Tonight I saw Josh Gracin at the Appalachian Fair in Gray, Tenn. Those of you who know me are aware of how many concerts I attend every year. However, this was my first opportunity to see Josh perform.
People who have seen him previously told me “Josh puts on a good show.” To those people, I have this to say — You are wrong. Josh does not put on a good show…. Fact is, Josh puts on a GREAT show! One of the best I have seen in quite a while.
Josh remembers what it’s all about. His show is totally “fan friendly.” From the minute he walked out on that stage, we all knew that we were the reason he was in Gray. He even told us that – this was his hour and a half to sing to us, to help us smile, laugh, and forget about any problems that we might have going on in our world right now. He just made you want to run up there and invite him and his whole family to your house for Sunday dinner.
These two young ladies were with Green Spring Marine, who sponsored tonight’s concert.
Josh tossed tee-shirts out to the crowd, joined his drummer, Kevin Murphy, in a drum duet, and then tossed the drumsticks out to the waiting hands of two fans. And, he stayed to sign autographs after the concert. I know he was tired, I know he has a hectic schedule, but he still stayed there – for his fans. His fan-friendly concert included an encore, where he quietly slipped off stage, changed his shirt, put on a ball cap, and emerged in the middle of the bleachers where he started singing to several very surprised young ladies. No one even noticed him climbing up into the bleachers, as his band members continued playing on stage.
In addition to Kevin Murphy on drums, band members are Mike Meadows, Guitar; Shawn Balin, fiddle; Tony Lopacinski, guitar; and Tripper Lyger, who I believe was guitar and mandolin. Hope someone will correct me if I got any of that wrong. It’s kind of hard to write when all you want to do is sit back and enjoy the show.
Someone told me once that one true yardstick for measuring a successful show is this – Did you leave them wanting more? Josh, I believe we all wanted more. And, I know that if you were playing in Gray again tomorrow night, I would be right there, Section B, Row 7, Seat 1.
Josh Gracin really gets it. He is one of those entertainers who truly knows that at every performance, there is at least one person in the audience who had to save their money to come and watch him sing. And sing, he did. Thanks Josh, for one of the best shows I’ve seen in a long time. I hope I get to do it again real soon. I’ll close this out with just a few more photos from tonight’s concert.
I wish I had room to put up all of the 200 photos from tonight’s show, but we all know that isn’t possible. Rest assured, you will be seeing more of them in future posts here on Country’s Chatter. Check back tomorrow to see photos from Jake Owen’s night at the Appalachian Fair.
Keep in touch everyone. I love hearing from you all! And Josh, you just keep doing what you’re doing. It was awesome!
Country
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