I feel really privileged to have been able to experience the amazing talent of young Hunter Hayes on Friday night.  My cousin Scott and I got to the Rave at about 7:30 and immediately looked for the FM106.1 spinning wheel so we could obtain our Meet-N-Greet information.  We got our bracelets, grabbed a drink and nestled in some spots in the back where we had a pretty good view of the stage.  We knew there was no way we were getting any closer passed all the young teenage girls.  While we were hanging out waiting for the show to begin, we struck up conversation with Larry and Kelly, a nice couple from Random Lake out for date night.  That’s one thing I love about concerts, you just never know who you’re going to meet.  We also met lucky winners Shawn and Kym who were getting a Meet-N-Greet after the show.  We were chatting and having a good time when all you could hear were the squeals of young teenage girls because Hunter Hayes hit the stage.  He came out smiling and full of energy.  He gave us a great performance of “You Light Me Up”, “You Can’t Say Love”, “Faith To Fall Back On”, “Somebody’s Heartbreak” and “Rainy Season”.  I must say I was quite impressed with the talent of this young artist as well as the band playing with him.  They all seemed very comfortable on stage and definitely fed off the energy from the audience. 

I’m aware that Hunter Hayes has been writing songs, singing and performing since he was just old enough to walk and talk.  Seeing him live on stage it’s obvious that music is his deepest passion.  I was really blown away with the variety of instruments he played, and his singing was amazing.  Performing on stage really seemed to come naturally to Hunter Hayes, as if he was right at home.  He was very interactive with the crowd making individual eye contact saying hi, shaking hands, reading the signs people made, as well as sang “Happy Birthday” to one fan.  Some more wonderful songs we jammed out to were “Love Start Slippin Away”, “I’ll Cry With You” and “Love You More Than I Should”.  Hunter Hayes really had the audience moving with his fun fast paced songs.  He took time to introduce each member of the band and then asked if we would mind if he did some songs acoustically.  He mentioned he likes doing them as such because it really takes you back to the original song itself.  This is when we enjoyed “When I’m Gone”, “Love Somebody Like You” and “Life”.  I must say the girls in the crowd went wild!  Keeping the energy high they gave us “Keep Your Head Up”, “Don’t Blame Me” and the big finish with “Storm Warning”.  Hunter Hayes put on a tremendous show. 

Afterward we headed to the Meet-N-Greet spot to get lined up for our chance.   Did I mention the woman who drove six hours from Michigan to bring her daughter to see Hunter Hayes?  How great is that!  What a cool Mom.  We were lucky to get close to the front and be one of the first to meet him.  He was very nice, took a picture with us and kindly signed each of our tickets.  I’m not sure how long Hunter Hayes was there after the show, but I’m guessing it was quite a while because the line of people waiting for a chance to meet him was insane.  It was a very fun night, and I’m glad I was part of the Hunter Hayes experience.  

I had a fabulous night out with my Aunt Michele.  I can’t think of a better way to start off the week than to enjoy a Sunday evening with Kenny Rogers – Christmas and the Hits.  This was my first time seeing Kenny Rogers live, and I’m so very grateful for the opportunity.  He put on a wonderful show which included performances by Billy Dean, a gospel choir, and six talented young local children. 

Kenny Rogers hit the stage and explained that he’s been doing this show for 30 years now and feels he’s got a good handle on it.  When he did shows with only Christmas songs he received requests for hits.  When he did shows with only hits he received requests for Christmas songs.  So he brilliantly decided to combine them and give us two shows in one.  He informed us that the night would start out with the hits that he selected to sing, then a short intermission and end the night with Christmas songs.  So our night of hits started with “We’ve Got Tonight” and “It’s A Beautiful Night”.  At this point Kenny couldn’t help but comment on the lady in about the 8^th row who had the biggest pair of binoculars he’d ever seen.  It loosened up the audience a bit and we rolled from there.  Next he sang “Ruby Don’t Take Your Love To Town” which he extended the microphone toward the crowd so we could sing along, but we weren’t really pumped up yet I guess because he said that was the worst he’d ever experienced.  (I must agree we were pretty bad)  Then we enjoyed “Through The Years”, “You Decorated My Life”, “She Believes In Me”, “Coward Of The County”, “Daytime Friends” and “Buy Me A Rose”. 

