Back to Louisiana--The Hot and Humid Tour

And, yes, it was! 

August in Mississippi and Louisiana, we should have known.  We did, because the journey to see Taylor Hicks in concert was so-named before we ever got there. 

It was the summer of 2007. It was the summer of Taylor Hicks’ first solo national tour after winning American Idol Season 5! It was the summer of fun, friends, travel, and life-change!

Except for the 122-degree day in Phoenix, AZ, it was the hottest day I can ever remember flying into New Orleans August 1, 2007.  The humidity and heat literally took my breath away as I stepped out of the airport.  I quickly knew why the shuttle bus to car rentals had a bucket filled with ice and bottles of water.   It was the wettest and coldest bottle of water I can ever remember. 

Then it rained on the way to Vicksburg and steam rose from the pavement.  I was rushing through rush-hour traffic to get to the first concert that night and I spotted my first Taylor Hicks billboard!  Could I take a picture while driving?  No, I didn’t.   

At this point, I had seen six concerts in Alabama, Georgia, Arizona, and Las Vegas.  I thought I knew what to expect from Taylor Hicks in concert.  In Vicksburg, he showed everyone that “you ain’t seen nothing yet.”  He was sick, but no one would  have known that from his performance.  The tour would not be slowed by germs.    

 History is my field and passion.  Vicksburg was a historical treasure for the best and the worst reasons, the site of a long and destructive siege during the Civil War.  I was very fortunate to meet a new friend with a similar interest for the historical and our first full day in Vicksburg was filled with sites of the old Southern town and thoughtful exploration of the Battle of Vicksburg.  

 The second concert in Vicksburg was even better than the first.  Germs had not gotten the best of this American Idol and it was said around the soul patrol that the sicker, the better the concert!  Now in our youngsters slang “sick” does means “the best!”  I added another piece of  Taylor Hicks’ memorabilia to the collection which  I fondly call it the “germomonica.”   

Traveling though Mississippi the next day to Biloxi was a nostalgic sojourn for me.  My older brother was stationed at Keesler AFB in the 1950s and we took a family summer vacation to see him, though I don’t remember that it was in August! 

We drove through Gulfport, Mississippi, a very small town then and along the Gulf Coast to Biloxi.  It was the first time I had been to the beach and the first time my conservative father had worn a pair of Bermuda shorts.  We told him he could not go on the beach otherwise!  

In 2007, it was also a trip through the South with childhood memories flooding back of growing up in Kentucky.  There is so much that is “the South” no matter where you are like the truck selling watermelons by the side of the road.  

And although the Gulf Coast had been torn apart by Hurricane Katrina, it could not destroy the beauty. 

I stopped for this marquee.

The Mississippi Coast Coliseum was close to home for Taylor, and the “home folks” turned out including Taylor’s beautiful grandmother, Miss Joni, who passed away in 2013.  It was a huge crowd that welcomed Taylor and his tour band.  If you saw any of the 2007 concerts, you know that the band was about as good as it gets.  Simply, they rocked!

Taylor and lead guitarist Josh Smith showed what good music and a good show is all about. 

Simply, phenomenal!

I was still getting the hang of a camera trying to take pictures of a moving object—a musician that would not stay still for a second.  

Then it was back to Louisiana, although I had never been to Louisiana except when I had flown into New Orleans a few days before. 

 New Orleans is an amazing city--colorful, loud, and alive 24/7!  It is a fascinating mix of the foreign flavor of different cultures and the truly American flair with which it all comes together--the feeling that you "fit" here, no matter where you come from.  

Simply, I found it the most interesting city I have ever visited, even in the short time I was there.  I ate it up, along with the ‘gator sausage I tasted for the first time.  It’s not like chicken.

 It rained in the afternoon as I explored the French Quarter, and I immediately thought about Katrina and that this is where Taylor Hicks had searched in the middle of the night for a cab to flee the imperiled city just hours before the devastation.  It was a gift that much of the French Quarter was spared the worst of Katrina. 

 That night, the House of Blues was one of the most crowded venues I have ever experienced, barely room to stand.  I am quite sure that it was beyond “sold out.”  

On the narrow, crowded street outside, the tour buses dwarfed the surroundings. 

 I had seen and done so many things in that short week, it was hard to take it all in as I flew out of New Orleans on Sunday morning.  Of all the new places I’ve been in following Taylor, including New York City, my favorite place to return to would be New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. 

Simply, they are magical! 

It’s always a dilemma whether to take pictures to share and enjoy later or to lose yourself in the moment and enjoy the show.  Often, I chose the later, since I was not that good with the camera anyway.

But it’s really about the moment!  How do you really capture moments that bring sheer joy, abandonment, and that feeling of “stop the world right here.” 

We are fortunate creatures to have that part of our minds and our hearts where we can store and treasure our memories. 

The Hot and Humid Tour was memorable.    

Here’s to new summer memories—magical places, fun and friends and never-ending music! 

To all those seeing Taylor Hicks on the Gulf Coast this weekend at his sold-out show in Gulfport, MS…

Simply, ENJOY!

~~~~

Notes:  I believe it was the Editor of the Soul Connection, Connie Leinicke who gave us the “Hot and Humid” name.  To all those who made it magical, thanks for the memories!  You know who you are!

All photos by San.     

~~~
If you are really interested in reading more about The Hot and Humid Tour, below are my posts (minus the photos, some of which are shown above) shortly after the trip on an early Taylor fan site, The Whomp Swamp.

August, 2007 

HOT AND HUMID SOUTHERN TOUR

 Yes, August is hot and humid in the South!  The Soul Patrol gathered from all over the country to follow Taylor and the summer tour band from the Ameristar in Vicksburg to the House of Blues in New Orleans! 

This is a special Bus Stop OPEN topic where we can share our thoughts....

If you were on this special roadtrip...please add yours! 

 TAYLOR LIVE!  AGAIN!

 Vicksburg was another bus stop for Taylor and the tour band.  But for the Soul Patrol it was a gathering! 

Cell phone messages and emails excitedly sent the word there was a Taylor billboard between Jackson and Vicksburg, and those who got the message in time captured the familiar Taylor pose. 

