|
Jessica sings "Unbreakable Heart" accompanied by the
Huntingdon High School Band.
Fans bargaining on a chance to see Jessica Andrews in concert,
at home in Carroll County, got more than they expected
Saturday, May 7, with a hometown hoedown joined in by children
and teens to the delight of the audience. The event was a
fundraiser for the concert/marching band of Jessica's alma
mater, Huntingdon High School.
Jessica thanked the band program for the opportunity to help
raise funds for the band.
"We want to support any kind of music program," she said.
"It's just got to start somewhere and it usually starts in
school, playing in a band or the high school band. It's
important to support in any way we can singing or music
programs."
It was a star-studded night in McKenzie. Marcel and Jessica
were introduced together as headliners of the concert. The
leather and lace duo were joined by friends and fellow
musicians James Slater (keyboard), Max Abrams (sax), Tom
Hoey (percussion), and Trevor Rosen (guitar).
Slater is the author of the Grammy nominated Martina McBride
hit, "In My Daughter's Eyes" and "That's Why God Made Mexico",
recorded by Tim McGraw.
The get together, orchestrated on the stage of the Bethel
College auditorium, was the forum for locals to receive a
first hand introduction of Jessica's boyfriend, Marcel Chagnon,
who recently reaped his first number one hit with "Nothing to
Lose." Local fans are most proud of Jessica's success with her
number one hit, "Who I Am".
The audience got a preview of several tunes from Jessica's new
album, scheduled for release this fall, including the single
"The Marrying Kind" that will be out in June. Other songs from
the pending album included "Summer Girl", "I'm Going Back", "Ain't
That Life", and "Poison In the Sugar".
Jessica's opening serenade was the soulful "When Gentry Plays
Guitar", followed by "There's More to Me Than You" that had
the audience clapping.
The high-energy atmosphere continued with Marcel taking the
lead with a Diamond Rio song followed by Slater performing
"That's Why God Made Mexico", accompanied by Marcel.
Slater told spectators, "The best thing about tonight is that
I came up here with my best friends. It's important in life to
have fun and if you're lucky enough you can do what you love
and do it with your friends."
After Summer Girl, Rosen sang "Keep On Believing" followed by
Slater's "In My Daughter's Eyes", a song he dedicated to
Jessica's mother, Vicky, "for having such a great daughter."
Marcel debuted in his first-ever banjo performance as he
accompanied Jessica in her upcoming single, "The Marrying
Kind". He then sang "The Way of Love", a song he wrote about
Jessica--referred to often as Jessie during the concert--
after the two had a tiff some time ago. Jessica and Marcel
revealed CMT is conducting a pilot for a sheer reality show
featuring them as a couple.
Jessica then sang "I'm Going Back" for her mother because, she
said, "It's her favorite song." The song was written by
Jessica, Marcel and another friend.
"I don't think there's a better voice than hers," Marcel
confided at the song's end.
The curtains behind the musicians opened to reveal the
Huntingdon High School Band, whose instrumentals made sweeter
the precious words of "Unbreakable Heart", a song from
Jessica's "very first album" of the same name. Jessica noted
band director Lisa Bryant was also director when she was a
student at the school. Derrick Cook is the Middle School band
director.
At song's end, Slater asked, "Which three of you were doing
your little jig at sound check?"
The audience came alive as Adam Pruitt on alto sax, Chase
Sanders on tenor sax, and Brad Churchwell on trombone came
forward to jam with the band. Their impromptu performance was
followed by an invitation to drummers who came forward to join
in a drum and piano extravaganza that had the orchestra out of
their seats dancing. The drummers proved anything can be used
as a percussion instrument as they thumped out a rhythm on
chair backs and whatever else was available.
Jessica took time to introduce her cousin, Charles Blackburn,
who plays French horn in the band. She later thanked his
parents, Chuck and Dorothy Blackburn, for organizing the show.
"Ain't That Life" was next, a song written by Slater and
Marcel, followed by Marcel's "Nothing to Lose" in which he was
accompanied by Rosen.
The crowd went wild with the next tune, "I Want a Man Who Can
Dance", with teens dancing in the background surging to the
front of the stage and children pouring up the front steps to
join in as well. The band students formed a conga line that
took them off the stage and into the auditorium where they
paraded around the audience before finding their seats, with
several settling on the floor in front of the stage.
"This is so much fun, so much fun, so much fun," cooed
Jessica. Slater agreed, saying the audience was "the loudest
and best-way to go!"
As the audience settled down a bit, Jessica slowed the tempo
with "Poison In the Sugar", a soulful ballad from her new
album that brought cheers from the audience.
Next came the hit, "Who I Am", which proved as fresh as when
it was new two years ago.
"Thanks for such a wonderful Saturday night and thanks to the
band," said Jessica. "It's all about the music."
Slater again counseled students on the importance of
continuing their art. "Every time we play somewhere we hear,
'Boy, I wish I'd kept playing the piano or guitar or singing,"
he said. "So if you have an opportunity to make music a part
of your life, listen to your mom and dad when they tell you to
practice."
Following the presentation to Jessica of a framed photograph
of the band, which was autographed by its members, the concert
ended with Marcel's song, "Tennessee".
The hometown fans bid Jessica and friends farewell with huge
cheers and whistles as the two-hour concert came to an end.
The event drew a healthy crowd despite several competing
festivals--Dresden's Iris Festival, Clarksburg's Hummingbird
Festival and Civil War re-enactment, Bruceton in May, and the
West Tennessee Strawberry Festival in Humboldt--and the fact
that students of Bethel College had left the day before for
summer vacation.
Adam Pruitt, Brad Churchwell
and Chase Sanders jam it up.
Professional drummer Tom
Mullins and high school band members Steppan park, Jesse
Turner and Ross Hilliard find chair back to be suitable
percussion instruments.
James Slater (keyboard) Jessica and Marcel and band members
dance.
Jessica and Marcel dance with children from Jessica's hometown
of Huntingdon, Tennessee.
Marcel dances with the kids.
HHS band students catch the
rhythm.
Band students form a conga line as they return to the
audience.
Jessica smiles as she looks at the photo of the band that she
received in appreciation.
The audience spills over to the
floor in front of the stage.
Jessica holds nothing back as
she delivers a first-class performance to her hometown
audience.
Marcel debuts his banjo skills as Jessica sings "The Marrying
Kind."
Accompanied by Trevor Rosen, Jessica sings "Poison in the
Sugar."
Marcel sings "Nothing to Lose".
|
2005 Feature Archives: |
|
|
|
|
|
2004
Feature
Archives: |
|
|
|
. |
|
2003
Feature
Archives: |
|
|
|
. |
|
2002
Feature
Archives: |
|
|
|
. |
|
2001
Feature
Archives: |
|
|
|
