CONCERT REVIEW: COLLIN RAYE - THE MOREHEAD CENTER - MOREHEAD CITY, NC 1/13/12

Artist: Collin Raye

Venue: Morehead Center for Performing Arts

City: Morehead City, NC

Date: 1/13/12

I just recently moved from Raleigh, NC where there is always a concert being held somewhere to Morehead City,  NC where you're more likely to catch fish than a great live show. I grew up in the greatest decade for country music, the decade that truly defined a generation of fans, the 90's. Country was about distinction, standing out and creating your own voice and when it comes to voices, there are not many that can match the emotional clarity of Collin Raye. He was my favorite artist throughout the 90's, with 16 #1 hits. He ruled country radio and now I was going to get to mark "See Collin Ray, Hug Him and Thank Him for Sharing His Music" off my musical bucket list.

Thanks to Collin's "people", I was granted the opportunity to sit in on sound check and do a one on one interview with Collin earlier in the afternoon and find out what all he's been up to the past few years. Turns out he's been up to alot! He's been touring, speaking out as the national spokesman for the Terri Schiavo Life and Hope Network, releasing his first inspirational cd, and how he was sitting right in front of me. Collin Raye was only a hug's reach away from me and after I really got to know more about this wonderful performer, I discovered he's also a wonderful person, so full of passion about his music, his family, his faith and life itself. I got my hug.

THE VENUE:

The venue, the Morehead Center for Performing Arts, is a quiet, simple, side street venue, one you probably wouldn't be aware of unless you drove by and saw the big sign in front. They don't do alot of advertising, which I found a little disappointing with the well known artists that have recently started playing there including Collin, TG Sheppard, and David Ball. I'm glad I drove by the venue and noticed the sign, that's the only way I would have heard about the show since I don't listen to the one radio station the show was promoted on and don't read the local "Daily Trader" kind of newspaper. I heard alot of rumblings in the audience regarding the advertising issues and apparently most discovered the show the same way I did. I truly hope this venue succeeds and makes something of itself because it's a wonderful place for an artist. Word is that it was once a movie theater. You walk into the lobby and there is a refreshment sales area much like a cinema with popcorn, candy, sodas and "adult beverages". The theater itself is fantastic, very intimate with a 550 seat capacity, a raised stage, red theater curtains and a movie screen behind the stage. I loved it. It can use some updating, but all in all it was a wonderful place for a live show.

THE OPENING ACT:

A great thing this venue does is open every show with a local artist to give them some exposure (you know I love that!). The show opened with Paul McBride, who took the crowd back to the decade that was country and he played the part perfectly in his Wranglers, boots, hat and big belt buckle and breaking out the 90's jukebox of hits from such artists as Garth Brooks, Billy Ray Cyrus (Thank God he chose "It Could Have Been Me" and not the line dancin', headache makin' "Achy Breaky Heart"), George Strait, Toby Keith,  and a few others. The crowd was riled up, ready to welcome Collin to the stage and when he took the stage, there was not an empty seat in the house, everyone was on their feet and the applause was almost deafening. What a tremendous amount of love this audience had for Collin and his music. 

COLLIN RAYE ... THE REAL DEAL

This was an acoustic show featuring Collin, his guitar and Brent Rader, his incredible piano player, who happens to also play with Jo Dee Messina. The show kicked off with one of my personal favorites, "The Gift". Collin launched right into his most well known hits and the audience loved it, singing along to every word (especially the lady sitting right behind me, she was even singing harmonies!). Collin kicked into full gear right off the bat with "Little Red Rodeo" followed by "Anyone Else". Then ... ooooh then, the familiar piano strains of one of my all time favorite songs on the planet started playing, "Little Rock". If there was ever a song that an artist can put the listener in the middle of and truly make them believe in the lyrics, this is the one and Collin has a special way of doing just that and with Brent on the keys, it's even better. He can bring total silence to an audience and tears to the eyes of most in that audience. I am not one to wimp out and let the tears flow and the lower lip quiver in public, but I raise my hand and admit that I did last night with this one and judging from the sniffles rippling through the audience behind me, I wasn't the only one with a heart and I think we all "heard" the story Collin was telling. It amazes me how he can go from a heart wrenching ballad straight into an upbeat song like "I Can Still Feel You" before we even have the chance to put our tissues down. He's just that versatile and just that good. Then again, just as soon as we're all back in feel good mode, here comes "In This Life". (queue the tears again dang it. I know I'm gonna look like a mess when this show is over.) He again brought the audience noise to a standstill and every ear was tuned in and every eye was on him. I'm telling you, no one can match the emotional delivery of this man. 

He kept the hits coming with "One Boy, One Girl" and "I Think About You" (never knew his real daughter played his daughter in his award winning video for this one). The next song, his new single coming up for radio airplay in the next month, is one that I feel IS Collin Raye, not only as an artist but as a person. He's had tragedy in his life with his ex-wife being in a coma for weeks back in 1985 and the death of his young granddaughter, Haley, in 2010, yet he stands "Undefeated" when most people would have crumbled and given up on God yet Collin stands stronger than he's ever been and his faith steadfast. His next song was one I had not heard yet I now love, "What I Need". The song's lyrics are full of truth and honesty and of course, even more so when he is the one singing them. I absolutely loved the way he introduced the next song, "the most shallow song he's ever done" and one that if you "have to go potty" was the one to take a break during, the funny man anthem "That's My Story". The entire audience was sticking to it too! The highlight of the night was up next, Collin brought out his 8 year old granddaughter, Maddie, and she showed that "Poppy" isn't the only talent in the family. She broke out "Baby Baby" by Justin Beiber with "Poppy" on guitar accompaniment and this girl didn't miss a word or a note and even busted out the Ludacris rap! The entire audience was on their feet and loving it. 

One thing about a Collin Raye show, it's pure entertainment and a musical journey. It's more than just Collin singing his own stuff. He throws in some totally unexpected covers and tonight was no different. He did fantastic covers of two Bob Dylan classics, "Don't Think Twice, It's Alright" and "Make You Feel My Love". Shhh, but I think he did them better than Dylan! My favorite cover of the night, and pretty much the best cover I've heard of any song, was "Rocket Man" from Elton John. People were actually yelling out "yeah!" from the crowd. LOVED IT, EVERY NOTE OF IT! He wrapped up the covers with "Do It Again" from Steely Dan. He wrapped up the show with "If I Were You" (another one of my favorites), "My Kind of Girl" and the one we all had waited all night to hear, his biggest and most loved hit, "Love, Me" (and here come the tears again ... *sniff sniff*.) 

So ends the night ... or so we thought. But oh no, alas, Collin wasn't quite ready to call it quits just yet. He came back on stage to more thunderous applause and smiles for a 2 song encore. His choice in songs for this encore was appropriate, "Love Remains" because alot of love remained in that theatre for him. His final song was a powerful testament of his faith in the Lord, "Give Me Jesus". It was absolutely beautiful. 

So here we are, the last song has been sung, the crew is cleaning up the stage, the equipment is being loaded back into the truck, however a few faithful decided to hang around and hope for a chance to say hello to Collin. Well, after nearly 40 min of waiting around, Collin made a point to meet every single person, sign every single item and pose for every single photo until the last person was smiling and happy. That's the kind of person he is: caring, kind, passionate and warm and we appreciate him for it. 

Thank you Collin, on behalf of everyone in attendance, for a wonderful show and for continuing to give us your best. For me, thank you for the best show I've ever been to.