I had no warning and I opted NOT to try to stop, turn around or any crazy such thing when suddenly there was Taylor roadside!  I did grab my cell phone (okay, that was crazy at 80 MPH in heavy traffic) and tell people who were behind me. 

The Ameristar on the mighty Mississippi promised to be the small friendly venue of which Taylor is fond.  The affable casino entertainment manager had assured us that every seat was a good seat when NO fans were able to come by tickets in the front section.  That left the Soul Patrol in the back closest to the bar.  Okay, they weren't bad seats. 

As Taylor opened with Soul Thing, I remembered he opened in Jacksonville with Soul Thing...the very first song on his solo tour.   I also remembered why I had again flown across the country to see Taylor live!  I knew immediately, "Oh yes ...it was worth the trip!" 

But the best was yet to come!

Night two in Vicksburg was one to remember! 

San

  

THE GERM BUSINESS

Vicksburg Day Two

 The Soul Patrol enjoyed a non-travel day in this charming Southern City on the banks of the Mississippi River. 

Some visited the Civil War battlefield, the site of the siege of Vicksburg where monuments from many states reminded us that, then as now, war is hell. 

With most everyone staying at the Ameristar Hotel, it was no secret that a doctor had made a bus call.  The Soul Patrol hoped Taylor would feel well enough to perform. 

And perform he did! 

The front VIP section which had some empty seats the first night, was packed …including, it was rumored, dignitaries from Ameristar Corporation.    The Soul Patrol, was again seated close to the bar,

Then a smiling, “I can do this because I’ve done it before” Taylor took the stage and all was very well.    He confirmed shortly into the show that he did in fact have strep throat and bronchitis.  “Someone told me ‘Taylor, if you get into the music business, you get into the germ business.’”

Well, the music business and the germ business in Vicksburg rocked this little riverboat casino and the Soul Patrol could only say, “The sicker he is, the better the concert.”  Okay, makes no sense! 

"Heaven Knows" words are difficult to get out even when you know them!  Well, Taylor flubbing the first verse only left everyone laughing  (yes, we remembered forgetting words had happened before)…finally, the words came,  “You took my heart, baby.”   Say them over and over...”You took my heart...”

Taylor talked to the crowd… announcing as he took a drink that “It’s tap water.”  With the stage lighting he told the Soul Patrol he could hear them but couldn’t see them.  And the Soul Patrol made their voices heard. 

The Beatles tune, "Don’t Let Me Down," was a personal favorite, as it had been since the AI tour with that red guitar.  

The energy, charisma, and “I can’t phone it in” magic that is Taylor at his very best transported this audience to a night to remember.  The VIP audience in the front was drawn into the spirit and dead on performance of Taylor Hicks on his game.  They gave a standing ovation to this amazing entertainer who refused to let the germ business get the best of the music business! 

A GOOD REVIEW

Taylor on the Gulf Coast

Driving to the Gulf Coast down Highway 47 South was a sojourn I had taken before…when I was 13 years old.  My brother had been stationed at Keesler AFB in the 50s and my family had taken a vacation to Biloxi.  We spent a day on Ship Island and there was nothing along the Coast then except beautiful Southern homes. 

Some things don’t change…trucks filled with watermelons going to some roadside market brought back the same childhood memory…of course, green and white striped watermelons!  My father never would have bought a solid green watermelon!   Again, returning to the South, I felt like I was coming home.

It was a homecoming of sorts for Taylor as well.   Home folks drove in from Alabama…I met a couple in the parking lot from Mobile who spoke so fondly of Taylor and Miss Jonie.  And Taylor’s grandmother was on the center aisle.  Fans related that she was transfixed on her Taylor with the adoring look of a very proud grandmother.  

Taylor wowed the huge arena crowd with his electric energy and whompin’ soul music.  It was a long way from the first time he sang “Try A Little Tenderness” for his grandmother, and she gave him “one of my first good reviews, and maybe the most important, because that was probably the first time I thought of myself as a singer.”  (Heart Full of Soul, Taylor Hicks)

From that first thought of being a singer to center stage in front of the screaming, rocking crowd in the Coast Coliseum, Taylor had made an incredible journey.

I am sure that she gave him another good review! 

WHEN LIFE IS NOT BORING

New Orleans and Gator

New Orleans was new territory for me.  I didn’t know what to expect, especially after the devastation of Katrina.  I can honestly say there was only one thing I didn’t like…water, water everywhere…well, at least a lot of it to drive over, of which I was definitely not fond. 

Okay…make that just two things…I have lived in Michigan and I thought I knew humidity.   Even the lake areas of Michigan did not prepare me for the hot muggy, I-can’t-breathe air in the Big Easy as I stepped out of the airport on Wednesday.  It was better on Saturday—concert day. 

My first mission in New Orleans was to have beignets, the fried French donuts, at the world famous Café du Monde.   That was my plan for Saturday breakfast in the French Quarter, but I found they are just as good for a late lunch.  I thought they could not be surpassed…until I added frozen café latte…a to-die-for after concert treat at the Café. 

As I sat in the Café du Monde a strong wind and dark clouds blew in from the South.  I must admit I was a little uncomfortable.  It was only a cooling afternoon rain shower.  It didn’t dampen the holiday spirit in the Quarter or the gift shopping next door at Aunt Sally’s Pralines. 

The French Quarter was a delightful mix of old world charm and Southern hospitality.  I was very unsure about having gator and beans for lunch (especially after the beignets), so an accommodating young street vendor gave me a taste of the gator sausage.  It doesn’t taste like chicken!  I passed on that lunch. 

I walked back to the hotel along Bourbon Street past the open doorways from which came the sounds of New Orleans…jazz, Delta blues, rock and funk.  This is a music town.

And after all, the music was why I was here—blue-eyed soul music! 

In the very narrow streets of the Quarter, there was barely room for Taylor’s two shiny buses to park and traffic to go around.  There was no problem finding the House of Blues.  If the venue was not sold out before, it must have concert night.  There was barely standing room in the small Blues stage/bar. 

This was a special place for Taylor and he let everyone know that he loved New Orleans.  That amazing journey had begun here with Katrina bearing down.  He was clearly very happy to be back here, seeming to choke up several times. 

