Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Cari Ray - updated

I just wanted to send out an update that the Cari Ray concert on Saturday evening was wonderful! I had originally found her through a friend on Facebook. What I didn't realize is that the friend I discovered her through actually went to high school with her here in Indiana. So, I am only two degrees of separation away. Sweet!

The concert was an opening event for her new CD "Always On" (a MUST have!) and contained a great mix of her own music as well as AMAZING covers of songs by Cheryl Crow, Lucinda Williams and Indiana's own John Mellencamp. She was upbeat, witty, funny and at times, self-deprecating.

Her back-up band she dubbed the "Loaners" because most of them were on loan to her. My favorite member of her back-up band was the lead guitarist. First, he was a very skilled musician, but my friend Rachel and I mostly got a kick out of the fact that he was wearing what appeared to be a plumber's shirt complete with name badge. We joked that it looked like he had come in to fix the toilet and got pulled up on the stage because they needed another band member.

A small venue like this (an auditorium that probably seated less than 250) is always my favorite place to see a musical artist because it's much more personal and intimate. It's a chance to see the artist in a way that simply can't be seen on a jumbotron at your nearest stadium. For me, music is personal and the venue should be too. That was even more true for her encore number, Lightning. She performed it acustically with the lights turned down low and the audience in the palm of her hand.

The evening was perfect. I had a moving experience at the concert, a lovely drink afterward with two of my friends that attended the concert and great hopes that Cari Ray will make a big splash on the world-wide music stage soon.

If you want to see her for yourself and didn't get a chance to come out Saturday night, you can see her again this Friday at 8 Second Saloon here in Indianapolis. She is opening for Doug Stone.

4 comments:

Amanda@Imperfectly Beautiful said...

What an amzing night! Music moves me too. there is something so spiritual about it, even if it's not spiritual music...you know?

i just wanted to stop by and say hello and thanks for your nice comment! It is always nice to meet new bloggy friends!

~Amanda

Teresa @ ♥ Too Many Heartbeats ♥ said...

Hi, I'm stopping by from SITS again! I'm glad you enjoyed your concert. I have to say, I've never heard of Cari Ray before but Doug Stone is from my hometown. One of my best friends is married to his cousin. Alan Jackson is from here, too. Small world, huh?

I'd love it if you could come by my blog and check out 'Wednesdays for Wyatt'. This family really needs our help. There's a chance to win a prize, too!

http://toomanyheartbeats.blogspot.com/2009/10/wednesdays-for-wyatt-many-of-you-read.html

Have a great day!

Teresa <><

http://toomanyheartbeats.blogspot.com/

Cari Ray said...

Hi Heather! Cari Ray here...my manager "googles" me once in a while to see what sort of buzz is floating around on the net about my music. She ran across your blog entry here and shared it with me. I just wanted to stop by and say that I am tickled to hear that you had a great time at the show and honored that you took the time to share it with others. My goal is to make music that connects so I'm always happy to hear that I'm getting the job done. Be well...and the next time you're at a show be sure to say hello! Cheers!

Heather said...

Well, that's so cool that I actually heard from Cari herself! Yeah! I love that I get to get the word out about her. Her music is just amazing.

I will most certainly say hi the next time I see her in concert.

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