 After that great line-up Kenny Rogers introduced Billy Dean who came out and sang “We Just Disagree” and “Billy The Kid”, two songs that I really love.  What a special treat having Billy Dean with Kenny Rogers!  We only got those couple songs from Billy Dean but Kenny Rogers assured us he’d be back out later to sing some more.  So back to Kenny Rogers who gave us “The Gambler”, “Lucille”, “Lady” and “Islands In The Stream”.  We did volunteer ourselves as an audience to sing “Lucille” and Kenny did say that we did much better on that one.  Absolutely amazing!  With all of the hits Kenny Rogers has we could have been there all night just listening to hits.  But as promised we were going to hear some Christmas songs too.  Before exiting the stage for a short intermission, Kenny Rogers did toss out about 6 tambourines into the audience.  What an awesome keep-sake for several lucky fans.

Now for the second half – Christmas songs.  Billy Dean started us off with the help of six young local children who did a tremendous job.  I felt so warm and proud of those kids I can only imagine their parents must have been bursting with pride.  We got to experience “Comfort And Joy”, “Let The Bells Ring Out For Christmas”, “Rockin Around The Christmas Tree”, “Jingle Bells”, “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town”, “Let It Snow” and one of my all time favorite Billy Dean songs “Let Them Be Little”.  Billy Dean and the children did a great job entertaining us.  This is the time that we experienced artificial snowflakes falling from the ceiling as Kenny Rogers came out and sang “The Christmas Song” and “Merry Christmas” with Billy Dean.  The remainder of the show we enjoyed Kenny Rogers as he sang “White Christmas”and “Just Not Christmas If I Cant Spend It With You”.  Next he did “Mary Did You Know” with Wynona Judd singing on video. It was as if she were there with us.  For the final songs Kenny Rogers was joined on stage by a wonderful choir as they sang “Away In A Manger”, “Oh Holy Night”, “Silent Night” and “We Three Kings”.  For the grand finale, Billy Dean and the children came back out on stage and along with Kenny Rogers and the Choir they sang “Joy To The World” and “Till The Season Comes Round Again”.

 It was a spectacular night.  Kenny Rogers and Billy Dean were amazing, and the children and the choir were awesome.  What a wonderful combination.  This was definitely a memorable evening full of fun, laughter, and tears. (happy tears – you know, the good kind)  Thanks FM106.1 for another great memory.  

Well I had a wonderful Saturday night at the Bradley Center.  This was a special night because for the first time during my 2011 concert experience I was able to bring my son.  Why you ask?  I was able to take my son because the night started at the Admirals Game, with a concert by Craig Morgan to follow.  He has enjoyed Wave Games, a Brewers Game, and last year we went to see the Globetrotters on New Years Eve, but this night he was going to see an Admirals Game for the first time.  I was so excited for him and confident he’d have a great time, and he did.  My son just turned six so his attention span still isn’t all that long which worked to our benefit because we had some running back and forth to do to obtain our Meet-n-Greet passes for Craig Morgan.  We got some food, watched some of the game, went to get our passes, got some more food, watched some more of the game, got a tub of popcorn and headed down to get in line for our Meet-n-Greet.  Waiting in line was a patience test for him, but he managed well since he was still able to watch the game on a television that was hanging in the hallway while munching on his popcorn.  He was aware he was about to meet a famous singer, yet he was really clueless as to what it all meant.  I think you’ll agree from our picture that he was plenty excited and happy to be there because the smile on his face couldn’t have gotten any bigger than it was! 

By now he was starting to get tired as I figured he would.   The game was just about over and I knew we had about 45 minutes until Craig Morgan hit the stage.  So I sent a message to my girlfriend Sue who was across the street with my cousin Kelsey enjoying Little Big Town, checking how far into their concert they were.  We agreed to meet outside in about 45 minutes so Sue could take our son home, and Kelsey could join me for Craig Morgan.  Once my little man realized his night was ending, he wanted just a little more.  So I took him back in, and we had the time of our lives down on the ice hearing Craig Morgan sing “Amazing Grace”.  My son was smiling so big while waving his new light-up pen, it was a beautiful sight.  Craig Morgan started singing “Little Bit Of Life” next, and about half way through my little man was feeling done.  So we went outside and he headed home while Kelsey and I went in to enjoy the rest of Craig Morgan’s performance which included “More Trucks Than Cars”, “Little Bit Country” and “Rock-N-Roll Fantasy”.  This is when Craig Morgan took the time to introduce each band member one at a time, and we enjoyed the talent of each as they were introduced.   During this time we enjoyed the sounds of some classic rock, as in some Led Zepplin.  Now how cool is that!  After enjoying the individual talents of each member solo, they once again blended and gave us “We’re Going Out Tonight”, “Almost Home”, “Love Remembers”, and “This Aint Nothing”. 

