Dave's Top Eight

1. Jerry Reed...Revisited by Darrell Toney (reviewed 6/07) (5 Stars)
2. Sounds Like Sunday by Janet Paschal (reviewed 5/07) (5 Stars)
3. True To The Call by Kingdom Heirs (reviewed 3/07) (4 1/2 Stars)
4. Revival by Gold City (reviewed 10/06) (4 1/2 Stars)
5. Get Away Jordan by Ernie Haase & Signature Sound (reviewed 2/07) (4 1/2 Stars)
6. Breakin' Chains by Three Bridges (reviewed 5/07) (4 1/2 Stars)
7. Big Sky by The Isaacs (reviewed 4/07)
8. Skywriting by Mercy's Well (reviewed 7/07)

Click title to purchase at CBD.com...click artist name to read Dave's Review. A CD will automatically fall out of the Top Eight after twelve months if no CD surpasses it before then.

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November 16, 2006

Concert Report: Melody Boys/Down East Boys

It was a double bill in Rutherfordton, NC earlier tonight. Greg Millwood, a guy who used to be in a group with me, started things off along with his wife, Shelby. They sang "Press On," and then their daughter joined them for an a cappella number that went over well.

After the Millwood family sang, the concert promoters came out to present checks to a couple of local charities. I walked out in the lobby at that point and spent the next fifteen or twenty minutes chatting with Singing News editor Danny Jones and Singing News contributor Tim Gardner. I missed most of the Down East Boys set, but enjoyed the conversation.

Both groups were working with a disadvantage tonight. Neither group had been to the area before, and today was a cold and windy day. The crowd wasn't as large as usual. When I went back in to sit an listen, the crowd wasn't really into it. One of the Down East Boys tried to get the crowd out of their brown study by poking fun at Baptists and cajoling them for sitting with their arms folded. The crowd did perk up a bit for "Shoutin' On The Hills," and thus ended the Down East Boys' set. What I heard and saw of their last four or five songs was characterized with lots of vocal stacks, a general lack of rapport with the audience, and a lot of grimacing while singing. I didn't think their set was bad. It just seemed they were frustrated that their music wasn't connecting with this particular audience.

The Melody Boys fared better. Although the crowd never did fully open up, Gerald Williams' easy-going song introductions and confident vocals set the pace. Two of his singers look a bit like a cat in a room full of rocking chairs at times, but there were other spots on the program where they loosened up. I heard their entire 50-minute set, and found it very enjoyable and entertaining. The Melody Boys have a good blend and good material.

I cut out after intermission, which is getting to be a habit lately. My excuse tonight was that I have had a sore throat nagging me for the past three days and more importantly than that, I didn't get to eat supper before the concert! Triumphant Quartet will be next on the concert series, coming in January, so I'll try to make an effort to stay for the duration at that time.

By the way, I enjoyed seeing "Nanny Lissa" and "Bethany/Firefightergirl" from the SG message boards. I hope you both had a good time. Maybe the crowds will be bigger the next time you come back to Rutherfordton for a concert. I wasn't on my best game tonight, so if either of you think I missed the boat with my observations, drop a comment below and set me straight! :o)

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posted by David Bruce Murray @ 10:41:00 PM


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