Taylor Hicks kicked off his Modern Whomp Solo Tour on this day in 2007 on an historic stage at the SOLD OUT Florida Theatre in Jacksonville, Florida. It was the same stage where Elvis Presley opened his first national tour. In the footsteps of The King, Taylor hit the road and rocked the stage on a very ambitious tour.
If it's February...
It was nothing new for the 2006 American Idol. Taylor Hicks had been on the road for ten years throughout the South, although this road trip was going a little bit farther.
As he prepared for Opening Night in Jacksonville, Taylor told an interviewer,
“Touring is in my blood.”
Touring is that irreplaceable connection with the people.
And this tour had a formidable cast of musicians.
“I’ve handpicked all of the players.”
Taylor was giddy about taking off with an 8-member soul band:
Taylor Hicks, Vocals, Guitar, Harmonica, Cow Bell
Loren Gold, Music Director, Keyboards, Vocals
Josh Smith, Guitars
Al Carty, Bass
Brian Gallagher, Saxophone, Flute, Percussion
Felix Pollard, Drums
Brian Less, Organ, Vocals
Melanie Nyema, Vocals, Percussion
“Taylor Hicks,” the album, had been released in December, 2006, and the set list would reflect much of the music from the record that had just been certified platinum in January.
He said of the set list then:
“It’s gonna be loose. I’ve been the same performer regionally for ten years, and now I’m that same performer nationally.”
It was new music and old music. The opening song on this first national tour was appropriately, “Soul Thing.” Taylor has claimed it as his mantra for the years on the road.
Opening Night in Jacksonville:
Soul Thing
Heaven Knows
The Maze
Hell of a Day
Wherever I Lay My Hat
Dream Myself Awake
Just to Feel That Way
Heart and Soul
-Call and response (Soul Patrol!)
-Brown-Eyed Handsome Man (Chuck Berry)
The Deal
The Runaround
Gonna Move
Young Turks
Takin’ It To the Streets (Doobie Brothers)
The Right Place
Encore:
Long Train Runnin’ (Doobie Brothers)
Jacksonville Times-Union writer, Dan McDonald, reviewed the concert the next day:
“Hicks…is unashamed of his love for the music. It is this genuine quality that makes his performance endearing and entertaining. …Totally at ease…He was a performer, not some contest winner. …On this night these people invested more than a couple phone calls to vote for Hicks. This time they spent real money to buy tickets. He answered the call.
“Hicks will always carry that American Idol baggage- for better or for worse- but of all the winners, he may be the performer who stays true to his own musical muse. Hicks sings from his soul.”
Many of us had in hand our own itinerary for a few days after opening night and would meet up along the road that year.
The Modern Whomp Solo Tour played 109 concerts from February 21, to November 2, 2007. Almost 40% of the shows were SOLD OUT! All were at near capacity!
So, if it’s February, and it is…
Taylor Hicks is rehearsing. Fans are packing. There’s more touring on this horizon…just three days from now—a new set list and perhaps new band members.
It is like marking the seasons for the touring musician…
And as the concert reviewer did in Jacksonville, we could also say today…
“He sings from his soul!”
We said in our Congratulations then as we all started that new journey:
“We have miles to go…”
That's still true. There are many more miles and many more Opening Nights!
Congratulations, Taylor, on another February and another tour!
It was nothing new for the 2006 American Idol. Taylor Hicks had been on the road for ten years throughout the South, although this road trip was going a little bit farther.
As he prepared for Opening Night in Jacksonville, Taylor told an interviewer,
“Touring is in my blood.”
Touring is that irreplaceable connection with the people.
And this tour had a formidable cast of musicians.
“I’ve handpicked all of the players.”
Taylor was giddy about taking off with an 8-member soul band:
Taylor Hicks, Vocals, Guitar, Harmonica, Cow Bell
Loren Gold, Music Director, Keyboards, Vocals
Josh Smith, Guitars
Al Carty, Bass
Brian Gallagher, Saxophone, Flute, Percussion
Felix Pollard, Drums
Brian Less, Organ, Vocals
Melanie Nyema, Vocals, Percussion
“Taylor Hicks,” the album, had been released in December, 2006, and the set list would reflect much of the music from the record that had just been certified platinum in January.
He said of the set list then:
“It’s gonna be loose. I’ve been the same performer regionally for ten years, and now I’m that same performer nationally.”
It was new music and old music. The opening song on this first national tour was appropriately, “Soul Thing.” Taylor has claimed it as his mantra for the years on the road.
Opening Night in Jacksonville:
Soul Thing
Heaven Knows
The Maze
Hell of a Day
Wherever I Lay My Hat
Dream Myself Awake
Just to Feel That Way
Heart and Soul
-Call and response (Soul Patrol!)
-Brown-Eyed Handsome Man (Chuck Berry)
The Deal
The Runaround
Gonna Move
Young Turks
Takin’ It To the Streets (Doobie Brothers)
The Right Place
Encore:
Long Train Runnin’ (Doobie Brothers)
Jacksonville Times-Union writer, Dan McDonald, reviewed the concert the next day:
“Hicks…is unashamed of his love for the music. It is this genuine quality that makes his performance endearing and entertaining. …Totally at ease…He was a performer, not some contest winner. …On this night these people invested more than a couple phone calls to vote for Hicks. This time they spent real money to buy tickets. He answered the call.
