Sara Evans performed at Colusa Casino on September 3, 2005. I was lucky enough to attend the sold-out show in the small casino showroom. If you read my review of Tracy Byrd's recent show in the same venue earlier this month, I was sitting in the same front row seats we had for Tracy's show. My friend Dianne and I also got to meet Sara at the Fan Club Meet & Greet.
After we returned from the Meet & Greet, we got back in our seats, and a few minutes later Kansas from the local radio station, K.A.L.F. came onstage to welcome everyone to the show and say Sara was coming out in a few minutes.
A little after 8:00 pm, Sara's band took the stage and soon the strains of "Perfect" were heard as Sara made her way on stage. She wore a rust colored peasant-style top, with several necklaces and bangle bracelets, and a big silver belt with some great looking jeans. The next song was the upbeat "I Keep Looking," after which Sara welcomed everyone to the show and asked "Are there any hot mommas out there? You know the kind that leave the kids at home and come out to have a real good time?" Sara smiled and added, "That's me every night on stage. This next one's for all of you hot mamas." The song, "Momma's Night Out" was one off her upcoming album, Real Fine Place, which is due out on October 4, 2005.
After that, Sara said she had been out on the road a lot this year, and that it was the 73rd show so far. She said she's been on three tours, attended two award shows, and had a baby, and has a new album coming out on October 4th. She mentioned the last song was one of the new ones, and she'd like to sing a couple more later in the show if that's alright. Well, naturally everyone wanted to hear some more of the great music, because "Momma's Night Out" was a lot of fun, and we wanted more.
Having said that, Sara remarked she was going to sing an older song that we might recognize, her first No. 1, that she wrote about her husband Craig, before he was her husband, "No Place That Far."
Back to new songs, Sara mentioned the writer of the next song was from the Boston area, I believe, and she's in Nashville now, and is working on getting a singing career of her own. Not Jo Dee Messina, if that's who you were thinking. I can't remember if she mentioned the name of the writer or not, but I didn't write it down. Sara said she loved the song when she heard it, and she loves farmers, cowboys, rednecks and musicians. And that's it. Then, after a short pause, added, "Oh, and an occasional politician." (Anyone that knows Sara, knows her husband Craig is a politician.) The next song was called "Bible Songs," and it's another one that I'm sure could be a big hit. I hope she'll release it as a single eventually.
Sara told us of her family of two girls and five boys. She said she was the oldest girl, and had to help out with the cooking, cleaning, ironing, as well as the chores out on the farm. Oh, and of course she had to hang clothes out on the line. Everyone knew what was coming next, as Sara remarked about leaving the "Suds in the Bucket."