Laurie and I arrived early at Country Thunder but the traffic was so bad, the first show we were able to catch for the day was Sarah Buxton on the main stage. We went to the media pit and waited for Sarah's performance.
Sarah Buxton
The MC announced Sarah has a 5 song EP on Lyric Street for download and she is one of the top 3 downloadable artists on the internet as well as being the writer of Keith Urban's single "Stupid Boy."
Sarah started her set with "Life Is A Journey," "Crazy Dreams" and "Cowboys Where Are Thee" which she wrote about a Metro-sexual breed of men that are totally into looking better than their girlfriend. She went on to say "I just can't go out with someone that takes longer than me to get ready."
It was a bit windy and Sarah's dress keep blowing upwards. She told us "You'd think I'd learn." and laughed then went on to explain she was at another festival and it was windy. Her dress kept blowing up, so Gretchen Wilson lent her a pair of her jeans. She said "Where is Gretchen now when you need her?" as she cracked up laughing again adding, "I did put shorts on this time."
Sarah introduced her next song as the her first radio song, "Innocence." Then she introduced "Back Home" as a song she wrote about her family saying "I had always thought I had a very normal family but found out later they weren't so normal after all." Giggling she added "The song starts with my grandfather "Bumpy." He was very grumpy, but my little cousin couldn't say her "g's" so he was "Bumpy."
Sarah energetically jumped and skipped around on the stage and catwalk while she sang "Cripple Creek," "Seventeen" and "American Daughter." The next song she said she wrote for her mom a couple years back while she was going through her divorce, it's called "Full Grown Woman."
Buxton commented that she had started writing songs a long time ago but the performing was still new to her. She introduced "He Just Doesn't Get It" saying she was still a little angry when she wrote it. Then she sang "Stupid Boy" sharing with the audience that she wrote this song about her life and she got lucky that Keith Urban pick it up and released it.
She marched and skipped around the stage as she closed with "Just Another Beautiful Day."
Luke Bryan
Luke Bryan was next to perform on the main stage this Thursday afternoon. He came out wearing a baseball cap and sunglasses sending his female fans into screams. Luke started his set with "I'm A Country Man" and "You Make Me Want To."
Then Luke treated his fans to "Good Directions," Billy Currington's current #1 single in which Bryan co-wrote. Fans were on their feet clapping and singing along for his entire set.
Next Bryan introduced the song he said got him his record deal "Baby's On Her Way." He treated us to what he called an oldie-but-goody by Conway Twitty called "Lay You Down." Laurie had to leave at this part of Luke's performance for her interview with Trick Pony, but I was happy I got to stay for the rest of Luke's show.
Luke dedicated his next song to everyone that drives a truck. This brought whistles and yells from both his male and female fans. I'm not familiar with the song but I believe it's called "We Road In Trucks." Bryan played his guitar and danced around the stage. When he turned his back to the audience to play along with his band, still dancing his wiggling backside, he sent the ladies into screams and whistles, and Luke into laughter. He closed with his self-penned and current single "All My Friends Say." All his fans sang along, clapping and swaying.
In addition to being a talented writer and singer, Luke Bryan has an amazing stage presence, and his debut album I'll Stay Me being released on August 14th, should send his career soaring. Be sure to keep an eye on this talented man to see his popularity explode on the country music scene.
Chris Young
Following Luke Bryan's set, Chris Young took the stage and to the delight of fans singing "Beer or Gasoline," "You're Going To Love Me," "Lay It On Me" and "Bar Band." The crowd size was begining to grow as Chris' show progressed and the onsite campers began to wake up and make their way to the main stage area.
Chris is by far one of the best new talents to come out of Nashville, and it's obvious he's a superstar in the making, as his deep rich mature voice floated through the festival area drawing a flood of festival goers to his performance.
Next, Young received a multitude of cheers and applause for his songs "White Lightning Hit The Family Tree," "Small Town, Big Time," "Flowers" and "Center of My World." He had the audience on their feet singing and swaying by the time he closed his set with "Drinkin' Me Lonely."
Chris Young has it all! He has a strong well developed vocal quality that is undeniable. He is a talented musician and song writer. In addition, Young posesses an underlining charisma expressed in his stage persona that mesmerizes his audience. At this point in his career, any added stage flair would go unnoticed or be a distraction from this very talented and gifted man. It's no wonder country music fans voted for Chris making him a Nashville Star. Add Chris' gentle demeanor, and his small town charm to his already mentioned attributes, and you can understand why he has so many fans are so endeared to him.
