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 A fast moving storm power-washed the city during the Friday afternoon rush hour, two hours before the scheduled concert. While commuters dealt with flash flooded roads and in some instances, hail, the grounds around the Opryland Pavilion were freshened and cooled. By show time everything had settled down and the temperature was in the 70s rather than the 90s, and the audience was ready to enjoy the music. And they heard some of the best.
Back-up band members for the evening were all A-list musicians, road-seasoned veterans of the recording studio. That's to say they knew their stuff and how to work with each other and with Wade to produce some outstanding music.
Wade's fans easily recognize the opening fiddle notes from his signature hit, "Old Enough to Know Better." This night we were treated to hearing them performed by the creator of those "fiddle licks," Rob Hajacos. Rob originated that beginning in the studio during the cutting of Wade's first album.
The two sets included a variety of Wade's hits plus covers of traditional country music - a jigger of Merle, a dash of Waylon, a sprinkle of western swing, even a twist of Paycheck. The second set ran longer than the schedule, but I guarantee no one in the audience was complaining. Even longer would have been better!
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