GA ITHER HOMECOMING CONCERT
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN
NOVEMBER 30, 2001
If there is one thing I can wish for any Homecoming fan, it is that at least once everyone could have a front row or artist circle seat. Besides the performances, it made this show for me perhaps the most phenomenal concert experience I've ever had. And that includes any show in my rock concert going years for which I've had close floor seats.
Another thing I would wish is that you get to hook up with other fans who quickly become your friends. I finally met Joan (cedarhollowfarms) and went to dinner with her, her husband, mother and sister in law before the show. Shellyh and her husband joined me in the front row. Together Shelly and I were two "wild women", that is, ecstatic and excited fans, in the moment, totally beside ourselves about being so close to the action and close enough to lend encouragement to the artists as they came on and off the stage. We got a little silly and giddy. But hey, as I always say, the idea of all this is to have fun and "unspeakable joy" (as was the subject of at least two songs that evening).
Concert lineup was (in no particular order): Gaither Vocal Band, Gloria Gaither, Jessy Dixon, Ladye Love and Reggie Smith, Ben Speer, the Martins, Jake Hess, Alison Durham Speer, Janet Paschal, Russ Taff, the Hoppers, Lynda Randle, Aaron Wilburn, Anthony Burger, Mike Allen, Taylor Mason, Jeff and Sheri Easter, the Talley Trio, Ivan Parker, Buddy Greene, Woody Wright, Kevin Williams (apologies if I missed anyone else!).
The music mix was about a third each of Christmas, patriotic and the "normal" material you hear at a concert. Yes, the GVB brought the house down with "Let Freedom Ring" and the "America the Beautiful" video was on the screen as the guys sang the song. Bill led the audience singing of other patriotic and Christmas songs throughout the evening. We used our Gaither lights to great effect during some of those moments (again, another reminder of my rock concert days when I'd have a lighter in my hand instead. Lights are much safer). There were many other highlights--Guy and Jessy bringing the spirit to a frenzy and David had us holding collective breaths when he sang "O Holy Night" at the end. There were tender moments as well--a video tribute to Danny Gaither and heartfelt songs by Jeff and Sheri Easter and the Talleys.
It couldn't be a Christmas concert without "Mary Did You Know?" Appropriately, co-writer Buddy Greene handled it with his gentle vocals and acoustic guitar and the audience shared its great affection for the song.
Did I miss Mark? Of course, I missed him being there. He was, and is, after all, a very charismatic presence. But now it's a different dynamic on stage with new players and some in new roles. Taylor Mason is a very funny and a very warm person. And as Mark reassured us, we needn't have worried--Russ Taff fits like a glove with the Vocal Band. The blend remains intact and he brings his own style to the parts that Mark used to sing. It's all good and it all works.
Fan Fare: I usually don't like to brag about these things or make others feel bad, but this concert experience was about "pinch me" moments like these:
- I sneaked over to the artist
section (to the left of the stage where I was sitting) and hugged Jake Hess.
- I hugged Gloria Gaither. What an honor (as I told her!).
- I had a great music business discussion with Woody Wright, sharing among other
things my seed-planting effort to get Mark Lowry a Grammy nomination.
- Janet Paschal, Joyce Martin and Kim Hopper squeezed my hand as they left the
stage after their songs.
- I told Ivan Parker he looked way too young to have a child in college (he
loved that!)
- Taylor Mason sat directly in front of us on stage and we exchanged a few
comments throughout the show, as did Anthony when he walked by us off stage.
- Got to wish blessings to Reggie Smith (who kindly recognized me from Des
Moines), Buddy Greene (last saw in Fridley, MN), Lauren Talley, Dean and Kim
Hopper and Mike Allen.
- Lynda Randle remembered my notes and chat comments about my dad liking her
voice and she autographed a Christmas tape for my dad (don't tell my dad yet).
I, however, firmly resolved that no way was I leaving that place without meeting Russ Taff and hugging him for all the kindness he and Tori have shown in their messages. I hadn't seen him in any of my trips to the artist tables, so I was starting to fear it wouldn't happen. But when the show was over, Russ and David were still on the stage. One of the things I've become proficient at over the years is positioning myself at the right time. Shelly said, "Oh we'll never get over there before they leave." "You just watch me," I told her. I beelined it over to the other side of the stage, pulling Shelly, Joan and their family members along.
But before Russ stepped off stage, the one and only David Phelps walked down in my direction. I couldn't let him get away. So, hoping Russ would stay put, I cornered David and promptly became a blithering idiot, telling him all about the airplay his album is getting in my area, even after he told me he got my e-mail I sent him about that. Then I gave him a hug. He is very gracious and sweet.
Finally I saw Russ, told him who I was and gave him a hug. All of us became the Russ and Tori fan club at that point, imparting our blessings and telling him how much he and she meant to us (she was not at the show). Both Russ and David took a few pictures with us as we passed our cameras around among ourselves and complete strangers. Everything you've heard about Russ is true--he is such a warm, loving, kind person. He had his arms around us the entire time, hugging us.
Location: Having lived nearly 14 years in St. Paul/Minneapolis, MN, I've often been the target of ridicule when I'd tell people I'd never visited Wisconsin...until this trip. (Well, that's not entirely true. A friend and I went to a wake a few years ago in Stillwater, MN, and afterward when I mentioned that I'd never been to Wisconsin, she drove me over the state border and turned back around. But I guess that doesn't count for much).
Milwaukee is a very nice, friendly city with a tidy downtown area. Of the cities I've visited this year, this is the one most like where I live. The shopping malls reminded me more of what St. Paul was like before all the stores except Marshall Fields (formerly Dayton's) skipped town. I saw a few stores I hadn't seen in years. With Milwaukee being the home of cheeseheads and breweries, there were many of those souvenirs in evidence.