It was a crisp autumn night and the excitement was beginning to build as we made our way to the Alltel Arena in Mankato, MN and saw a large crowd lined up outside the Jack Ingram and Dierks Bentley concert. I had been waiting since June to see Dierks, and waiting since the State Fair in August to see Jack Ingram again.
The waiting was almost over as we made our way to our seats in the 6th row. We struck up a conversation with two older gentlemen sitting next to us and they offered us their meet and greet passes with Dierks, which we gladly accepted. We were off to see Dierks, but there was one problem, it was at the same time that Jack would be performing, and I was going to miss part of his performance GRRRRR.
We went back stage and waited our turn to see Dierks. The announcer came over the loud speaker and announced Jack Ingram. We were standing in a corridor that looked directly on the stage and the only thing that kept us from the crowd was a black curtain. When Jack took the stage all you could see was a strobe light of camera flashes and a roar of the crowd as he began singing "Where Ever You Are." I was listening from the meet and greet room and it sounded amazing. I was torn between seeing Dierks again and missing Jack's first couple of songs, but I could hear everything perfectly from here. He began "Maybe She'll Get Lonely" and the crowd started roaring so loud it gave me goose bumps. I can't imagine what that must feel like to be looking out and seeing thousands of people enjoying what you are doing and singing along to the words of your songs. Jack continued to sing another song, "Hold On" off his current album This Is It.
It was my turn to meet Dierks so I went up to him and re-introduced myself. We had met before at the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville when he performed a benefit concert for Vanderbilt's Children's Hospital. One of the assistants took our picture but there was no flash, we tried several times and finally got a picture together. Dierks was very patient and kind about waiting and I teased him that every time I've met him my camera won't work and he teased back saying "Maybe I'm bad luck?" Hard to believe Dierks having any sort of bad luck based on his success. I wished him well and hurried back to my seat to see the remaining part of Jack's show.
I was keeping track of Jack's performance not only by the lyrics in the songs but by the cheers and screams of the crowd. I rushed back to my seat just as he was beginning "Measure Of A Man." I was so happy to be able to see him perform this song because it's one of my favorites. There is nothing like seeing the emotion pour out of an artist when they sing a song that has such a powerful meaning to them. Jack is such an gifted performer that he captures the essence of a song and makes the audience feel what he is singing. Whether it is a tender love song like "Lips Of An Angel" or an "in your face" farewell to love song like "Love You." That is the magical part of this whole musical phenomenon, the ability to bring the notes and melodies to life and Jack does that so well.
The crowd was totally in love with Jack by the time he sang "Keep On Keeping On." We were all having a terrific time. I was looking around in between camera shots and people were dancing, partying and singing along. This place was rocking. I thought to myself, "What a perfect paring of these two artists. They are very similar in that each of them brings a dynamic performance to the table and each brings a love of music that transcends the boundaries of country music.
Jack would sing a song called "Rank Bull" that blew the roof off the place. Then he sang the ever popular "Lips Of An Angel" to the delight of all the fans. "Barbie Doll" got the crowd revved up again as he finished his set to a standing crowd as everyone sang along while he rocked the arena with "Love You" as his final song.
On a chilly October evening in Minnesota, Jack walked away with a lot of adoring new fans. There is no way you could deny the powerful performance and the warm welcome he received from everyone present. What a wonderful treat is was to see him in concert again. I will most certainly attend his next show; hopefully I won't have to wait until June for the CMA Music Festival in Nashville to see him perform again, because that's way too long to have to wait. Until then, I will just have to listen to his current CD This Is It for my Jack Ingram fix.
