Friday, August 13, 2010

Taylor Hicks~Back To The Future


"Nineteen...He was only Nineteen." Those words and this song touched the hearts of everyone who attended the show in Bay City, Michigan on August 7, 2010. I was one of those lucky people. All around me, people were moved to tears and heavy emotion during the best performance of this song Taylor Hicks has ever given. At the end, he received a heartfelt standing ovation.

For those wondering what Taylor Hicks has been up to lately, the best way to answer that question is to buy a ticket and treat yourself to one of his new tour shows, which now extend into the fall. This is by far the best concert series he has ever done and without question to me, the finest band he's assembled since the Little Memphis Blues Days. Each musician is perfection, and the chemistry and fit between them all is a joy to behold.

Taylor Hicks has gone back to his future...the Taylor Hicks who isn't being invented or fashioned by anyone but himself. His shows are true to his music, true to his style, and totally amazing. Each one gets better and better, each with a special touch designed to fit the venue and his audience. I attended the show in Cleveland, Ohio which was in a small club with an intimate setting. This one was mellow and rocked, but with that close bar feel where you are one with the musicians onstage and boy, did we ever feel that! The day after that was Bay City, Michigan. This was a state fair type atmosphere and truthfully, I wondered when I arrived, how this would play out. Bay City was a study in how an artist grabs an audience. There was only a small crowd for the opening bands because it was early in the evening and dinner time, so many were at the food stands or exhibits. At 7:11, Taylor Hicks and his band took the stage. MAGIC! This was a high energy, upbeat show and the seats suddenly became packed! It was so pleasing to see Taylor up there who kept things upbeat and rocking. Then....Taylor began to talk about the troops and those of us who knew what was coming sat forward a bit. I looked around me and wondered how this slower pace would affect the crowd. As Taylor sang this beautiful song, people began to lean forward, mesmerized. The man next to me was openly wiping his eyes and his wife was patting his shoulder. I felt my own tears graze my cheeks and could not believe the reaction from this audience. People were moved beyond what I'd ever seen at a concert and Taylor Hicks not only brought this audience to tears with his soulful performance, but received a thundering standing ovation. The rest of that brief show blew the roof off the tents there! "Back To Louisiana" was an experience to behold and the people were into it! More impressive was the enormously long line to meet this amazing artist and buy his CD and tshirts, and tell him how fabulous the show was.

Can't say enough about the band! Brian Less, Jeff Lopez, Sam Gunderson, Brandon Peeples, Matt Kimbrell, and Leif Bondarenko have definitely got it going on and are truly one of the best groups of musicians assembled on a stage. So if you have been wondering what Taylor Hicks has been up to lately, GET YOURSELF A LIVE ANSWER! You won't regret a single moment and if you don't come away either a new fan or a present fan hit HARD over the head again with this man's talent, then I'll eat my new Taylor Hicks shirt :) To learn more about this amazing band, go here:
Summer Band
Band

To obtain a list of concert stops and dates, go here:
Concert Dates

The Right Place_The View