by Amannda G. Maphies
What should have been a stifling summer Saturday evening in mid-July turned out to be a pleasant night partnered with a gentle breeze surrounded by a cotton candy pink sky and signature Ozarks hills. Perfect for an outdoor concert hosted by The Ozarks Amphitheater just outside of Camdenton, Missouri.
First to the stage were The Comancheros, a local band based primarily out of Columbia, Missouri. What a treat! Their hard rock style partnered with a definitive 70s vibe from the lead guitarist was nothing short of amazing! His golden locks took on a persona of their own, coupled with his devil-may-care-denim-on-denim style. The lead singer brought his A-game in vocals and a George Washington playing the guitar sleeveless t-shirt under his denim vest that positively encapsulated the audience. The drummer entertained the crowd by taking off his t-shirt and adding some kind of wild animal cap as he emptied a full beer seconds prior to performing a drum solo that made the crowd go wild.
While the Comancheros spent only 30 minutes on stage, their inviting presence and high-octane performance was the perfect start to an evening of rock, country, and everything in-between. The members of The Comancheros made their way from center stage to meet fans in the pit after their performance. They entertained countless fan meet-and-greets and provided several photo opportunities from those in the pit, including my 16-year-old son and I, their newest fans.
Next up was the band, Stony LaRue. Less octane and more classic country, the lead singer definitely brought the vocals to the thousands of fans hanging on every lyrical word. This was the perfect blend of the opener and the featured artist. A sandwich of music from one extreme to the other. Stony LaRue exhibits a lyrical magic perfect for road trips, lake days, and any event that needs a shot of high energy, ‘Let’s Do This’. Well played, Stony LaRue…. I will be on the lookout for future performances from this band.
With the setting sun, darkness encased the crowded outdoor amphitheater. The stage sat empty, silently begging for more crowd-pleasing music. Shortly after 9:00 p.m., Gary Allan made his way from backstage to center stage sporting a white jean jacket and his signature black t-shirt and dark denim jeans. The jacket was quickly shed in the warm summer air, and those familiar tattooed arms made their grand debut, along with that signature sound only Gary Allan can command.
I grew up watching Gary Allan videos on VH1. I recall many hours feeling lost in the mini-movies set to his deep-feeling songs, always romantic with a hint of bad boy, but a greater helping of deep and raw yearning for that perfect love. Allan’s music graced the face of country in the 90s with hits like: ‘Man to Man’, ‘Tough Little Boys’, ‘Nothing On but the Radio’, ‘Every Storm (Runs Out of Rain)’, and likely the most tear-jerking song ever written and performed, ‘Best I Ever Had’, based on a dark season that he generously shared with his longing fans.
More recent music Allan shared from his 2021 album, ‘Ruthless’, were hits: ‘Waste of a Whiskey Drink’, ‘SEX’, ‘Ruthless’, ‘The Hard Way’, among several others. Mostly Allan walked the stage, providing an intimate moment with each section of the audience. He sat on a barstool for one song, about cheating on one’s lover, that he commented tongue-in-cheek, “My wife loves that song”.
Allan’s performance was chalked full of energy. His moves, voice, and stage presence is so reminiscent of his early start in 90s country, one would never guess he is nearing his sixth decade. Allan’s fans knew every word to the many songs he sang back-to-back. Allan took zero breaks and his encore, ‘Watching Airplanes’, was an invitation to the whole amphitheater to rise to their cowboy booted feet and sing along, which nearly every fan accepted with gusto.
Allan threw guitar pics to the crowd throughout the whole concert. Several at a time, to the fans dancing in the pit below the stage. At one point, he bent down and gently handed an elderly woman a guitar pic, which made for a tender moment with her adoring husband, that I was blessed to capture on film.
When performing his encore song, ‘Watching Airplanes’, Allan accepted an audience member’s cell phone and proceeded to take selfies and capture video footage from the loud and proud audience that sang along to one of his greatest chart-topping hits.
Several highlights were tattooed in my memory from this special summer performance by a legend of country music. Seeing my son, who is admittedly more of a ‘rock fan’ than country, appreciate the rousing music of a legend I followed around his age. While my oldest son doesn’t necessarily appreciate the country sound like my youngest and I do, he graciously stepped up to accompany me. (And…..I think he may have enjoyed it more than he will admit)! I have several photos of him dancing, headshaking, and swaying to the melodious sounds of Gary Allan that silently serve as evidence of this fact.
Music is perhaps the only language that transcends generation gaps, ignores political divides, and unifies countless strangers in fun, excitement, nostalgia, and present moments that will gloriously morph into future memories. Gary Allan’s encore song, ‘Watching Airplanes’, commanded every audience member, young, old, and everything in-between, to rise from their sticky plastic stadium seat, move their body in line with the music, and sing their lungs out to a song in which every soul can relate.
“I hope to come back a thousand times”, was Gary Allan’s closing remark.
And every soul in that packed outdoor amphitheater collectively hoped for the same.