He held the crowd and the moment in the palm of his hand as he sat on a stool for his first encore and sang “Louisiana.”   Then he led a chant “New Orleans is back…New Orleans is back…” and the people went wild! 

It is times like this that words fail us…to describe such “special” times.  They cannot.  It was one of those times when you had to be there…see it, hear it, feel it.  It certainly does not do his performance justice to say that it was all the usual words we use…or to say it was SPECIAL. 

But when words are all we have, they must say what we felt...

This was one of the times in our lives that are not just memorable, but it is what keeps life from being boring and keeps us searching for the next moment like this very special one!  After all, it is the special times when we enjoy life that makes it all worthwhile!

New Orleans was one of those times!  

  

San

If you're counting....ten concerts, one harmonica!

~~~~

Taylor Hicks ~~ Another Song...

When you do what you love, you can know the future.  When it's music...

It's another song.

When you are a fan, you know what to expect…

Another song.

Taylor Hicks, who more than anyone I have ever run into, knows what he loves to do—perform music on any stage, anywhere, anytime.  He left Las Vegas last week after almost a two-year residency there on the Strip, first at Bally’s and then at Paris Las Vegas—from June, 2012, through April, 2014. 

It isn’t just about his music.  Taylor Hicks is also a fan!

Just before he left Las Vegas, he sat in with “funkjammers” Galactic and long-time favorite, Robert Randolph and the Family Band. 

  

@TaylorHicks:

Great nite @BBowlVegas with @rrtfb last nite! Thx for the pic @CitonePhoto! pic.twitter.com/W2mZuSdxMw

  

Thx again @GalacticFunk! Had a blast @BBowlVegas. For those of u who missed it... youtu.be/XlJpMU6_v-w #goodtimes

 @GalacticFunk thanks for letting me sit in.. Always a an honor.. Tell Ben thank u for letting me use the harp rig!

Follow @TaylorHicks on Twitter and you get to know this talented artist and music fan!

He attended other artists’ shows in Las Vegas and is engaged in the entertainment community wherever he is.  He joined the music party at his own restaurant, Saw’s Juke Joint in Birmingham, this past weekend.

Few people can take what they love to do, their profession, and their creativity anywhere.  Taylor will be back in Alabama—back home, Nashville and a recording studio, and on the road for appearances, some already planned. 

How lucky!  It isn’t where you are—it’s who you are, and Taylor is a musician.  That doesn’t end as he flies out of Las Vegas one more time. 

Don’t cry for Las Vegas!  Except that visitors won’t be able to enjoy the soulful sounds and roadhouse jammin' of Taylor Hicks on the Strip any longer.  But Taylor will be on another stage. 

With another song…

We can’t wait. 

And we’ll be there!

A sincere thank you to Taylor Hicks , Brian Less, Amory Harwell, all the musicians in the band, Bally’s, Paris Las Vegas, Ceasars Entertainment, Las Vegas media, and all who made it a great run in Las Vegas! 

We’re just waiting for the next great adventure!

The Taylor Hicks Community

~~~~

Stay tuned @TaylorHicks on Twitter and www.taylorhicks.com

~~~ 

Thank you to Paris Las Vegas for sharing via Twitter the stunning photo above of Taylor's final performance in Napolean's Lounge! 

Looking for the Constants in 2014...

“A change is gonna’ come…” 

In 2005, Taylor Hicks sang those prophetic words before the American Idol judges in Las Vegas. 

And it surely did.

“Change can be good.  Change can be bad.  But change is always one thing…inevitable.” 

I heard those words last week as I made a major change in my workplace after 16 years in the same room, same environment. People around me came and left.  I was comfortably established. 

I don’t like change… I look for ways to mitigate it.  I clung to the green plants that had grown in my room for most of those 16 years and moved them carefully.  I took all of my familiars into an unfamiliar place.  I believe we all cling to what we know.    

And I felt the frustration last week as I read the feed from music blogger, Bob Lefsetz. 

“So, I don’t know if it’s a day of change or not. Because I’m bad with change, I’m afraid of loss in the process.”

But Sunday morning I woke up in a different mood.  I had found the constants that I could hold on to. 

Reading the Taylor Hicks twitter feed the evening before, I welcomed a long-time constant. 

“@nebrinkley: I forgot how much I loved Taylor Hicks’ ‘Just To Feel That Way.’ Such a good song.” ebrinkleyemains.

 different beat, or the cityy tion,  American Idol judges in Las Vegas. ous soul, blues, and funk albums.  w

In 2007, a dear friend came to visit to attend Taylor Hicks concerts in Phoenix and Las Vegas.  We were shopping in the grocery store and suddenly heard a familiar voice—Taylor Hicks singing “Just to Feel That Way!” 

In the kick off of 2014 concerts, Taylor appeared at the Clearwater River Casino in Lewiston, Idaho, Saturday night.  He said in a prior interview with Inland360.com his plans for 2014 included “a long list of gigs, including tours around the country, the finale of his Paris Las Vegas residency and a new country album, which Hicks, 37, said should be released in spring.”

“ ‘The common thread will be my voice and the instrumentation,’ Hicks said of the Nashville recorded album, which features more country music than his previous soul, blues, and funk albums.” 

“common thread” –that’s what I was looking for.  Whatever the new roles, new venues, new endeavors, there is always…

The music. 

In the Inland360 interview, Taylor assured the Clearwater River Casino audience that they "could look forward to hearing… ‘Just some really great live music.’”   

That’s the constant we can all look forward to, and these are the words from Taylor that I have kept going back to for a long time:

“For me, you can take it all.  But leave me with the music.”

As surely as there is change, just as surely, there is the constant.    

The room may change, the road wind in a different direction, the drums kick out a different beat, or the new place lie over the horizon.  The voice and the music remain.

Leave me with the music. 

The Taylor Hicks constant—it’s such a good song. 

~~~

 So, I took out the shiny CD and slid it into my computer and listened.  It's such a good song. 

It always comes back to the music.

~~~

All the very best of happiness and success to Taylor Hicks in 2014!  

Wherever the song takes him...

...and us. 

~~~

For all the latest, follow @TaylorHicks on Twitter. 

Photo: Taylor Hicks and Cody Farris at Harrah's New Orleans, December, 2013; courtesy of CaseyPup via Twitter.  