“Hicks will always carry that American Idol baggage- for better or for worse- but of all the winners, he may be the performer who stays true to his own musical muse. Hicks sings from his soul.”
Many of us had in hand our own itinerary for a few days after opening night and would meet up along the road that year.
The Modern Whomp Solo Tour played 109 concerts from February 21, to November 2, 2007. Almost 40% of the shows were SOLD OUT! All were at near capacity!
So, if it’s February, and it is…
Taylor Hicks is rehearsing. Fans are packing. There’s more touring on this horizon…just three days from now—a new set list and perhaps new band members.
It is like marking the seasons for the touring musician…
And as the concert reviewer did in Jacksonville, we could also say today…
“He sings from his soul!”
We said in our Congratulations then as we all started that new journey:
“We have miles to go…”
That's still true. There are many more miles and many more Opening Nights!
Congratulations, Taylor, on another February and another tour!
Sing from your soul!
~~
Touring in the Blood ~~ 2011:
February 24, 2011 ~~ Pensacola, FL, Vinyl Music Hall, 7:30 p.m. Tickets on sale:
http://www.vinylmusichall.com/event/28543/
February 25, 2011 ~~ Tunica, MS, Gold Strike Casino, Millennium Theatre, 9:00 p.m.
http://www.goldstrikemississippi.com/entertainment/millenniumtheatre.aspx
February 26, 2011 ~~ Biloxi, MS, Beau Rivage Theatre, 8:00 p.m.
http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/1B004550A4DC5F87?artistid=1092763&majorcatid=10001&minorcatid=202
NEW BENEFIT CONCERT:
March 28, 2011 ~~ San Marcos, TX, for Ride 2 Recovery Texas Challenge, 7:30 p.m. $50 donation and $150 VIP Meet and Greet.
http://www.ride2recovery.com/component/content/article/7.html
April 28, 2011 ~~ Snoqualmie, WA, Snoqualmie Casino Ballroom, 7:00 p.m.
http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/0F00463CB62D6833?artistid=1092763&majorcatid=10001&minorcatid=202
May 27, 2011 ~~ Coos Bay, OR, The Mill Casino, Salmon Room, TWO shows, 7:00 and 9:00 p.m. Tickets: 1.800.953.4800
http://www.themillcasino.com/entertainment/concerts.cfm
Stay tuned…
It’s only February!
Thanks to RagsQueen for saving the memories of “Taylor Hicks” in Lights, and for Taylor on stage in Jacksonville!
Thanks to cath_tthc for all the archiving of the 2007 Tour!
For a look at the 2007 Tour Dates and Cities:
http://s1.zetaboards.com/connections/topic/619337/1/
For the Connections Bus Stop thread on Jacksonville and all the other stops in 2007 visit:
http://s1.zetaboards.com/connections/topic/621135/1/#new
~~Touring in the Blood ~~ 2011:
February 24, 2011 ~~ Pensacola, FL, Vinyl Music Hall, 7:30 p.m. Tickets on sale:
http://www.vinylmusichall.com/event/28543/
February 25, 2011 ~~ Tunica, MS, Gold Strike Casino, Millennium Theatre, 9:00 p.m.
http://www.goldstrikemississippi.com/entertainment/millenniumtheatre.aspx
February 26, 2011 ~~ Biloxi, MS, Beau Rivage Theatre, 8:00 p.m.
http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/1B004550A4DC5F87?artistid=1092763&majorcatid=10001&minorcatid=202
NEW BENEFIT CONCERT:
March 28, 2011 ~~ San Marcos, TX, for Ride 2 Recovery Texas Challenge, 7:30 p.m. $50 donation and $150 VIP Meet and Greet.
http://www.ride2recovery.com/component/content/article/7.html
April 28, 2011 ~~ Snoqualmie, WA, Snoqualmie Casino Ballroom, 7:00 p.m.
http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/0F00463CB62D6833?artistid=1092763&majorcatid=10001&minorcatid=202
May 27, 2011 ~~ Coos Bay, OR, The Mill Casino, Salmon Room, TWO shows, 7:00 and 9:00 p.m. Tickets: 1.800.953.4800
http://www.themillcasino.com/entertainment/concerts.cfm
Stay tuned…
It’s only February!
Thanks to RagsQueen for saving the memories of “Taylor Hicks” in Lights, and for Taylor on stage in Jacksonville!
Thanks to cath_tthc for all the archiving of the 2007 Tour!
For a look at the 2007 Tour Dates and Cities:
http://s1.zetaboards.com/connections/topic/619337/1/
For the Connections Bus Stop thread on Jacksonville and all the other stops in 2007 visit:
http://s1.zetaboards.com/connections/topic/621135/1/#new
Posts
2 comments:
Great blog entry! What a wonderful way to celebrate and remember that first concert opener. How far he has come and how much farther he will go!
~Gypsee~
As the reviewer of Taylor's Jacksonville opener stated, Hicks ....may be the performer who stays true to his own musical muse.
Trying to perform regional music on a national stage can be daunting and not quite as accepting by the masses as Taylor may have desired. I think he tried to go more national with The Distance, but seems to be returning to his "roots" with his jam cruise appearance.
It will be interesting to see what path Taylor follows for this short tour coming up and in what direction he will go when preparing for his next CD.
Taylor has grown musically in the last 4 years; I wonder if his muses are leading him or following his lead.
cath
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