Now remember how I told you about Keith Urban calling people up on stage?  Well Mr. Craig Morgan does the same thing.  He did get a little personal took time to talk to us a bit throughout the show.  I don’t think anyone expected him to call two young ladies up on stage to sit and enjoy him singing “Easy Like Sunday Morning”.  What an amazing moment!  They were both 17 years old if I remember correctly, and I bet they were almost in shock that this was happening to them.  It was wonderful to see.  Once the girls were assisted off the stage, Craig Morgan finished off the night with “This Old Boy”, “Bonfire”, “Redneck Yacht Club”, and for an encore we got “International Harvester”.  Craig Morgan put on a great show and it was a fun night.  Craig Morgan had us pumped up and feeling great, so after the concert we headed up to Callanan’s Pub in New Berlin to rock out with local talent Ronnie Nyles for a while.  We had a good time talking a bit while jamming out to a great variety of songs that Ronnie Nyles sang.  It was a great ending to a great night. 

Wow, wow, wow!  A night with Keith Urban is an awesome experience and something I will never forget.  My cousin Katie was my guest for the evening and she was so excited that we were getting a meet-n-greet, actually two meet-n-greets.  We got in line with our special passes to meet Jake Owen and get our picture taken with him.  We were talking and laughing having a great time as the line slowly moved forward.  Then I noticed a second line formed next to us and all the people in that line were wearing passes to meet Keith Urban, so I kept an eye on that line to watch how quickly it was moving.  After about 5 minutes that line quickly started moving through some doors to get backstage.  Well I knew if we were not in that line being escorted with the group, that we were not going to get backstage.  So I grabbed Katie and we got into the other line as I told her unfortunately we’d miss Jake Owen in order to meet Keith Urban.  That’s when an angel appeared who noticed my dilemma and overheard our conversation.  He stepped back from the Keith Urban line, called out to Holly who happened to be a backstage connection and he quickly explained our situation to her.  She said we’d have time to meet both, and that she would gladly escort us backstage once we met Jake Owen.  How awesome is that!  So we got back in line to meet Jake Owen and that we did.  He gave us each a wonderful hug and we got our picture taken with him.  What a handsome and very nice man!  After that we waited by the backstage entrance watching closely for Holly to return and retrieve us, which she did.  Once back, we still had plenty of time before our turn to meet Keith Urban.  But let me tell you, this was a meet-n-greet like no other.  We were told that we would meet Keith in groups of 5, 6 or 7 people.  This was the first time I’ve experienced such, but I understood because there were so many people getting this amazing opportunity.  If we went in only groups of two it would take too much time and not near as many people could have met him.

 Now, once we got into “the room” it was like WOW.  As I scoped the scene I saw a small stage to the right with two large armchairs each with a microphone in front of it.  Then several rows of chairs and stools, as if space for an audience.  As I looked left I saw some small tables, and beyond the tables was a long buffet of food.  Oh yah – this was a first.  My cousin slipped out of line and made us each a plate of goodness; fruit on a stick, a wonderful frittata bread sandwich, chips, chicken salad, and a cherry pie/torte for dessert.  Yes, it was all very good and just perfect because we were hungry.  We munched a little and then it was our turn to go beyond the curtain to get closer to Keith Urban, so we set our plates down on a table and made our way inside with our group of 4 other people.  We were called into the next room where the man himself was waiting for us.  We all shook his hand (me and Katie received a hug) and began to find a spot for our group picture.  Keith Urban really was very nice in that short time we met him.   Once our picture was taken we headed back out to “the room” and we finished our food.  People were just hanging around and talking, it was very casual yet upscale and super cool.  Next thing I know Karen is being introduced to come up with Keith Urban for a special intimate backstage interview, and we were all there to experience it.  Keith Urban was so real and down to earth it was really neat.  Karen looked so comfortable and talked with him as if they were old friends.  Several people in the audience had a chance to ask Keith a question also.  We were not allowed to take any pictures or video during this backstage experience so you’ll just have to use your imagination to picture what this was like.  It was absolutely amazing!  It was very special.

Alright so our intimate time with Keith Urban was over so we headed out to find our seats and rocked out with Jake Owen who had already taken the stage.  Jake Owen is a powerful singer who has a great amount of awesome songs and really knows how to capture his audience.  We had the pleasure of enjoying “Settin The World On Fire”, “Heaven”, “Alone With You”, and “Don’t Think I Can’t Love You”.  The crowd was pumped up and having fun.  Jake Owen really got us going with his current radio hit “Barefoot Bluejean Night”.  Everyone was dancing and singing along.  Jake Owen capped his performance off with “8 Second Ride”.  As much as we were ready for more, it was a perfect time for intermission; because once Keith Urban hit the stage he did not stop or slow down for over 2 hours!