Sources: “Hicks goes Hollywood:  American Idol winner performs at Clearwater River Casino” inland360.com

Taylor Hicks: "I love what I do!"

I am envious.

Say what you will about success. This is it:

“I love what I do.”

Taylor Hicks celebrates the soulful Americana ‘roots’ music that he grew up around in Alabama in his headlining show at Paris Las Vegas. In a promotional video for Ceasar’s Entertainment “Las Vegas_Player,” he takes us inside his very successful show and his ‘Southern roots’ music:

“To have soul you have to have passion …for what you’re doing. For me, obviously, putting soul and passion in my music is something that I really find important.

“And I love what I do.”

There’s no arguing with that. There are no ratings, awards, or paychecks that can outweigh it.

Critics cannot destroy it.

Our success is personal. Mine can only be defined by me. Taylor Hicks defines his success:

“For me, you can take it all, but leave me with the music.”

“It’s not how many records you sell, but how many lives you touch.”

“I love what I do.”

I know what that means and when it is lacking. We hope our daily work brings satisfaction, ‘things’ that we enjoy, and sustenance. And it may.

To say “I love what I do” is different.

While we hope others share the joy or worth of what we do, real success is how we feel about every day, not how the world views what we do. It is experienced within, not received from those around us who decide what it looks or feels like.

I don’t hate my work. I find it satisfying and rewarding. But I am somewhere in between like and dislike.

I have always wished that I could say with passion, “I love what I do.”

Taylor Hicks is a lucky one.

Funny thing is it is infectious. It is shared joy, shared success.

In his audience we are enveloped in that love and passion the minute he steps onto the stage. It emulates from his energetic music and stage persona. It is the ‘magic’ of a resonating performance by a quintessential musician.

This isn’t to say that mere love creates the musicianship and artistry. But it fuels the hard work, practice, persistence, and dream.

It creates a vibrant circle that spells success. “I love what I do.”

An oversimplified measure of success?

How would you measure it?
~~~
And this success train isn’t slowing down…

As it was Saturday night, Taylor’s headlining show at Napoleon’s Lounge inside Paris Las Vegas continues to be sold out night after night. He is one of the most popular performers on the Vegas Strip. He recently performed a one-night-only jam session with the popular Vegas headliner, The Million Dollar Quartet, in a jam-packed house.

A recent review on http://www.vegasmessageboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=98334
by dennis63 claimed: “I think it may be the most underrated show in Vegas right now….”

He gives back the love. On October 12, he returns to Alabama to headline the charity concert and football watch party, Tailgate for Cure, benefiting Alabama Institute of Medicine. http://s1.zetaboards.com/connections/topic/5219372/1/#new

October 17, Taylor headlines “Hollywood Welcomes the Stars” in Hallandale Beach, FL benefiting The Boys and Girls Clubs of Broward County. http://s1.zetaboards.com/connections/topic/5229585/1/

He’s an avowed foodie and a restaurateur! He has two recipes from his Birmingham restaurant, Saw’s, featured in the new, hugely popular “Recipes Across America” Cookbook.

Check out all that makes this American Idol say, “I love what I do!” on his official website at: www.taylorhicks.com
~~
Go see the artists that love what they do, and you are looking at success!

Check out Taylor Hicks on his music, Las Vegas, and more on Vegas Player:


See Taylor Hicks at Paris Las Vegas and experience the love, passion, and success of this true American Idol!
http://www.parislasvegas.com/shows/taylor-hicks.html

Photo above:  Courtesy of Coder1951 via Twitter:  Taylor at Napoleon's Lounge, Paris Las Vegas September 28th. Thanks to all who share photos of their concert experiences.    

Taylor Hicks Connects in Cleveland, Miami, and Las Vegas!

Early Saturday morning Taylor Hicks randomly tweeted:

"@taylorhicks: Some things aren't worth the hassle sometimes.....”

He had wrapped up three concerts in Cleveland, Ohio, and was somewhere traveling from there, through a nnowy Chicago airport, and on to Miami where he appeared Saturday evening at the “Blacks’ Annual Gala,” hosted by Real Housewife of Miami, Lea Black.

Here’s our flip side to whatever hassle in which he had found himself.

From a fan’s perspective, last week seemed like a coming together of good things. After a short time off from his headlining gig in Las Vegas, Taylor Hicks was back doing what he does best and getting the accolades for it.

As Taylor and company moved into Cleveland for the week, it brought back fond memories of the 2008-2010 National Broadway tour of the Tony-nominated “Grease” when the show dropped into a city with a flurry of excitement. Taylor Hicks, starring as the heavenly harmonica-wielding Teen Angel, was the face and spokesperson for the flurry. In fact, that “Grease” tour ended at the Palace Theatre in Cleveland, May 23, 2010.

To this fan, this week looked like those happy times when “Grease” was in a town near me!

As cities all over the country and Canada did on the “Grease” tour, Cleveland threw out their welcome mat. Taylor visited local TV and radio, went to a Cavs game, and wowed guests at three free concerts, two at the opening of the Thistledown Racino and one at the Horseshoe Casino.

With microphone in one hand, harmonica in the other, and smile, Taylor Hicks does what he does best!

“@HorseshoeCLE: Las Vegas Headliner @taylorhicks signing autographs at Vintage 51! http://t.co/OzuGWhT1PM”

New fans tweeted their reviews:

“@KelsoBug: One perk of my job...watching a Taylor Hicks concert from 10 feet away. Man got some serious SOUL!”

“@liza50: Wow ....just coming from @taylorhicks concert awesome experience you got a new fan !!”

Then there was the Blacks’ Miami Beach charity gala.

This American Idol wears black well and can rock the red carpet. He’s done it many times appearing at numerous charity events supporting good causes. It wasn’t a surprise that he was a guest performer at this glamorous Miami event hosted by Real Housewife of Miami, Lea Black, and her husband benefiting at-risk youth charities.

“@AWCSGO: Taylor Hicks is rocking the Gala. So great!”

No surprise either that he rocked the upscale gathering! 

Perhaps the most meaningful coming together, though, is the time Taylor spends after almost every concert meeting and interacting with guests, many new found ‘fans.’ They take away photos and good memories.

“@ThistleDownOhio: Some lucky fans got to meet @taylorhicks after the show! Hope everyone enjoyed the concert! http://t.co/Wvbp3LZ2kN”

There are always long lines to meet and get a photo with the talented and charming Las Vegas headliner.

Which bring us to the icing on this cake.

The Las Vegas Entertainment Guide listed Taylor Hicks at Paris Las Vegas one of the “Top Las Vegas Concerts 2013!”

“We are only listing the hottest concerts by the hottest stars.”

Those other ‘hottest stars’ include entertainment giants, Celine Deon, Shania Twain, Elton John, Faith Hill and Tim McGraw, Santana…

That’s some darn good company! 

“Whether it is his ardent singing style or his great personality, Taylor Hicks’ popularity is rising so fast he may soon need a larger venue!”

Actually, the first American Idol to headline with a residency gig in Las Vegas has already moved from the smaller Indigo Room at Bally’s where he headlined in 2012, to the present “glitzy little pocket” as Birmingham reporter, Mary Colurso, called Napoleon’s Lounge at Paris Las Vegas.

The American Idol who auditioned in Las Vegas in 2005 for the singing competition and won Season Five in grand style, is now among the Neon City’s ‘hottest stars.’

That is a coming together to celebrate!

So, it seems fitting that this vagabond entertainer returns to his Las Vegas home at Paris Las Vegas’ Napoleon Lounge this coming week for one of the “hottest” shows on the Vegas Strip!

Really.

And that’s not our word.

Oh, yes, there was also Twitter.

@TaylorHicks, official Twitter account, reached 36,000 followers and the number continues to climb daily. And all came the old-fashioned way; none was bought. It is simply new fans finding a really talented musician who loves his music and was born to entertain.

So, we think some good things came together for a very good week.

Congratulations to Taylor Hicks, who keeps right on doing what he does best, whether it is in Cleveland, Miami, or Las Vegas—entertaining us!

If we may speak succinctly and colloquially…

Rock on, Bro!

