Anyway, Jaime did about a 45-minute set or so... did mostly original material. She did do one cover, "Black Velvet", which she did quite well, actually. She also did do another song that she didn't write, but because she said it said everything she wanted to and couldn't say it better herself, she cut it on her Indi-Record "Crossing Over", which she'd be selling and signing after the show.
I did get some good pics of her, too, but saved most of the battery and pics for Zac.
After a brief intermission/potty break, we got back to the seats, just in time for Zac to take the stage. It didn't take long, since they were using the same band and equipment.
When Zac came out, he started right into an awesome "Memphis Women and Chicken"... which made Janis pretty happy, as it's one of her favorite songs of his from Nashville Star. I personally really like "Stranger In My House" but have yet to hear him play it live. I'm not complaining, though, as I've never heard him sing anything I DIDN'T like.
After doing that song, he did a very sensual "Always In The Mood", which I really, really liked. He has a chemistry on stage that just wraps you in... simply amazing. This time, he was ready to sing "Lady". The last time I saw him, at Side Pockets in Florence, AL the night after the season finale, he got requests for it, but couldn't do it. He didn't make that mistake twice. He introduced it saying that he was dedicating it to all the ladies in the house... and that it was one of the songs he'd done on Nashville Star that "got the most votes" for him.
It's amazing there were actually women remaining after that song, instead of mere puddles in their seats. One look around the audience, and you could see he was in control of them all.
Then, he did another song I'd never heard before, so I'm guessing at the title... "Lonely Town". Of course, I enjoyed it... but was there ever any doubt? Hehehe... He followed that up with a great full-band version of "Any Bridge Worth Building". I'd only ever heard it with a full-band once before, at PJs for the Homecoming Week of the show. I'd heard it several times from the Muscle Shoals to Music Row Live internet broadcast, but that was only acoustic... him and his guitar. This was fantastic!
After "Any Bridge", he sang his brand new MySpace song "Never Been Loved" (which, as of right now at least, you can still download from his page). After he slowed it down for that song, he got into a romping version of "Hot Legs" that got everybody back into the energy of the show with him!
What followed next is another song I'd never heard him do before, called "Drive". When introducing the next song, he told the audience that sometimes people get into new relationships, and call it 'love' too soon. Everybody should just take their time, "call it wild... call it fun... but before we mess it up, let's call it anything but love". I love it! Just don't tell HIM that. It really IS wild, too... and lotsa fun... but dadgummit, I DO "love" it, too! Hehehe...
The next song he did used to be up on his MySpace page, but has since been replaced by "Sounds Good To Me". He said he was going to do a song that he wrote... a song that really offered a glimpse into HIM, who he was, his life, what he'd gone through, etc. An audience member asked "Is it Emily?" He said "No, it's not Emily" Almost the entire rest of the audience that tried guessing what song he was talking about, including even me, shouted out "If It Wasn't For the Whiskey" to which he said "That's ANOTHER one" but it wasn't the one he was referring to.
Instead he did his song "Change" that he and Angela did together to end the broadcast on the Muscle Shoals to Music Row Live show back in March. It was superb! After he sang it, he told us that a lot of people think that that song was written about a love/relationship, but instead it was a song he'd written about God.
I have a newfound respect/admiration/love for that song, now! I already liked it a lot... now so even more. Especially the line when he sings "why is this so hard for me to do? what am I afraid I have to lose... if I change... for you..." That's always been my favorite part of the song, anyway.
Then he did his one concert must-have song performance, "If It Wasn't For The Whiskey"... I don't think he can do a show now without playing that song. It's too popular a song for him. He followed that up with a great, groovy "Get Your Love On", which, if it weren't for the next song he performed would have reduced most ladies to mush... However, when he gave in to audience requests for "She's A Fire", THAT was all it took. He ended up playing this song by himself, as the band wasn't prepared to play it with him... Just his guitar and his voice, filling the theatre... One woman in the audience made it fairly vocal as to her agreement/approval of the song... It was more a noise than anything, really (at least what I heard)... but probably one that would have been better if we hadn't all heard it, too. Hehehe...
Two more songs remained... a lively "Monkey Around", followed by the super emotional, heart-string-tugging "Emily". He showed much appreciation and gratitude for everyone that came out... We were told that both Jaime and Zac would be selling and signing CDs at the merchandise booth after the show.
Zac's CDs had 5 songs on them and sold for $10. By the time I got up to the table, though, they were sold out.
I think Holly got one, though... so did her friend, LeAnn. I still went up to the booth, though... bought a picture and had Zac sign that for me, instead. When he saw me and Janis, he realized it was well after they'd sold out of CDs, and remembered us from before the show. He said, with a disappointed/sad look on his face, "You didn't get a CD, did you??" I replied "No... but it's okay. We got to see the show. Anything else is just a bonus." I hope he knows I meant it... I WILL buy his CD if/when I can... I can be patient. I definitely would have loved to have gotten one, but that's okay. I'll live.After getting him to sign our pictures, we went over to where everyone else in our little crew was already waiting... to wait for Zac to finish signing things for his other fans... so we could 'hang' for a few minutes and get OUR pics! He was being pulled in 7 different directions, I swear... the poor guy... but kept reassuring us that he would come over and spend a few minutes before he left. Unfortunately, plans for after the show had changed, too... so he wouldn't be able to spend much time with us... but he WOULD spend at least a few minutes and get some pics with/for us.
When he finally did make it, he was kinda rushed, so I promised we'd be quick... but I wanted a pic with him, so did Janis... and Holly. Then we wanted a picture of the whole group of us with him... I went over to get my pic with him, and he picked his arm up to put it around me... and I put my arm around his waist. Then, he pulled his other arm around me, and pulled tighter, pulling me closer to him. *sigh* Hehehehe... as you can see from the picture I posted, I wasn't 'zactly complaining. He was kinda 'wiggling', we'll call it, while we were waiting for the pic to be taken... so, apparently, it struck us both funny... thus the goofy grins on both of our faces.
Then I took the picture of him and Janis... then one of him and Holly... then we found someone to take a picture of our whole group for us. His comment after that group shot was hilarious... but I ain't sayin'. Hehehe... Anyway, then he REALLY needed to go... so we left, so they could close the place. We said our goodbyes and gave our goodbye hugs, thanking Candy immensely AGAIN for hooking us up. It just wouldn't have been the same without her help. We certainly appreciated it, too!!
It was so much fun watching him at his very first EVER official "concert"!! Those who were there to share this memorable occasion with him will surely remember this for a long time... I just hope we made it as memorable for him, too!
Click here for a link to the pics from the show!!
*edited to fix the title of one of the songs I wasn't sure of... I now know the title, so I fixed it... thanks Jaime!*
but, just wondering if I posted too many pics. 