If you’re looking for a long, full night of non-stop entertainment then a Keith Urban concert is what you want.  He has been performing for such a long time and has so many wonderful songs, it’s easy to see how 2 ½ hours can go by like the blink of an eye.  Keith Urban came on stage wearing a Brewers jersey and the crowd went wild.  He acknowledged that a game was taking place and he understood how excited and supportive we are for the Brewers.  He rocked us with “Put You In A Song”, “As Days Go By”, “I Told You So”, and “Raining On Sunday”.  What an amazing line-up of tremendous music.  Now I’ve experienced various levels of audience interaction at concerts and I must say that Keith Urban takes the cake.  He took time to look out and actually read back all the signs that he could see, thanking each person for making it.  There was one sign high up that he couldn’t read, so he grabbed a huge spotlight and shone it up at the sign to get a better look.  It still couldn’t be read, but what an amazing effort on Keith’s part and what a memorable moment for that person.  One sign read ‘Can I have your autograph’.  Well, Keith Urban being the cool person he is called her up on stage to give her that autograph she asked for.  She also received a hug from him while up there.  Now how sweet is that!

Some more amazing songs we heard were “Stupid Boy”, “Memories Of Us”, “Baby I’m In”, and “Take Your Memories”.  Of course he pleased us with “Long Hot Summer”, but sprang another surprise on us.  Holding up a sign isn’t the only way for a chance to get up on stage with Keith Urban.  He is so interactive and really takes time to make sure people get the best experience possible.  This is the time that 3 extremely lucky people were chosen by Keith himself to come on stage and sing with him.  I think we all have daydreams of something like this happening, yet it’s not often it does.  At a Keith Urban concert there is tremendous potential for something as such to take place.  He also took the time to expand out into the audience and sing from small stages several times.  Regardless of where your seat was, you had an awesome view and held possibility of being front row when he came out to the middle. You are also given a chance to see him up close as he made his way through the audience, at which he shook hands and gave high-fives along the way.  The energy in the Bradley Center was insane as we jammed to “Georgia Woods”, “Summer Comes Around”, Sweet Thing”, “I Wanna Kiss A Girl”, “Without You” and “Love Somebody Like You.   It seemed as though we had a night of endless surprises.  As if all that took place wasn’t enough, we had the extreme opportunity to enjoy Eric Church on stage with Keith Urban!  Who would have ever imaged this amazing bonus?  I was so surprised and excited that I almost forgot to snap some pictures.  What a moment enjoying these extremely talented artists together rockin the stage.  Yes, Keith Urban is a tremendous entertainer who gives you a show full of non-stop energy and surprises.  I would recommend a night out with Keith Urban to anybody. You just might be the lucky person way in the back that he decides to give a guitar to, because that also happened that night.

I had an amazing evening out with my Aunt Debbie as we enjoyed fun and laughter with Rodney Carrington.  This night was very special to me because it gave me an opportunity to take my Godmother out for a good time.  My Aunt Debbie has always been the best Aunt and Godmother a person could ask for, but since my Mom went to live with Jesus 2 ½ years ago, my Aunt Debbie has stepped up to the plate and has showed me what a true Godmother is in the purest way.  I am so lucky and blessed to have her in my life and I’m grateful for the chance to spend some quality time with her and give a small thank you for all she does for me and my family. 

We arrived at the gorgeous Riverside Theater shortly before the show was scheduled to begin.  We grabbed a couple drinks and got settled in our seats.  There was a video screen hanging from the ceiling about center stage that had some clips from various performances by Rodney Carrington playing while we waited for the show to start.  We enjoyed tidbits from the sitcom “Rodney”, the video “I’ve Got My Game On” with Trace Adkins and the ‘Shout’ bathroom scene from “Beer For My Horses” with Toby Keith.  These were great choices to have playing because we were laughing pretty hard already when the videos stopped and Tim Northern came on stage as an opening act for Rodney Carrington.  He was pretty good and got us warmed up and ready for Rodney Carrington. 

