LIVE IN CONCERT!

ALABAMA

Featuring

Lonestar & Kenny Chesney

Reviewed By Kayla Christian Expocentre Landon Arena Topeka, Kansas 4/17/98

As dawn broke in beautiful Topeka, KS,  the town was quiet while the white Semi's of "Alabama" came rolling up to the Expocentre. The crew from Mountain Skye Entertainment and Production arrived shortly, and  excellent teamwork assured everything for the concert would be ready on time and safely. By afternoon, one of "Alabama's" trucks had not arrived. The trucks rolled out of Nashville the morning just before the tornadoes hit TN, and everyone was very concerned.  Since the truck carried all of the lighting equipment, a decision had to be made. To make sure the show would go on as planned, Dave's Lights, a local company, was called in. The crew raced to unload and assemble the light system before the concert. As show time approached, the Expocentre seats began to fill. Soon the lights dimmed and "Lonestar" took the stage. The audience responded appreciatively to this talented group. Touring in support of their album "Crazy Nights" has helped this band to mature and work well together as musicians.  "Lonestar" drew on some of the best songwriters in Nashville for this album, including Mutt Lange (husband of Shania Twain) and Bryan Adams, who co-authored "You Walked In."

The foundation of Lonestar began when Dean Sams, a keyboard player from Garland, TX and Richie McDonald, a guitarist and singer from Lubbock, TX, met in 1992 at the Dallas talent auditions for the Opryland theme park. Sams got the gig, while McDonald went back to driving a Coca-Cola truck and producing jingles.  The two met again in Nashville a year later, decided to join forces with guitarist Michael Britt, and formed a band. After meeting up with drummer, Keech Rainwater, from Plano, TX, the group headed down the highway. Signed with BNA in 1995, the group continued their climb.  In 1996, they collected a gold record and every newcomer award presented in the first half of that year, including three singles that hit the top of the charts.

Each member has his own individual charisma, especially Dean Sams, who mouthed "Thank You" every time I snapped a photo.  It's no wonder this group is on the way up with their positive response to everything around them.  As the group performed "No News," "Tequila Talkin," "Running Away With My Heart" and "Come Cryin' To Me," a chart topper, the crowd continued to respond with warmth and appreciation for "Lonestar."

Although a lot of hard work goes into their performance, "Lonestar" makes it look like pure fun - an attitude they all share that reflects in their music and stage presence.  The group gets along remarkably well. As Keech puts it, "When I am off the road for a few days, I actually start looking forward to getting back on the bus. I miss the camaraderie.  We constantly crack each other up.  It never gets old . . . Never!"  After finishing their last song, "Lonestar" leaves a taste of the unique talent of four fabulous performers behind. The lights dim and silence ensues.

The house lights come up for a short intermission, followed by the roar of the crowd as they welcome the 29 year old from Luttrell, TN, "Kenny Chesney," to the stage. Chesney once said that as a kid he never gave a thought to becoming a country singer. While he was in college, he picked up a guitar, started writing a few songs,  playing a few clubs, and soon became a fixture at the prestigious Johnson City area venues - a Mexican restaurant called "Chuckies's Trading Post" and "Quarterback's Barbecue."  Most of the music at these places was blues, rock and folk.  Kenny mentions, "I was about the only one doing George Jones and Hank, Jr. I got to where I had a good following."

The road was a little slow for Kenny for the first couple years. He was told, "You definitely got something, but it ain't there yet."  The only steady gig he could find was in a down and dirty honky-tonk called the "Turf."  "It was tough, but I always felt safe down there.  People treated me good, and a lot of those street people became my friends.  Some nights I would walk out with twenty dollars, some nights with two hundred."  After eight months, Kenny realized that no one was going to walk into the "Turf' and discover him, so he quit and got a job parking cars. Setting out to meet as many people as he could, Chesney made one steadfast ally, Clay Bradley, head of publisher/writer relations at BMI.  Bradley set up an audition with Acuff-Rose, one of Music City's oldest and most venerated song mills, and Kenny left with a songwriters contract.  A year later he signed a recording contract with Capricorn Records.  Kenny kicked right in with "Fall In Love," and the audience was captivated with the talent and charm of this young singer. His set continued with "Paris, TN," "Single Thing," "All I Need," "Back In My Arms" and "That's Why I Am Here," accompanied by his electrifying voice.

A while back, Kenny said "Conway Twitty was always one of my favorite performers, and he always said he tried to record songs that women loved, and which says things that men always wanted to say to the women but couldn't. Well, if I can do that too, then that's definitely what I want to do." And that is definitely what he did as he continued to sing.  He had the whole arena swooning with "When I Close My Eyes," "A Chance," "The Race," "Lay You Down" and "Me And You," from his gold-certified second album by the same name. The audience was overwhelmed with the exceptional talent of Kenny, as he brought his performance to a close with the song "She's Got It All." With a warm, measured smile, he added "Well, I don't know how long the good Lord's gonna let me be in this music business, or even be this successful at it, so while I'm here I want to enjoy every minute of it." Performing in Topeka for the first time, he continued, "It's fun to be somewhere I've never been before, especially where they love country music." From the crowd's response, Kenny looks like he's got it all.

As the House lights come up once again for another intermission, the audience was hyped from opening bands "Lonestar" and "Kenny Chesney." Now they anxiously waited for one of the most popular country groups ever to appear on stage. A feeling of tension  mounted until the house lights dimmed once again, and the audience exploded into a frenzy of ear-piercing screams and whistles. Amid the adrenaline rush felt in every imaginary pore of ones body, "Alabama" appeared on stage. They flashed an appreciative smile and began a medley of "Roll On/ I'm In A Hurry/ She Ain't Your Ordinary Girl." The crowd was ecstatic, as the top-selling country band in the country continued to pour out their talent of more than twenty-five years.

