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Concert Review: Lyric Theater
Stuart, FL - April 22, 2005
Tanya Rocked The House...Twice!
Tanya played two shows Friday night at the Lyric Theater in Stuart, Florida, a relatively small town on the east coast. The Lyric is a 1920s Theater with a working stage and balcony. On the outside the Lyric looks like a typical theater from an old Florida downtown. But once you step inside, there is nothing typical about the place at all. The Lyric is run by a non-profit organization and it is obvious everywhere you look that the building is lovingly maintained.
Daniel Lee Martin was the opening act for both of Tanya's shows. He recalled that he opened a concert for Tanya in Florida back in 1996 at Ruth Eckert Hall.
Not too many artists give me goosebumps, but he did with a cover of a John Denver song, "Back Home Again". He may have even done the song better than John. "Back Home Again" will be on his next CD.
The executive director of the Lyric Theater came out on the stage shortly after Daniel Lee's set grinning ear to ear. Apparently he had been trying for a few years to book Tanya. After Tanya's two shows, he is probably still grinning - hope he is ok. What a cool place to hear and see a concert - even cooler if he is working on the next Tanya booking.
Tanya did not come on stage immediately after the director, so of course the crowd got a little antsy. I guess this would be a good time to mention there was an open bar in the lobby that may have had a little bit to do with the impatience. During the second show Tanya's band played a few numbers without her because we were all on "Tucker Time". They sounded great and got abused by the audience for not being Tanya. So if any of Tanya's band reads this: "Ya'll were GOOD!"
Tanya came out on stage looking good and sounding good with "Some Kind of Trouble". I surely don't remember the order of the songs and the set list was somewhat different for both shows. Here is a list of what I can remember: "Lizzie and the Rainman", "Two Sparrows In A Hurricane". "Walking Shoes", "Hangin' In", "It's A Little Too Late", "San Antonio Stroll", "Down to My Last Teardrop", "Love Me Like You Used To", 'It Won't Be Me", "Strong Enough To Bend", "Memory Like I'm Gonna Be", "Oh What it Did To Me" and the kick-butt medley I would be disappointed if I didn't get to hear: "Jamestown Ferry-Blood Red and Goin' Down-Field of Stone-What's Your Mama's Name."
Tanya thanked the audience for her incredible success and all of the hit songs that she has been given and commented, "Tanya Tucker, takes a licking and keeps on kicking." Tanya talks about her success being a gift to her from fans. I have never heard another artist approach their success with such genuine humbleness.
Before singing "Love Me Like You Used To" Tanya talked about Paul Davis, the writer. She said Paul gave her a tape with 6 songs on it and she recorded 5 of the 6. She didn't think "I want to Be-Bop" would be a hit. Tanya also talked about how slow Paul is ("it takes him an hour-and-a-half to watch 60 minutes) and his long hair. She said he kinda looks like Jesus...and kinda acts like him too.
Tanya dedicated "Two Sparrows" to her parents and said they have been together for 66 years. She commented that she couldn't imagine staying with the same dude for that long. Tanya also talked about not being able to find Mr. Right -- she said she hasn't found him in a bar, he sure ain't been standing outside the bus and she hadn't found him at church either.
Tanya also mentioned that her dad had leg surgery Friday morning and you could tell she was definitely thinking of him.
I have heard Tanya perform "Two Sparrows" live several times and I am very much accustomed to the emotion she puts in the song. Anytime I go to a Tanya concert I am sitting around SOMEBODY that hasn't seen it or heard it from Tanya or anybody else before. One person sitting behind me commented that she thought Tanya was crying during the song.
Tanya also talked about Friday night being Presley's first prom...during the second show she mentioned a few phone calls with play by play details and stress out over hair.
Right before "San Antonio Stroll" Tanya talked about how much the song reminded her of Bob Wills music. She mentioned working on a couple of songs on the Bob Wills tribute CD coming out this summer.
Tanya did her oldies medley during the second show and the band outdid themselves -- again. I am not sure which one of the guys sings the bass part, especially on "What's Your Mama's Name", but whoever it is they are totally awesome. The song is better live than any recorded version I have heard. The Dixie Chicks' steel guitar player was on stage with Tanya's band Friday night. He is a good steel guitar player, but it was obvious he wasn't familiar with the songs.
Tanya doesn't usually talk too much about her mom, but for whatever reason she talked quite a bit about her mother being the backbone of the clan. She also commented that her mom is usually pretty quiet, but when she gets mad watch out! Then she proceeds to do mom imitations walking across the stage throwing her hips out... laughing and saying "you can't tell my mom has hips til she gets mad."
Usually there is one or two songs that the audience gets into more than others. This show it was a lot more than one or two, but one of them was definitely "It's a Little Too Late". Lots of people got out of their seats and down in front of the stage jumping around on that one (remember the open bar??). Tanya really outdid herself on "Down To My Last Teardrop". I don't know if she intentionally choreographs it, but either way she really hits the target on the performance of that song. Tanya really does a good job on "Hangin' In" as well.
One person in the front row gave Tanya a picture that he had taken of Tanya and Gary Stewart several years ago. That got Tanya to talking about Gary Stewart being the person that got her writing songs. The picture definitely brought back some memories.
Especially during the second show, the audience was very appreciative. Lots and lots of applause. After either the first or second song Tanya waited for the applause to end -- and it took a while -- before starting the next song. After that tho, she started almost every song before the applause ended. I am sure she knew the audience would have hooted and hollered for her all night long if she let them.
As always, Tanya closed both shows with Delta Dawn. Although the venue was small, Tanya made a huge impact Friday night in Stuart Florida. Tanya definitely rocked the house.
DMiranda
TCPalm - Lyric Theater Concert Review (local newspaper)
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