Now once Rodney Carrington hit the stage, we started laughing and didn’t stop.  He is a very funny man who is blunt and unafraid to tell it like it is.  I must say that his show is definitely rated for mature audiences, so a lot of the content was explicit, and so very funny.  It really is tons of fun to listen to real life stories that are hysterical, and yet even funnier because it’s something you can completely relate to.  Rodney Carrington had a tremendous variety of subjects we laughed about such as family – being married and having kids, poison ivy, going to church, suppositories, picking up dog poop, and a field trip to the zoo.  Whether it’s a subject you are familiar with or not, Rodney Carrington presents the story in such a funny manner you can’t help but laugh.  There were moments I was laughing so hard I couldn’t stop.  Rodney Carrington is also talented when it comes to songwriting.  He had several very funny songs he sang that night.  A few song subjects were about being 15, about bulldozers, and about getting older.  We also laughed to “Something That Rhymes”, “If I’m The Only One”, and a song I’ll call “Show Them To Me”.  Yes it was a super fun night of adult comedy.  Rodney Carrington is very talented and kept us laughing the entire time he was on stage.  This was a great show that I would love to see again.  Thank you Aunt Debbie for an evening I will always treasure. Thank you to Nate and Christy for the fun conversation outside after the show, and for taking our picture. And thank you FM106 for the sore stomach muscles after a full fun night of laughs with Rodney Carrington.

It was a rainy Saturday for Labor Day Weekend, but that did not stop Rodney Atkins from coming on stage or the hundreds of people that came to see him, including myself and my friend Barb.  We headed down to the Walworth County fair that evening prepared with umbrellas and ready to take on some mud.  Most of the area wasn’t too bad, but the ground in front of the stage was all dirt, which became mud with the help of the rain.  Though this didn’t quite come close, I must admit that I had a few Country Thunder flashbacks.  Some fair food, fresh lemonade and Rodney Atkins made that rainy night fun and one to be remembered. 

Rodney Atkins hit the stage and started us off with “It’s America”.  What a great song choice to get the audience going.  After that he gave us “What I Love About The South”, “Simple Things”, “Farmers Daughter”, and “Friends With Tractors”.  At this point the rain started to slow down, even stopping after a while.  The rest of the night we had showers on and off, but nothing constant like the beginning of the show.  We were all a little wet but thoroughly enjoying ourselves.  Rodney Atkins mentioned that he’s not much of a talker, yet he really took a lot of time interacting with the audience and sharing stories and special moments with us.  I think he’s more of a talker than he thinks he is, at least he was that night.  He threw out a lot of souvenirs for people during the entire show.  I couldn’t count the number of guitar picks that got tossed out, a cap – actually two caps and several T-shirts.  He shot the T-shirts out of a big gun so the people back on the bleachers were able to receive some stuff too.  His son Elijah came out and shot out the last couple of T-shirts which was really cool.  Some more great songs we enjoyed were “Give Me Three Steps”, “Curtis Low”, “Wasted Whiskey”, “Touchin Feet”, and a taste of Willie Nelsons’ “On The Road Again” and Waylon Jennings “Good Ol’ Boys”. 

You can bet things were heated up by now.  With these awesome songs we had no choice but to feel great.  I think the rain was helpful to cool us down a bit because we enjoyed a full fun night of fast up-beat songs.  Next we rocked out to his current hit “Backroad” followed by the funny yet so true for many fathers “Cleaning This Gun”.   This seemed like the perfect time for “I’ve Been Watching You” which was absolutely wonderful.  As a parent that is a song that really hits home, which I can only imagine is the same for other parents.  The live performance of that song on this particular evening was extra special because Rodney Atkins’ son Elijah came out onto the stage, sat on his dads’ knee, and sang the chorus to us.  How wonderfully amazing is that! That was my favorite part of the entire show.  We were also lucky enough to hear “He’s Mine”, “My People”, and of course “If You’re Going Through Hell”.  Rodney Atkins was great on stage, and covered a lot of it, making sure to come out to the ends many time throughout the show.  He was fun and personable, and has many fabulous songs.  I’m so glad I had this experience.

What a way to kick off the Labor Day weekend!  My friend Domingo & I went down to the Walworth County Fair Friday night to rock out with Montgomery Gentry.  The weather was warm with a cool breeze, and once the sun went down it was perfect.  I’m thinking it might have been a bit humid because by about half way into the show I was sweaty from head to toe.  I’m sure it couldn’t have possibly been because I was up on my feet dancing from the moment Montgomery Gentry hit the stage!  Yes – they were hot. They are an amazing duo
with a great band who really know how to rock the audience.  Because they have made awesome country music for so long, we were able to enjoy a full night of entertainment.  Our evening started with “All Night Long”, “Hillbilly Shoes”, “She Couldn’t Change Me”, “If You Ever Stop Lovin Me”, “When I Knew It All”, and one of my favorites “Long Line Of Losers”.  Well about now is when I was feeling the sweat pour and I came to the realization that it wasn’t going to stop.  I had the pleasure of seeing them perform last year at Wisconsin State Fair, and I remember they rocked the entire night.  I knew I was in for a treat!