It's difficult to achieve success in the country music industry. It's even harder to maintain it. "Alabama" is one of only a handful of acts that's had consistent staying power for more than a decade.  RCA executives say that even after 15 years, the excitement level is still high.  From the sound of the crowd, that excitement level was very high indeed. The band continued to build on that excitement with an all time favorite, "Dixieland Delight," that rocked the house! Everyone was pulled into the charm of the voice of Randy Owens as he sang, "When We Make Love." His enticing voice flavored this song, to set off the romantic inclination of every heart in the crowd. "She's Got That Look In Her Eyes" continued to build the intensity of passion.  "We believe this song will appeal to anyone who has ever been stirred by the look of someone else, and felt the mystique," Randy says, referring to the inspiration for this song. "That song was written totally about a poster of Farrah Fawcett," he says, "If you listen to the lyrics, it's a double play on the words.  We didn't want to give it away.  You remember, when we were kids, every guy had that poster.  That's really what that song is about." "Alabama" started out in Fort Payne, Alabama.  Jeff Cook played ukulele and performed in school functions from the time he was in second grade.  As a teenager, he  progressed to guitar, keyboard and fiddle. By 14, he was a disc jockey at a local radio station, and in high school, he founded a band called "J.C. and The Chosen Few." His cousins, Randy Owens and Teddy Gentry, grew up working in the fields and picking cotton just outside of Fort Payne. The two of them learned to play the guitar together. When they discovered Merle Haggard, they decided to pursue country music. Moving ahead, the three cousins formed a band called "Young Country." "Young Country's" first gig was at a high school talent contest. They won first place and a trip to the Grand Ole Opry.  The group was fairly inactive until Owen and Cook graduated from college, then got back together in 1972 with drummer Bennett Vartanian, changing their name to "Wild Country" (which today remains "Alabama's" corporate name). They relocated in Myrtle Beach in 1973, and became the house band at "The Bowery."  The band changed its name again to "Alabama," and Massachusetts-born, rock drummer Mark Herndon joined the group.  With the explosive combination of these four talented guys, "Alabama" quickly became "The" #1 country group in the U.S." With "Dancin' On The Boulevard," its 20th RCA Album, "Alabama" has sold more than 57 million units.  That puts "Alabama" on the prestigious list of the 10 all-time, best-selling bands, ranked just behind "Aerosmith" and ahead of the "Beach Boys." Consistency seems to be the keyword in "Alabama's" career.  It's the same four guys, recording for RCA, the same major recording label they signed with 15 years ago.  Each of their 17 previous RCA albums has gone platinum, and some have gone multi-platinum. They have a consistent track record at country radio, with more than thirty #1 singles. One of those singles was "If You're Gonna Play In Texas (You Gotta Have A Fiddle In The Band)."   "Alabama" really cut loose on this number, as Jeff Cook stroked out that fiddle with ease.  They continued to delight the audience with "Cold Budweiser," "Take Me Down," "Song Of The South" and "40 Hour Week." Randy Owens has a distinctive style that puts him in a class all his own. Every movement, every gesture was Randy, as he strutted across the stage with his famous Owen's style.

Fans wanted to hear more of "Alabama's" own songs. The album "Dancin' On The Boulevard" is truly something special, and the group kicked into the title song to a great audience response. This one is an autobiographical song, and "Shagging is a really big thing on the East Coast," says Randy.  "I was writing that song and had about 14 or 15 verses just talking about people and some of the places we'd played in Myrtle Beach. "The Bowery," where we hung out, was right across the street, so it's a real special song for us." The crowd continued to express their gratitude as Jeff Cook treated them to the beautiful song, "Knock On Wood."  It's amazing that Jeff started out with a ukulele and just kept adding to his showcase of talents. As the spotlight centered on him, he received the recognition he so richly deserves. "Alabama" continued to entertain the audience with more of their exquisite talent on "Feel So Right" and "One More Shot," and the house went wild to the opening strains of "Mountain Music." Once again the lights dimmed, and "Alabama" left the stage.   The audience exploded into a standing ovation once again, and "Alabama" returned to a stage bathed in beautiful  midnight blue, as Randy began to sing "Angels Among Us." The crowd fell into a soft silence, and soon everyone was singing this song in their hearts.  As the song came to a close, the spotlight centered on Randy and we saw the tears trickle down his cheeks.  It's no wonder "Alabama" is so popular.  Their talent, love for music, and appreciation for their fans, shines from their hearts. The beauty of "Alabama" is that the core group has allowed and enjoyed their growth -  a core very excited about their next record, because they don't restrict themselves. Every album will offer something new and different in the future. As Randy explains, "We still have that feeling in our hearts that we enjoy the music and still enjoy creating music." Everything about this group is exceptionally unique.

"Alabama" will finish a month long tour, then do something they haven't done for almost 25 years - take part of the summer off.  As Jeff Cook puts it, "It's fishing time." However, at the end of July, "Alabama" will be on the road again. After all, Jeff has to do something to support his fishing habits. I would like to express my appreciation to the Tour Managers, Greg, Robbie, Bradley and William Fowler (Alabama), Tim (Lonestar), David (Kenny Chesney); Dave Lights, LLC, who saved the day;  Gina Williams from RCA, who kept the ball rolling; Dallan Hendry, Brian "Preacher" Ball, Tim Voss, Phil Schow, and Angela Waggle who offered guidance and support; special thanks to the whole gang at Mountain Skye Entertainment & Production; and the Expocentre; who allowed this AMZ journalist to enjoy this special event.

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