OctNov2007archives

As the feature writer for The East Texas Opry,
Shelley Anderson aka "Texas Red" shares her
enthusiasm for Country Music and reports on local,
state, and national entertainers, musicians,and
record producers who have contributed and
influenced Country Music.

"Texas Red" has been in the music business for
14 years singing and entertaining on stage
for audiences in North Carolina, Indiana, Michigan
and Texas. She is also a songwriter and currently
working on her next country music album.

Shelley Anderson writes from her home state of
Texas where she says she is "Home For Good".
TR

The audience Sunday night at the Temple
Theatre in Lufkin,Texas reciprocated
through out the entire evenings performance
with resounding applause and shouts of
approval. This classy country music
entertainer, Clint Black gave it his all with
his performance called Up Close and
Personal With Clint Black.

This country music star and songwriter from
Katy,Texas wowed the audience with his
harmonica, electric and acoustic guitar
performances from every vantage point
exuding stage presence, personal
connection, humor, stories, musicianship,
and clearly talent through his singing hitting
the high notes like a true cowboy. Clint sang
many of his popular award winning hits from
previous albums to include Killin Time, Put
Yourself in My Shoes, A Better Man,
Nothin But The Tail lights, When I said I
Do, and performed a few newer songs from
his upcoming album to be released in
February 2008 on the Equity Music Group
record label that he co-founded in 2003.

When Clint Black announced that his lovely
wife, Lisa Hartman would not be there that
evening the audience simultaneously
responded with disappointment. Surprised by
the overall response, he smiled and
explained that Lisa was tending to their six
year old daughter at home and then referred
to hair issues drawing laughter from the
audience.

Band member and Nashville's own fiddler,
Dan Kelly consistently received boisterous
applause in every solo that evening. The
buttery sound coming out of his fiddle as well
as the flawless stylistic blending in with the
band to include Clint Black's singing added
flavor and excitement to the nights
performance. Dan has won innumerable
fiddle competitions over the years and has
proved to be an asset to many of the well
known top country music artists like that of
Roy Acuff, Alan Jackson, Pam Tillis, Faith
Hill, Steve Wariner, James Bonamy,
SheDaisy, and Jimmy Wayne.

The evening opened with energetic young
Nashville singer, Laura Bryna. Her stunning
royal blue clothing gave the audience a
sophisticated great first impression. She
seemed to be intimidated some what by the
patient yet expecting Texas audience as she
spoke in short sentences resulting in long
breaks of silence in between songs. Her
sincerity seemed genuine, but she barely
looked above the first three or four rows and
turned her back a few too many times to the
audience.

Laura is new to the country music scene and
overall she delivered a gutsy performance
as the opening act for Clint Black. As with
most opening acts, she managed nervously
to perform a few select songs while the
sound system was being tweeked. Her voice
was consistently strong although most of her
singing was in a lower range not showing off
her high note capability. During intermission
there were complaints about not being able
to understand her words. Her stage

performance by comparison lacked
somewhat personal connection with the
audience while the few repetitive dance
moves were predictable. A fresh dance
routine would better compliment the beauty
and talent Laura Bryna obviously has.

Overall, the evening was a success. After
Clint Black gave his performance, he and his
band left the stage. The lights went out.
However, the audience refused to leave
standing in the dark auditorium and
continued to applause trying to entice Clint
and his band back to perform. Possibly
anticipated but to the delight of the crowd,
Clint Black graced the stage with his band.
He warned the crowd to be careful what they
wish for yet satisfied everyone with two more
numbers spotlighting the vocal ability of
Bryan Austin, backup vocalist, guitarist, and
saxophone player.

Clint exchanged his black cowboy hat for a
black ball cap and devilishly stepped up to
the drum set ready to play. Bryan Austin of
Nashville demonstrated his talents singing
and playing his Saxophone while Clint Black
flawlessly kept rhythm. The result: a crowd
pleaser. At the end the two songs, Clint
threw his ball cap into the audience and
gave away his drum sticks to eager fans on
the front row.

Finally, Clint acknowledged the cries from
the audience requesting Desperado and
wrapped up the evening of entertainment
with this final song. Again a standing ovation
and the entire band arm in arm bowed in
true theatrical tradition. Clint and Bryan both
threw out guitar picks to the attentive
audience.

A fantastic event! True to the promotional
listing, it was in fact an evening Up Close
and Personal With Clint Black!
T R