Montgomery Gentry made it very clear that they’ve only just begun and had a long night planned for us.  That beginning line-up was only a warm up.  At this point they introduced
us to one of their new songs “So Called Life”.  I do believe these talented men have another hit on their hands because it was a great song.  The audience really seemed to enjoy it.  Next they cranked out “Speed”, “Something To Be Proud Of”, and “Daddy Won’t Sell The Farm”.  Oh yah- are you understanding why I didn’t sit down all night long?  Such a thing as sitting down with live music like this is not physically possible for me.  Then they decided to sing “Tattoos & Scars”, which was not planned but because they received a request for it they worked it in.  Now that’s what I call cool! Montgomery Gentry shared some fun stories with us, all of which seem to include drinking.  The fun times played out in their songs seem to be parts of fun times they’ve had over the years.  I get the impression they’re all about helping people, having fun, and enjoying life to the fullest. 

After some familiar songs, Montgomery Gentry gave us another taste of new music, “Damn Right I Am” and “Where I Come From”.  These are two absolutely fabulous songs that had the audience screaming for more, so we got “Hell Yah”.  It’s a good thing they decided to take it down just a notch, because by this point I was starting to feel a little tired.  I give them a lot of credit constantly moving and singing on stage under those hot lights.  I feel exhausted when I leave a concert, and I’m only dancing.  Our slow down consisted of “Lucky Man” and “Roll With Me”, but that was it because they just kicked it back up into high gear with “My Town”, “One In Every Crowd” and “What Do You Think About That”.  What a great way to end the night, but Montgomery Gentry does not give up very easy.  It seemed like they would have stayed on stage until morning if possible.  It’s obvious they love what they do, and I’m so happy about that because I love what they do.  We ended our night with Montgomery Gentry singing “Rock-n-Roll All Night”, (and party every day!) “Na Na Na Na, Hey Hey Hey Goodbye” and another favorite of mine “Gone”.  Yes, this was a full night of fun that I’m so glad I was able to be part of.  You can bet that you will see me at future Montgomery Gentry concerts; I’ll be the one up on my feet dancing the entire time! 

Can you think of a better way to spend a comfortable Wednesday evening than with Jerrod Niemann and Blake Shelton at the Wisconsin State Fair?  Me neither!  This was a night to remember forever.  I was so happy to be taking my friend Annette (Annie) this evening.  We have such a great time together and this night was no different.  Our night was to begin with the ability to go backstage for a meet-n-greet with Jerrod Niemann.  We waited patiently for them to open the gates to let us on the track where the concert was taking place.  Patient yet a bit nervous because the staff was not aware of a meet-n-greet with Jerrod Niemann, but as usual everything played out perfectly.  The gates opened and we headed to the backstage entrance and waited in line until we were escorted back.  It is so much fun to watch everybody’s excitement as we wait.  (Especially my friend Annie – she was like a little kid!)  Jerrod Niemann casually strolls out and stands in position waiting for his first guest to approach.    Once it was our turn, we decided to go separately for our pictures.  Jerrod Niemann gave a great hug – nice and strong and firm – it felt like a very genuine hug.  Oh, and he smelled so good.  I mean so good that we told him so, along with everyone else we spoke to along the way out.  But before we left we made sure we received an autograph from Jerrod Niemann…he signed each of our meet-n-greet passes.  It went fast, but was a lot of fun. 

After that awesome experience, we got in line right away to wait for our chance to meet Blake Shelton which was about 45 minutes away.  We had a great time talking with the staff at the entrance as well as the other people in line.  We met Katie and Abby (A.K.A. Mutt and Jeff) while in line.  They were young and full of life and having the time of their lives.  While in line, Jerrod Niemann hit the stage and started his show with “Mountain Music”.  What a great choice!  That was enough to really get us going, and it seemed to work for the rest of the crowd too.  Jerrod Niemann also rocked us with “Cowboy Lets Ride”.  At this point we started heading backstage.  Even though we were outside, being backstage does prevent you from hearing things really well, and you also can’t see the performance on stage as much.  This means we missed a few songs that he sang.  No worries, we did get to see plenty more of Jerrod Niemann’s show after our amazing opportunity to put our arm around Blake Shelton and stand next to him for a picture.  Blake also was willing to sign, so we each got an autograph on our ticket.  Oh, and another cool thing…while in line we were able to see that Jeffery Scott was there and presented Blake Shelton with a custom made belt buckle!  It was gorgeous.  We were lucky enough to talk with Mr. Scott later in the evening during the concert and get a picture with him.  What an honor. 

