mill Ridge Park in Antioch



• Cats & Coffee Equals a Win-Win at The Catfeine Cat Cafe in Murfreesboro



• Crowder Draws a Huge Crowd at Spring Festival in Murfreesboro



• Musician ISMAY Travels Long and Far to Find Herself in Finding Lucinda



• Carter Vintage Guitars Opens Their New Home Fit For a King in Nashville



• The Catio Opens Its Purrfect New Home in Nashville



• Rebel Rounds at Bassline Brewing Company Hosts a Hot Industry Mixer in Music City



• Carter Vintage Guitars Makes a Big Move in Nashville



• Roy's Meat Service - It's All About BBQ and Community in East Nashville



• Taj Mahal Remains a Blues Wonder of the World at Grimey's in Nashville



• Brother Rock Is On a Roll at Rhythm In The Village in Old Hickory



• Upper Deck Golf Drives Into Nashville



• John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band Cruise Into with Nashville with a Memorable Debut Fifty Years in the Making



• Cat Power's Curious Night of Music at the CMA Theater in Nashville



• Celtic Woman: Third Time's a Charm at the TPAC in Nashville



• The NRB Turns a Grand Ole Eighty in Nashville



• John Oates Delivers Songs and Stories with a Smile, Some Tears and a Few Laughs in Franklin



• The Tina Turner Musical Is Simply Terrific at the TPAC in Tennessee



• Trustworthy Documentary Seeks to Heal the Deep Divide in America With a Deep Dive Into Media Bias at Belmont University



• Music City Animal Rescue Seeks New Fosters and Volunteers as Second Decade of Regional Service Begins in Nashville



• The Nashville Sounds Score Big with Well Attended Sound Check Fan Fest at First Horizon Park



• The Wandering Hearts Still Beating Strong on WMOT's Finally Friday at 3rd & Lindsley



• THE CHOSEN Season 4 Offers Nashvillians a Whole Lot to Choose From with Fathom Events



• Girl From the North Country Lights Up the Nashville Skyline at the TPAC



© 2024 MusicCityNashville.net
All Rights Reserved