~~~

Taylor Hicks ‘hot’ in Cleveland:
(I know--we  had to go there. But 'hot' was an operative word this week.)

In depth interview by Rover Radio:
VIDEO: http://www.roverradio.com/videos/official-show-videos/item/taylor-hicks-interview

NBC WKYC:
http://www.wkyc.com/news/story.aspx?storyid=294058

“I love Cleveland…I spent a month here with ‘Grease’”
A great performance of “Hell of a Day” and entertaining discussion with WKYC hosts:



“Taylor Hicks Can Do It All at FOX8” including the weathercast and traffic in Cleveland:
http://fox8.com/2013/04/09/taylor-hicks-can-do-it-all-at-fox-8/



“Taylor Hicks Dropped By Fees Kompany” Interview:
http://q104.cbslocal.com/2013/04/10/taylor-hicks-dropped-by-fees-kompany/

Las Vegas Entertainment Guide’s List of “The Top Las Vegas Concerts 2013” with Taylor’s guitar-toting poster in the top five photo banner:
http://www.lasvegas-entertainment-guide.com/las-vegas-concerts.html

~~~~

Taylor Hicks returns to Napoleon’s Lounge inside Paris Las Vegas April 15th. If you are in or near Las Vegas, see why his show is one of the ‘hottest’ in the town of hot shows!

Tickets:
http://www.parislasvegas.com/shows/taylor-hicks.html

For the latest Taylor Hicks news and events, visit:
http://www.taylorhicks.com/

And follow: @TaylorHicks on Twitter.
~~~
Thanks to all whose photos we share here! 

Top to bottom:
Thistle Down Racino: Mike Carew, Akron Beacon Journal
Thistle Down Racino: Lisa DeJong, The Plain Dealer
@HorseshoeCLE: Lines to meet Taylor
Via @TaylorHicks Twitter:  Red Carpet in Miami
Via @ThistleDownRacino: Lucky people meet Taylor after concert.

Below:
Via @DebbieinFlorida on Twitter:  Fan's view, Taylor on the Red Carpet, Miami!

Always rockin' the harmonica! 

The Best of Times~Taylor Hicks' "Hollywood Nights"

It was the best of times. The world was new.

The 2006 American Idol tour was complete, and the fall days were filled with exciting anticipation.

Newly-crowned American Idol, Taylor Hicks, was in the studio in California recording his victory album for Arista. He talked of this time as one of the happiest in his life, when he could smell the ocean from his open window in the morning.

“Hollywood Nights” was our anthem!

There was no twitter. Fans stayed connected through fan boards and media interviews. And for a short time, Friday Night Happy Hour was seeing a new release by Taylor Hicks from the studio for Rehearsals.com.

“Hollywood Nights” created a sensation!

It would have blown up Twitter, if Twitter had been around.

It was a rehearsal, raw, imperfect, and excitingly real! Jeff Lopez, from back home in Alabama and longtime band mate of Taylor Hicks, played saxophone like there would never be another California sunset. “Hollywood Nights” also proved that music is perfect in its imperfections. Taylor changed (flubbed?) the words, added expletives, and fiddled with his ear piece. But this performance takes you from a rehearsal hall to a place higher than the Hollywood Hills.

It was real, like life…sometimes horribly imperfect, but exhilarating.

Taylor was riding the crest of success finally achieving the long elusive dream of finding his voice. On May 24th that year, he was star of the most watched and most popular show on the planet—American Idol Finale, Season Five.

“Hollywood Nights” screamed, “Yes, I Can!”

For the fans seeing this raucous, in-your-face recording, it was affirmation that we were right, and we were in for the ride of our lives!

A few weeks later, December 9, 2006, Taylor Hicks, the album, was released. It was certified platinum on January 17, 2007.

So much has happened since that Friday night when “Hollywood Nights,” took our breath away. So much has changed.

Except the passionate and sensational music.  

Twitter would have received “Hollywood Nights” in its signature, succinct style:

“OMG!!!”

Which says it pretty well. 

And life has never been the same for the Southern boy “looking down on the lights of LA.”

Nor for us!

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Thanks to @Sweetsmoke on Twitter for taking us back and reminding us of the not so boring and in no way anemic performance of Taylor Hicks’ “Hollywood Nights!”

