It’s one of my favorite times of the year – Main Street Live summer concert series time.
There are only a few events I look forward to every year. Not counting my children’s birthdays, which are in a league all their own, I look forward to this series, the Southern Woman’s Show, riding an excursion train, Lake Winnie. There might be another one, but I’m drawing a blank. So, moving on.
I think my favorite Main Street Live concerts up to this point were the Beatles tribute with Rubber Soul in 2011 and the 1980s tribute by Bueller in 2015. I’m delighted that Bueller worked its way into the 2017 lineup.
I was told Rubber Soul disbanded. That’s a shame, because they were awesome -- the best Beatles tribute band I’ve heard so far.
Other bands I've enjoyed are Four on the Floor and Entice – both of those are back in this year’s lineup. Sweet!
As long as the series stays away from unknown bands that play original music, everything is awesome as far as I’m concerned. My most disappointing times have been going to the concert and having an unknown band play most of their own music. We’ve never heard it and we can’t get into it. Bad idea.
There was one guy last year who performed almost all his own music and most of it tear-jerkers. I left in the first half of the show around the time he stated this would be his final song just before taking a break and we could probably tell his mindset when he wrote it by the name of the song, “Misery.” I picked up my chair and left. Who wants to endure that? Not me.
Cover bands, that’s where Main Street Live should focus.
There was one performance that was an exception to the rule. It was so many years ago that I can’t remember the name. Maybe another Main Street Live enthusiast can help me out. They played on washboards and blew in large whiskey jugs. It was like a hillbilly band. It was humorous and very entertaining.
It’s amazing to me how many people believe that since the event is free to them, that means it's free to produce. There’s no such thing as a free lunch. Someone, regardless of what the free item is, has paid for it.
Generous sponsors in our community make Main Street Live a reality. If you enjoy the free concerts as much as I do, you have these following sponsors to thank: Dr Pepper Bottling Company, The Law Offices of Galligan and Newman, Security Federal Savings Bank, Saint Thomas River Park Hospital, Middle Tennessee Natural Gas, and Ben Lomand Connect.
It also wouldn’t hurt to thank media sponsors Peg Broadcasting and the Southern Standard for their continued support of the series, and Main Street McMinnville and its director Katie Kemezis for working hard to provide the eight-week, Friday night, music series. Music starts at 7 p.m. in June and July.
I know where I’ll be.
Standard reporter Lisa Hobbs can be reached at 473-2191.