So anyway, after meeting Blake Shelton we headed out to our seats to enjoy the rest of Jerrod Niemann’s performance.  We were lucky that we didn’t miss him singing “What Do You Want From Me”, “One More Drinkin Song”, and “Lover Lover”.  Jerrod was great performing these songs live.  He also did an amazing job rocking out “I’m Her Lover Boy”.  It was a good choice having Jerrod Niemann as an opening act in my opinion.  He was fun, personable, and got the crowd pumped and ready for more.

Once the stage was cleared and set for Blake Shelton, he came out and didn’t stop or slow down the entire night!  This man has so many great songs, and it was obvious that we all as an audience seemed to know each and every song he sang.  Our night started off in super high energy mode with “The More I Drink”, “It’s All About Tonight”, “Some Beach” and “All My Ex’s Live In Texas”.  Well let me tell you, the people sitting around us were having just as much fun as we were!  We met some really nice, fun and friendly people.  There were groups of friends, couples, and the ‘Girls Night Out’ group behind us that consisted of two sisters and their daughters.  They were so much fun! 

Now that the audience is pumped up, Blake Shelton gave a tremendous mix of some unexpected music including “I’m Coming Back Home”, “Play That Funky Music”, “Centerfold”, and “My Prerogative”.  I’ve said this before and I must say it again, I absolutely love the variety that comes from a country concert.  These are all songs I never would have imagined hearing this evening, yet how wonderful to experience them through Blake Shelton.  I also love the awesome friendly service we received…special thanks to Alyssa and Mara who worked the beer tent and had one open and ready by the time we arrived at their window.  

After that awesome playlist, we got back to some serious country music such as “Kiss My Country Ass”, “When I’m Not Looking”, “She Wouldn’t Be Gone”, and “Nobody But Me”.  Wow, we were moving and grooving non-stop.  We were on fire along with the rest of the audience.  Blake Shelton was very talkative and interactive with us – he shared a lot of personal moments and stories throughout the night.  Because these moments felt personal and intimate, I’m choosing not to share any with you but rather suggesting you attend a Blake Shelton concert.  It is well worth it and will give you a night of wonderful memories.  Full of so much energy and excitement, Blake gave us a chance to cool down just a bit by singing the heart- warming love song “Austin”.  That was it for cooling down because next he cranked it up with his current hit “Honey Bee”. 

Right about now we’re expecting the show to wind down and end, but not with Blake Shelton!  There is no slowing down, and he is full of surprises.  I think it’s safe to say that just about everyone must have been wondering whether or not his lovely wife Miranda Lambert was with him.  That question was answered with the great surprise of Miranda Lambert coming out on stage and singing “Hillbilly Bone” with Blake.  It was outstanding!  The two of them performing together on stage is an experience I’d wish for all country music fans to have.  They were musically and emotionally connected in such an awesome way it left me feeling like one of the luckiest people alive to be part of it.  That would have been a great ending to a great night, but Blake Shelton made sure we didn’t go home without the chance to hear him sing “Ol’ Red”.  That was a perfect ending. 

What a super awesome day I had with the American Idol tour!  This was one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had.  My day began in the afternoon.  My friend Sue and I got to the Bradley Center and entered through the gated area marked ‘media entrance’.  That alone is a very cool feeling.  Once inside, we waited in a hallway until all who were expected arrived and then we were all escorted through the ‘behind the scenes’ hallways into the lobby.  Each of us already knew who we were going to be interviewing, so now we just had to wait until they came out.  Yes – interviewing!  I was there in the early afternoon well before the show was set to begin because I was about to interview American Idol winner Scotty McCreery and runner-up Lauren Alaina!  Now let me be honest, when I was told I could do this I was scared out of my mind.  This was something totally new to me.  It’s one thing to briefly meet a celebrity, shake their hand and/or hug them, and maybe take a quick picture. But now we’re talking about me actually talking to them, not just talking but interviewing them, asking questions.  Wow, who would have ever thought I would be doing that.  (Hence why I attempt not to think too much!) 

Okay, so back to the Bradley Center lobby.  We all picked a spot to wait for our celebrities to come and talk with us.  It wasn’t a large area, but big enough.  I was feeling extremely excited and a bit nervous.  I had no idea what to expect since this was my first time having such a tremendous opportunity.  I felt pretty good about my preparation and I had a list of questions for both / each of them.  My friend Sue reassured me that I would do a fine job, and the next thing I knew out comes Scotty McCreery walking right toward me.  He looked very comfortable in a pair of jeans and white T-shirt.  From the moment he stepped out, it was so easy to see that he is such a nice young man.  He gave hugs with open arms, and spoke with complete manners and respect.  We went off to the side a bit and took some seats at a long table with a black cloth partition as a background.  I introduced myself and started off talking about his single “I Love You This Big”.  My nerves calmed down as soon as we started talking.  Scotty McCreery was so honest, so real, genuine, and down-home that it was easy to talk to him.  He made me feel very comfortable.  I asked a few questions about being on tour, missing home, and what keeps him going strong through all of this.  He expressed his gratitude for all of his fans and the support he has received throughout his journey.  And he happily autographed my ticket.  Scotty McCreery is a great role model.  He is very young with a great future ahead of him.  I am thrilled to have had the chance to talk with him one on one. 