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The sensational music of Taylor Hicks is alive and well at Paris Las Vegas throughout 2013! See it for yourself! 
http://www.parislasvegas.com/shows/taylor-hicks.html

Connections A Million Miles Away: Music and a Cat

Life can be so complicated. Yet, at its core, its heart, it may be as simple as music and a cat.

Pope Benedict XVI gave a last blessing to the Faithful and flew away in a white helicopter to a new life of quietude. He will take along his beloved piano and his cat. I was surprised to learn that he is an accomplished pianist and music lover.

My first connection with faith and with music was growing up in a small, white country church in the South. It was a million miles away from the Vatican.

I had never felt a connection to this great leader of people. He suddenly became real to me.

I wondered to a friend what kind of music he loves. I perhaps wrongly assumed classical and opera.

It’s funny the things you remember from school. I will never forget studying opera in junior high. That’s right. Many years ago, I had a wonderful teacher who thought the classics and opera were important to our education. We learned the tragic story of Aida and listened to the music. We knew “Carmen” and could sing “Torrr.reee.a.dorr!” In high school choir, we sang in Latin.

The music blogger, Bob Lefsetz, has said several times that music, done right, is life itself.

It is a global connection across cultures, time, and faiths.

Taylor Hicks has said it’s not about how many records you sell; it’s about how many lives you touch.

Music touches our lives. Not just in sounds and words, but in connections, sometimes unexpectedly. It is the soundtrack of our lives taking us through rough times and celebrating the good times. And it is that which we may come back to in quiet times.

I was reminded that music is a connection when there seems to be no other. I will remember the Pope Emeritus now living a quiet life…

With his music and his cat and wish him all the peace and joy they may bring.

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Thanks to Benedict, now Pope Emeritus, for an unexpected connection, a friend who shares her deep faith, Taylor Hicks who inspires us with his music, and the funny cat that shares my space!

Connections all, which make my life brighter!

What connections enrich your life?
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You can connect with roadhouse soul! Taylor Hicks, Season Five American Idol, headlines at Paris Las Vegas connecting with audiences at Napoleon’s Lounge.

Tickets:   http://www.parislasvegas.com/shows/taylor-hicks.html

His music has enriched my life.  I’d make a Vegas bet that it will enrich yours too...

Taylor Hicks~Our 2012 Top Ten List~The Beat Goes On!

You gotta’ love Vegas in 2012! The year revved up with the first American Idol opening on the Vegas Strip with a summer residency. It ended there with more to come!

We look back and celebrate the glitz, the tunes, the hype, and the happenings that made 2012 a very good year in the Taylor Hicks community!

10. 'Soul Power' Soars on Social Media 
It was a continual build of twitter followers @TaylorHicks in 2012 for the Vegas headliner who tweeted his forays around Vegas, sojourns across the country, sports galore from the couch and the stadium, and candid randomness that kept followers engaged. With few exceptions, daily tweets and RTs kept this entertainer connected with his followers.  Social media also allowed fans to be a part of the Taylor experience as concert goers shared their pictures and experiences from Las Vegas and other events.

9. Before There’s Vegas, There’s Business as Usual
Not waiting around for Vegas to call, Taylor started 2012 with appearances, (one in Las Vegas) from New England (with the Jamie McLean Band that would later join him in Las Vegas) to the Bahamas to the Race to Erase MS benefit in California. There were TV appearances. He joined the ever-captivating Southern charmer, Paula Deen, for cooking up Roadhouse Eats on The Food Network. He played the dating game on FOX’s new fun show, “The Choice,” and made friends with fellow show competitor, The Situation, of Jersey fame.

8. Vegas Headliner Connects with the Community
Special Olympics, Nevada Wild Fest Dock Dogs competition, the Wrangler National Rodeo Finals, and other musicians’ shows brought this headliner into the community. He attended charity events, local happenings, and entertainment shows like someone coming to stay a while. This “club kid” was at Stifler’s for what was called the “show of the year” by John Katsilometes of the Las Vegas Sun.

If the face of Vegas is anything, it is glitzy. The glamorous Idol joined the glitzy star power walking the red carpet, or orange carpet, at openings, shows, and charity events. His carpet-worthy fashion and style was a parade of photogenic highs.

7. Media Matters
The Las Vegas media laid out the welcome mat with interviews, coverage, and stellar reviews. They were in the audience at The Indigo and came back. Bally’s marketing people presented their new headliner with genuine enthusiasm. Bally’s Kelly Frey: “ @TaylorHicks killed it @BallysVegas tonight! So proud to have him as our newest headliner.” The “searing soul” music of one media story became known as “roadhouse,” an appropriate moniker since it saw much of its growth as the young, struggling Taylor Hicks played at what is called America’s Last Great Roadhouse, Florabama, on the Alabama/Florida Gulf Coast—a long way from the Las Vegas Strip. Local TV, print, radio and social media enthusiastically brought Taylor Hicks and the Vegas experience to the forefront. A very long list of major and memorable media events in 2012 for the Idol gone Vegas headliner included Huffington Post, CMT Insider, and Hollywood Reporter, to only name a few.

6. New Saw’s Juke Joint Opens
The restaurateur, Taylor Hicks, opened a new casual eatery.  Literally overnight, the former Ore Drink and Dine, opened in the Birmingham area by Taylor and partners, turned into Saw’s Juke Joint, a locally acclaimed Saw’s BBQ. In the laid back comfort of the Juke Joint, Taylor still shows up to entertain and jam with local musicians like Gip Gipson.   Here, he entertains on Thanksgiving:

5. Vegas Gig Goes Viral on American Idol

The gig was out of the bag in April, as Taylor sat in the American Idol audience and announced to Ryan Seacrest and a global audience that he was opening at Bally’s in Las Vegas—an appropriate place for the big news since he was the first American Idol to have a residency in the entertainment capital. Twitter exploded with the announcement, and it was one of several times in 2012 when Taylor Hicks was trending on social media.

