As the 2007 summer concert season comes to a close, I reflect back on all the performances and artists I had the pleasure of seeing. It was a very busy summer. I have many fond memories of the 65 plus performances in 6 different states, however nothing would compare to tonight's performances by two very respected performers, Joe Nichols and LeAnn Rimes.
The crowd began setting their chairs in place at 7:00 that morning in anticipation of the star-studded show that was to take place that evening. I got there at 11 am, and the center section was filled clear to the back of the concert area so I ended up in the 5th row off on the far right side of the stage. It was a beautiful warm autumn day, so we just sat back and enjoyed the gentle breeze and performances by Telluride and Heartland.
As time grew near for Joe to take the stage you could feel the excitement building in the crowd. The sound clip began playing with a catchy instrumental introduction to "Everything's A Thing" and the crowd was on their feet clapping and dancing as each member of the group took their place onstage and began playing along. You could tell the moment the fans got a glimpse of Joe in the wings because they went wild, his first few steps onstage brought even louder screams from the fans and the few remaining audience members who were sitting to their feet. I could tell by their enthusiastic reaction to Joe Nichols, it was going to be a night of music they would not forget.
Joe would display some of his lighthearted humor as he introduced the a song called "Size Matters," and added "ain't that right ladies!" This comment got all the ladies in the crowd cheering with delight. Following that song, he took time to thank the audience members for their signs and explained to all of us that he has to be careful because he will sing what is on the sign. He went on to explain that he has a strange life, even for strange people, and that he handles things differently. He likes to laugh and have a good time and he tries not to take things too seriously.
The band started playing as Joe was introducing the next song and the beat immediately caught everyone's attention. This song had people on their feet dancing along. "It Ain't No Crime," a song off his highly acclaimed newly released album Real Things would prove to be very popular with this crowd. There were phrases in the song that basically state "mind your own business and don't go minding mine." These sentiments got resounding approval from the fans. This song has a little bit of sass and a whole lot of sway, so you can't help but get up on your feet and party along. What's equally great about this song, we have all had an experience where we wanted to tell someone to mind their own business, well now we have a song that will do that for us.
Joe's current single proved to be another popular song with the fans as he crooned "Another Side Of You." This song tells the story of how a man sees life and love through his eyes. It is a touching song that sings of the admiration a man has for his wife and her ability to handle the struggles of everyday life and still be warm, tender, and loving at the end of the day.
There is a very playful and fun side to Joe Nichols as well. That is apparent with the toe-tapping tune off his current album that was extremely popular with the fans called "Coming Back In A Cadillac." This song featured solos from each of his band members as they showed their own musical abilities for appreciative fans. Brain, Brad, Shane, Tom, Dean and Eric were each given their moment in the spotlight to demonstrate exactly how incredibly talented this group of musicians truly is. It was really fun to see the crowd dancing in the aisles and having a mighty fine time with this song.
Joe took time out to talk with the fans and explain that he wanted to sing a couple of songs that showed us were his musical roots came from. He sang "Misery and Gin" like I have never heard him sing it before. I was mesmerized by what I heard. That can make a girl weak in the knees, I'm telling you, you can get lost in that magnificent voice of his. I was jolted back to reality when the older man sitting next to me leaned over to me and said, "he sings that better than Merle ever did." I just chuckled to myself and wondered what Joe would think of that comment. One thing for sure, he certainly has learned from the best. After that the band went right into "Okie from Muskogee." When the phrase "we don't let our hair grow long and shaggy... Joe threw in the joke "like Blake Shelton does" and everyone one cracked up laughing. You just gotta laugh at that loveable boyish, fun side of him.
As the first few notes of "Impossible" started to play, Joe thanked the audience for helping make that his first No. 1 hit. I remember back to when I first heard that song on the radio years ago. I was driving back from visiting my dad in the Mayo clinic, he was having heart and lung trouble. I heard that song on the radio and broke down in sobs. I remembered my dad coming in my room and checking for monsters, only mine were in my closet. I remembered the times he would lift me up over his head, only we were at the lake and he would throw me like I was diving off a diving board. I just couldn't bring myself to think of those things, or to think of the possibility of ever losing him. It wasn't until a year ago, that I could listen to the entire song. Now I am grateful for that song and the lessons it gives up about strength and love.