After my chat with Scotty McCreery, the absolutely lovely Miss Lauren Alaina came out.  She was all smiles and open arms.  She was adorable in a pair of jeans, tank and Mickey Mouse zipper sweatshirt.  We went and sat down in the same spot where I spoke with Scotty McCreery.  Immediately we started talking casually as if we were long- time friends.  Lauren Alaina was so down to earth she made me feel very comfortable, and she made it very easy to talk to her.  We discussed her current favorite songs, what she likes to eat, and her support system during her amazing journey.  She had some confidence problems while on American Idol, but as she mentioned during the interview those are gone now.  And with good reason because Lauren Alaina has a very bubbly personality and is a beautiful young lady, and who like Scotty McCreery, shows manners and respect toward others.  Not to mention she has a voice that will give you goose-bumps when you hear her sing.  She also gladly autographed my ticket.

Having the opportunity to sit down with each of them was an experience that I will treasure always.  It’s a good thing I had some time before our meet-n-greet with the entire American Idol Tour because I definitely needed to take some deep breaths and absorb what just happened.  Now still flying on cloud 9, we headed back into the Bradley Center and got in line to meet all of the American Idol Tour and we received a group picture that they each autographed as we met them.  The all looked so happy and excited to be doing what they love.  Once that was over we had a chance to go across the street for something to eat at Buck Bradley’s Saloon & Eatery, where our bartender/waiter Tim took great care of us.  We had a couple drinks and wonderful food and then went back for our American Idol Tour concert.
We were lucky to have great seats on the main floor, practically center stage, and they were on the end.  That’s always nice because it’s easy to get out and snap a few pictures without bothering anybody.  Plus it gives a little extra dancing room.  This concert was different than any other because there were so many people performing throughout the night, and it was a great combination.  We enjoyed solos, duets, all the girls, all the guys, and everyone together.  It was a superb evening of entertainment with a tremendous amount of energy and variety of music.  Paul McDonald gave a great performance of “Maggie May”, and Thia Megia followed him with “Beauty Queen”.  Next we got some upbeat  Motown music from the girls before slowing down for a duet with Pia Toscano and Stefano Langone.  The guys came out and sang “What Are You Waiting For”, before we had a chance to experience the energy of Naima Adedapo who was awesome.  She did a fabulous African Dance that made me tired just from watching her!  Then a great job by Lauren Alaina, Pia Toscano, and Thia Megia singing “Firework”.  Casey Abrams rocked the house with “Smooth” before Haley Reinhart joined him for a duet.  Next was everyone (except Scotty McCreery) dressed in red suits singing “Forget You”.  Whew – it’s intermission!

Back to the show after a short break, Lauren Alaina started us back off with “Like My Mother Does” and then “If I Die Young” while Thia Megia, Stefano Langone and Haley Reinhart sang backup.  Next we rocked out with James Durbin singing “Sweet Child-O-Mine” and then Jacob Lusk jazzed us up with “A Thousand Kisses From You”.  Haley Reinhart gave us a great solo before the one we’ve all been waiting for hit the stage – Scotty McCreery came out with “Just To Be Your Man”.  The crowd went wild and then he picked up a guitar and gave a great performance of “You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not”.  The audience was on fire and Scotty McCreery could feel it.  He was really interactive with the crowd and talked about how it all began for him right here in Milwaukee at the Bradley Center when he came to audition for American Idol.  After that bit of intimacy Scotty McCreery cranked us up with “I Love You This Big” before Lauren Alaina joined him on stage for a duet of “When You Say Nothing At All”, and once finished Scotty walked Lauren off the stage just as a gentleman would do.  From there on out we enjoyed a great combination of many more performances by all including “Gone” and “Here I Go Again On My Own”.  Though there was so much to take in and experience, this night was one that I will always remember.  This is a group of extremely great young talent, who all have the potential and chance to continue to make their dreams come true.  I am super excited for each and every one of them, and I wish them all the very best.  I hope you enjoy my blog, pictures, and interview videos as much as I enjoyed sharing them with you.