4. “Takin’ It to the Streets” and “Eastwooding” Roust the RNC

Saying that he was honored to celebrate the political process, Taylor appeared on the closing night stage at the Republican National Convention in a premier spot just prior to Clint Eastwood’s now pop-culturized ‘speech.’ Just before going on, Taylor met Eastwood backstage and later commented that he knew Eastwood’s appearance was sure to be ‘entertaining.’ It wasn’t the first time these two crossed paths. Taylor performed a stunning “Gran Torino” at special request of Eastwood for a 2010 charity event in Los Angeles.

3. Roadhouse Lights Up the Vegas Strip
A little bit country, a lot of rock and roll, and downright raging, the Vegas music took the town by storm, and this town had seen the best. They hadn’t seen Taylor Hicks and a kick ass band that made “roadhouse” cool on the Vegas strip. Together, they created what one writer called a force that would show up on Dopler radar! New music with a touch of Vegas like “That’s Life” and the finale, “Viva Las Vegas” fit neatly along side music from Taylor’s current album, The Distance, to create a set list that rocked! A new rendition of “In the Ghetto” revered Elvis but was uniquely Taylor Hicks. The poignant “19” honored our troops and reminded us of what we owe our service men and women. A little bit of country, “Country Living,” written by guitarist Jamie McLean, blew the roof off. Musical guests joined Taylor and the band on stage, including John Popper of Blues Traveler.

After all, it IS about the music.

2. Residency Runs Through 2013
The summer run slated from June into August never lost its opening night momentum as fans came in from everywhere and local Vegas guests packed The Indigo at Bally’s.  The stunning reviews lasted and rumors started early that Taylor Hicks would be back. He did return in October with the announcement that his contract with Ceasar’s Entertainment was extended through 2013! Shows continued into December and dates are now available from January 21, through November 23, 2013--links below for dates and tickets.

1. Roadhouse Soul Opens at Bally's

Our top story choice for 2012 has to be #TaylorHicksinVegas. In the official announcement from TaylorHicks.com and Bally’s Vegas, Taylor expressed how honored he was to follow in the traditions of the renowned Vegas stars of live entertainment. On June 26, 2012, the newly refurbished Indigo Room at Bally’s was packed for the opening of this American Idol winner who auditioned for the show in Las Vegas in 2005. Two of the city’s music icons, Clint Holmes and Kelly Clinton Holmes were in the audience and tweeted that this was “the real deal.” And it got better. Music lovers filled The Indigo night after night. Vegas couldn’t get enough of the Southern soul ramped up to roadhouse raucous by Taylor Hicks and the Vegas band. Saying he could just go downstairs and do his show each night, Taylor called it, “Not a bad gig.”  Seriously.

And the beat goes on...

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With shows continuing in Vegas and the prospect of new music on the horizon, 2013 will be another great year at Taylor Hicks!  Stay tuned!

Catch #TaylorHicksinVegas 2013 ~~

UPDATE 1-13-2013:
Although unconfirmed at this time, it has been reported that roadhouse on The Strip moves next door to another Caesars Entertainment venue, Paris Las Vegas' Napoleon's Lounge when Taylor returns to Las Vegas January 21st.  Tickets are on sale for the new venue:
  http://www.parislasvegas.com/casinos/paris-las-vegas/casino-entertainment/taylor-hicks-detail-detail.html


Taylor Hicks Performing at Bally’s Las Vegas by TaylorHicksTV:



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Photo credits:  
@TaylorHicks Twitter Profile - DearWorld 
"The Choice" - FOX TV
Taylor on the red carpet - StarPulse
Saw's BBQ - sandgpie   
Announcement on American Idol - Access Hollywood
What's On Vegas Cover - What's On Magazine
Clint Eastwood and Taylor - The Hollywood Reporter
On stage at The Indigo - Martin Martinez of Bally's
Returning in October - Taylor Hicks via Twitter 

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For more on the Vegas music, see blog below, “Twists, Turns, and Tags.”
For more of everything Vegas and beyond, visit The Taylor Hicks Community Anthology ~ Connections:
http://s1.zetaboards.com/connections/index/

Taylor Hicks and The Vegas Gig: The Unexpected~That's Life!

The Vegas Gig turned up an unexpected gem!

Here’s the back story:

When Taylor Hicks won American Idol a wonderful group of fans gathered on fan boards across the internet. Many talented ones made beautiful montages with music in the background and photos of Taylor and his journey.

One of these was made by talented Canadian fan, KarinP who also did the much viewed “Nineteen,” with the amazing graphic contributions of a long-time fan, Allyn from Georgia.

When Karin read our Vegas blog, she sent me a montage she created in April, 2008 called “That’s Life.”

Yes, a Taylor Hicks montage called, “That’s Life!”  Taylor now sings “That’s Life” in his headlining show at Bally’s in Las Vegas; Karin features Michael Buble’s version as background for a beautiful collection of vintage Taylor Hicks photos from those years.

“At the time I did that video, I was feeling really bad for Taylor with respect to some unkind press. Taylor has always done it "his way" and sometimes that can make the road a less than ideal ride. It was just something I felt that I wanted to put out there because I knew that he would weather the storm and come out smelling like a rose. I think there is a lot more in that ‘little engine that could’ and I am excited to hear what his new album is going to sound like.”

Early 2008 saw Taylor joining a host of the famous for the NBA Playoffs Celebrity Basketball Game in New Orleans in February. He was inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame in March. And there was the charity event outside Birmingham for Hannah’s House and a seemingly unusual choice on the setlist: “On Broadway.”

Two months after “That’s Life” was created, Taylor was landing on the New York stage from a giant ice cream cone and his picture was on a five-story billboard outside in Times Square. He was starring as Teen Angel in “Grease” on Broadway and would take it on the road for 18 months for a very successful national tour!

He opened on Broadway…in June!

Here’s the Vegas back story:

Both Karin and Allyn were supposed to be in Las Vegas for our weekend in July. I was looking forward to Taylor’s meeting the creators of “19,” “West Texas Sky,” “Trip Around the Sun” and other beautiful visuals. I didn't yet know about "That's Life!"  But it turned out that neither of them could make it. They had both seen Taylor in concert and knew what a show it would be. Karin reminded me that she had run into him in Niagara-on-the-Lake at the Dan Aykroyd Niagara Wine Auction in June, 2007 and welcomed him to Canada!

I wish they could have come to Las Vegas where Taylor opened in the Indigo Lounge at Bally's ...

