We felt Concert Blast had a very successful year in 2011 from our stats and the experiences we were very blessed to encounter. This is the first in a series of Concert Blast Blogs from each host that will be dedicated to 2011 as Mike Arnold, James Downing, and Tom Thompson remember their favorite times covering events for Concert Blast.
Enjoy James Downing’s favorite 2011 Concert Blast Experiences!
The year of 2011 is now in the history books. Concert Blast had another successful year of improving our stats from the previous year. We want to thank everyone who has ever downloaded/listened to our podcasts, read our blogs, and looked at our photos. Let’s make 2012 even a bigger and better year! With having 292,785 downloads of our podcasts in 2011, we devote this blog to our various Top 10 Stats from 2011.
Glen Campbell In Concert - Nashville, TN - Ryman Auditorium - 11/30/2011
Written by James Downing
I have told the story here on Concert Blast about how my dad brought home a record player one day when I was about seven years old. That day changed my life forever and opened the world of music up to me. My mom was a big country music fan and would buy many records. She would sit in my bedroom with me and we would listen to many of them. Loretta Lynn, Bing Crosby, Donna Fargo and the list goes on and on. There was one album that she bought that I really liked and that was a Glen Campbell album. My favorite song off that album was called “Gentle On My Mind”. I soon discovered that this guy had his own tv show each week and I would watch it everytime it came on. As I grew up and started listening to rock and roll music, Glen Campbell’s music remained on my record player along side Alice Cooper, The Who, Kiss and all of the other bands that I listened to.
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Glen Campbell In Concert - Nashville, TN - Ryman Auditorium - 11/30/2011
It was the first of two farewell Nashville, TN concerts from Glen Campbell at the historic Ryman Auditorium. James Downing of Concert Blast wanted to be there to capture the end of his career and an important era in country music, so he purchased a ticket as soon as they went on sale and received an excellent seat to the November 30, 2011 show. A seat close enough to capture great photos of the lengendary performer.
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The Crowd - Nashville's Party Rock Band
On Friday December 9th 2011 something happened at a music club in Nashville, TN that members of the party rock band from the 80’s, The Crowd, thought would never happen… a reunion show!
Two members of the Concert Blast team, Mike Arnold and Tom Thompson, were part of the rock band that began performing cover songs at parties in the early 1980s, decided to write and record a few original songs, had those originals played on the radio and began thrilling crowds at the private parties, rock clubs, colleges, and music festivals. Now in 2011 the guys returned to a rock music club in Nashville, TN, Douglas Corner Café, to perform a reunion show to celebrate their first gig from 30 years ago. Also joining the reunion on stage was Tom’s twin brother and bassist of the band, Jim Thompson, the latest lead guitarist, Gary Conn, and the original lead guitarist, Dwayne Smith.
1980 four friends got together to practice their instruments they were learning to play. Within one year they decided to perform at a party. That party led to another party, which led to another party, which led to another party and on and on… This band of four friends that grew up together was known as “The Crowd” (Mike Arnold (of Concert Blast), Tom Thompson (of Concert Blast), Jim Thompson (Tom’s twin brother), and Dwayne Smith). In the early 80s, The Crowd became known as Nashville’s Party Band as they not only performed at parties, but also at various nightclubs, colleges, and music festivals in the middle Tennessee area.
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Queensryche In Concert
Concert Blast was invited to review the Queensryche concert as the 30th Anniversary Tour stopped for a show in Nashville at the world famous Wildhorse Saloon. Mike Arnold, Tom Thompson, and James Downing were on hand for another podcast concert review.
The Wildhorse Saloon welcomed Queensryche back to Nashville as they performed a show from their 30 Year Anniversary Tour at the world famous venue. Concert Blast was invited to cover the concert and James Downing was front and center using his photography skills.
MEMPHIS, the 2010 Tony® Award Winner for Best Musical, and the show that’s currently blowing the roof off Broadway, opens at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center on Tuesday, November 15, for a limited engagement!
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B-52s In Concert - Kate Pierson and Cindy Wilson
It was Thursday October 6th in Nashville, TN when the B-52s made their tour stop at the Wildhorse Saloon to thrill a Sold-Out crowd. The place had plenty of festive fans dressed up and ready to dance and sing along with the classic hits provided by the B-52s. Mike, James, and Tom of Concert Blast enjoyed the night as much as the rest of those in attendance.
B-52s in Concert
The B-52s returned to Nashville, TN to perform a Sold-Out show at the world famous Wildhorse Saloon. Concert Blast was invited to cover the concert so James Downing was on hand to provide his photography skills.
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Big & Rich with their friends Gretchen Wilson and Cowboy Troy, along with a special dancing performance from Two-Foot Fred thrilled about 4,000 concert attendees at Nashville’s newest amphitheatre, The Woods at Fontanel as their Muzik Mafia Tour stopped in their hometown for their local fans (and fans who traveled in for the show).
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Billy Burnette
James Downing met up with legendary musician, singer, songwriter, Billy Burnette before his show at 3rd and Lindsley in Nashville, TN for an interview. This interview covers Billy’s wide range of his musical history, his childhood, and his acting carreer. Billy has toured with many artists including being a member of Fleetwood Mac and John Fogerty’s touring band.
Billy Burnette In Concert
Written by James Downing
Billy Burnette is a legend in the rockabilly field. In fact next month he will be inducted into the Rockabilly Hall Of Fame in Jackson, TN. He grew up in music and was playing live with his dad in the Rock And Roll Trio at a very early age. He has also played with some of the biggest names in music. Everyone from Bob Dylan to Fleetwood Mac to Roy Orbison to John Fogerty has been involved with Billy musically.
Concert Blast was invited to cover Billy Burnette’s CD release show for his new album “Rock & Roll With It”. A CD that is chocked full of the type of tunes that Billy’s fans love. Good ole rockabilly. I had always loved listening to Billy’s music but had never seen him live. I had heard that Billy’s shows were very good, full of energy and a lot of great music. Well, that is just what I got!!!
Written by Josh Jackson and Cory Woodroof
I love music – particularly live music. So much so that I would go see just about any band, of any genre, if given the opportunity. So, when my wife’s cousin and journalism student at Lipscomb University, Cory Woodroof, invited me to this weekend’s 3 Doors Down concert at The Woods at Fontanel – I jumped at the chance.
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