What an amazing evening!  My Auntie Shirley and I were so lucky to have the chance to experience the Class of 2012 Saturday night at Potawatomi Northern Lights Theater.  This was the first time either of us has been to a concert there and I now know I will be back for more.  This is such a small venue that it really gives a true intimate concert experience.  This concert was like no other.  It was very comfortable and homey.  Not all bells, lights and bass blaring but simple acoustic music.  It was a time to be lucky enough to actually get personal with these artists and hear stories that typically wouldn’t be shared during a concert.  It was a time to be relaxed yet energized and feeling great.  It was a time for memories to be made.

The stage was lined with stools and chairs from one end to the other with microphones in front of each.  Karen, Scott and Radar took the stage to get us ready for the night and introduced us to our first talent of the night – Jana Kramer.  She took the stage along with two other people who played the instruments.  Karen and Scott asked her some questions and Jana spoke openly and freely. This is when we learned a little bit about who Jana Kramer is.  We were told she is battling a cold yet you’d never know it the way she sounded.  She was beautiful. She sang a great song called “What I Love About Your Love”. 

Then Karen and Scott came back out on stage to introduce us to Laura Bell Bundy.  She also had two people with her playing guitars.  Karen and Scott asked her some questions and we received some good feedback and insight of who she is.  She seemed very open and honest about the information she was sharing with us.  She sang us a great song called “If You Want My Love”.

Here come Karen and Scott again to welcome Casey James to the stage.  Casey came out with a guitar that he played along with one other person who sat down in front of a small drum set.  Once again Karen and Scott shared some Casey James information with us and asked him some questions so we could learn even more about him.  He sang “The Good Life” for us.

Now it’s time for Karen and Scott to come back out and introduce us to Kip Moore.  Kip came on stage with two other people, and each of the three of them had guitars.  Karen and Scott gave us a little background on Kip Moore and then Kip filled us with some more knowledge of who he is and where he comes from.  The song we enjoyed from Kip Moore was called “One More Time”.

Next up Karen and Scott called The Lost Trailers out to the stage.  Both guys came on stage with guitars and sat down ready to openly talk with us as if we were all old friends.  We learned how The Lost Trailers almost came to an end but lucky for us that was just an almost.  These guys played great together and sounded awesome as they sang “American Beauty”.

Karen and Scott hit the stage once more to introduce our final act to fill up the remaining stools on stage Edens Edge.  This was a trio with two people playing instruments.  Like the others Edens Edge openly talked with us and gave us some insight on who they all are.  We enjoyed “High Lonesome Sound”.

Well now that the stage is full and all the acts are out we enjoyed a continuous evening of entertainment as we moved along the stage from group to group, three times.  Yes we jammed out to three more songs from each act. There were also times when Casey James jumped in and played guitar with The Lost Trailers and vise-versa. And Laura Bell Bundy was invited to sing along with The Lost Trailers at one point. It was almost like we were watching all these very talented people hanging out together and just having fun jamming out.  Each time it came to be their turn we got some more information of who they are.  They all talked about where they came from and about their road to where they are now, things they like and don’t like.  Laura Bell Bundy shared her love of chocolate with us and showed us the candy bar she had on stage with her.  They talked about their songs and music.  How they all are songwriters and what they write about is what they know and have experienced.  It was clear they all have a passion for what they do and that each one is grateful for the opportunity to do what they love.  Their expression of gratitude to us as an audience for being there to share that night with them was heartfelt. 

I’m sure you’re wondering what other songs we enjoyed.  Well it’s a good thing I was taking notes as I always do!  I must say it was particularly easy to take notes that night because the seating at Northern Lights Theater is big comfortable chairs and booths with tables.

Jana Kramer also sang “Won’t Ever Give Up”, “I Hope It Rains” and “Keep Wanting You”.  Casey James gave us “Let’s Don’t Call It A Night”, “She’s Money” and “Drive”.  The Lost Trailers entertained us with a very funny song called “Gravy”, “Underdog” and one of my favorites “Holler Back”.  Edens Edge sang “Last Supper”, “Skinny Dippin” and the current radio hit “Amen”.  The cute Kip Moore sang “Something About A Truck”, “I Let Her” and “Strength When I Fall”.  Miss Laura Bell Bundy sang “Let’s Pretend We’re Married”, “That’s What Angels Do” and wrapped up our awesome evening with “Giddy On Up”.  Oh and she changed her boots on stage and came out to ‘giddy on up’ while she sang.

Yes this was a super fun night.  This was a great experience that I’m so lucky to have had.  We had a table full of beer drinking fun women behind us that kindly took our picture.  I did apologize to the people in front of us if by chance I whistled or yelled too loud.  The man said “you’re not really sorry, you had a good time didn’t you”?  I responded “Why yes I did” and he told me there was no need to apologize – what great sports!  I’d like to say thank you Karen, Scott and Radar for taking a picture with me and my Aunt, and thank you Auntie Shirley for having the good eye to see that Kip Moore came off stage.  We high tailed it over to him and got our picture taken with him!  A big huge thank you to Kerry Wolfe and FM106.1 for hosting this absolutely awesome one of a kind event and letting me be part of it.  I am one lucky lady.