...in June!

It would have been very fitting for them to see “That’s Life” done Taylor’s way!

That is life…charming with its twists and turns, both disappointing and exhilarating, and mindful that picking ourselves up is just a part of it…

And that you really can be “back on top”…in June!

Just like the song says…

We are pleased to share this endearing montage from KarinP, Allyn, and a host of fans who contributed to it.

From KarinP (@Magnoliabreezes): “That’s Life,” April, 2008

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Quote from Karin is shared with her permission.

We proudly showcase Allyn’s banners and graphics on TTHC including her special “Vegas” above!

Taylor Hicks Rocks the Vegas Gig!

"I Live on a Battlefield” sold me!

It was a “dark horse” that grew on me when Taylor Hicks recorded it on his 2009 album, The Distance.

I had heard it before. Just not like this.

With the reviews and hype behind me, I was about to have my own look at what it was all about. “Living for the City” is a rousing opening that sets the raucous mood. When the first few lines of “I Live on a Battlefield” were delivered with such power and fierce enunciation, I could feel the anger of the lyrics with the “ruins of the love we knew.”

"'Battlefield' killed!"

And I knew what the hype was all about. This was going to be different.

That’s what you learn straight away when you follow this American Idol. You think you’ve heard it, but you haven’t.

Vegas insider John Katsilomentes for the Las Vegas Sun said:

“Taylor Hicks is too much for this room. Indigo is a cool little spot, but he's apt to reduce it to rubble.”

“I Live on a Battlefield” could be that which reduces this “cool little spot” to rubble!

Taylor Hicks opened an eight-week residency at Bally’s Indigo Lounge in June. His intimate show is soul, rock, blues, country, and, yes, “funiness” from the Idol who says he’s trying to learn the comedy bit. It is the spectrum of sounds from the whole band blazing on songs like “I Live on a Battlefield” and “Country Living” to single exquisite moments of sound from “In the Ghetto” and “19.” Each, and everything in between, is a summer picnic for the senses.

I have to take the Thursday night show in the intimate Indigo as the best in the three from last weekend perhaps just because it was my first look at what all the talk was about. There was no denying the energy of the music and, like those Hollywood hills, it took you higher and higher and higher! The band was blazing, the leader of the Soul Patrol was relaxed and in superb voice, and everyone was having fun.

I sat next to a family that was in Las Vegas for a reunion. They had never seen Taylor Hicks but were excited to find him in Vegas. They loved the concert and one of them kept moving closer to the stage to take a picture just like the true fan! As Taylor has said—one fan at a time! This time it was three!

A Taylor Hicks concert is a musical sharing as Taylor interacts and generously features his band of outstanding musicians who so obviously love making music. Jamie McLean, Brian Less, Brian Gallagher, Brian Griffen, Mark Vanderpoel, and Joe Bergeron are all showcased with solos and the spotlight. You know how good they are in their own right. Together, they prove what a huge “sum total” they are!

For the Elvis purist, “In the Ghetto” is a departure, but in a good way. Taylor likes the version and you can tell. “That’s a cool version….But what do I know?!” One guest this week called it “musically brilliant” and that is a good description. Its juxtaposition of tragic lyrics sung with raspy emotion of the streets, musical jamming of guitars and saxophone, and, finally, exquisite sounds by percussions and drums are stunning. The inspired ending to “Ghetto” is one of the exquisite moments of the evening.

“19” is that balance that keeps us grounded. Taylor brings the show full circle with his tribute to a fallen soldier and honors our troops with a sincere request to thank them for their service. It receives a well-deserved standing ovation for the troops. We were honored to have a Serviceman in the audience at one performance.

“Country Living” written by lead guitarist Jamie McLean is country like you haven’t heard. If you aren’t movin’ and groovin’ happy with this song, you aren’t breathing. It almost literally blows the roof off and could be part of the demolition of the Indigo!

“Seven Mile Breakdown” and its tag, Jackson Browne’s “Running on Empty” is a tale of two roads, and I’ve been on both. The humidity is almost visible as you drive the flat roads of the Mississippi delta. “Seven Mile Breakdown” laments “you hate being down before you ever loved being up” and “I’m gonna tear this whole place down, and I’ll be on my way” about tearing down after the show and hitting the road.

“Running on Empty” talks of life on tour for Jackson Browne specifically on California’s beautiful “101” road “running into the sun.” These two songs are a dichotomy of places, but in harmony in spirit about life on the road for musicians and for us all “running on, running on, running into the sun…”

In all that goes on in the evening’s eclectic set list, the beautiful “Running on Empty” isn’t lost. It is remarkably that—a beautiful song that holds its own. It defines “real music” and is my most memorable moment.

“Viva Las Vegas” finale is a natural for a nod to the Neon City. It’s the perfect Vegas ending with the curtains opening and the entire casino joining the chorus with enthusiasm probably in measure to their luck at the machines.

I don’t know what Las Vegas expected from the first American Idol to play a residency here. To the credit of Taylor Hicks and the good luck of Vegas, they got the real deal. This is not a made-for-Vegas show. He kept the roadhouse, the soul, the blues, and the genuine persona of the Southern soul singer “blessed” to be here. With only a nod to Las Vegas, he kept it…real Taylor Hicks!

As someone who has picked himself up a few times and gotten back in the race, “That’s Life” is a good Sinatra choice. Taylor had fun with it.  It fits.

That’s what he was doing the first time he ever came to Las Vegas—getting back in the race, auditioning for American Idol.

And just sometimes the race really pays off in a big time Vegas way!

The hype is now saying that Vegas “gets” Taylor Hicks...

Perhaps because he stays true to the Vegas traditions of live entertainment in the best of ways!

Viva Las Vegas!

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There is much more "coolness" to Taylor's show at Bally's! See what Vegas “gets” and what a host of followers know: Taylor Hicks at Bally’s Indigo Lounge is musical magic!

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CREDITS:
Photo: Thanks to Martin Martinez of Bally's for a great capture of Taylor Hicks and the Band!

“musically brilliant” quote: @Lanaesgifts via Twitter; “cool little spot” quote: @JohnnyKats via Twitter;
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Next (probably): Another look at the Vegas Gig...musings, moments and possibly the mundane!