“Everybody knows tonight, tonight, tonight, tonight, is
gonna be, the best night of our lives.” Well, when you go to a John King show,
you will definitely be feeling that way very early on.
On January 10, I headed about 20 miles east to the Grant
Street Music Room in Clarkesville, GA, and it was one of the best decisions I
have ever made. Situated in a multiplex venue that included a restaurant and
bowling alley already hopping with activity, in the back ballroom was a corner
stage anticipating the arrival of a hometown boy from Northeast GA. One who is
solidly carving out a place on the country music landscape – Mr. John King.
Affectionately dubbed a #hometownthrowdown, this show was
truly that. As soon as you walked in the venue, you could feel the audience
swelling with the pride of the locals, and the anticipation for a sampling of
what Demorest’s hometown boy has been wowing concert goers all over the nation
with. And John did not disappoint.
Taking the stage at about 9:30, John was a full on burst of
energy and electric from the first note to blast from the speakers. Jumping
right in, the pace of the show was set to full throttle to the delight of those
occupying every inch of space by the stage and dance floor, to the very last
person sitting in the back corner. John launched into songs from his current
EP, Something In The Water, and those already familiar with his work were
singing every line, while those not so familiar with the album, were still
having blast, fully engaged, fist pumping along, wishing they knew the words
too. As I watched the show I had a thought that kept recurring – “This guy
needs a bigger stage!” John is a fireball, with an energy and presence so big
that I’m sure it would be felt all the way to the back corner of any amphitheater,
or the highest seat in any arena. He is so engaging that nothing exists outside
of a big ol’ soiree with yourself, John, and couple hundred of your closest
friends for a few hours, which is exactly what a show should do – provide an
escape and place for fun. Check. Complete. Mark it off the list of awesomeness
for the night.
After listening to the music, you see why John is making
such an impression on country radio and is playing some of the hottest venues
around. It’s infectious. The songs are
creatively constructed, both melodically and lyrically, and just plain out fun.
They are what one might call #earcandy – songs you cant get out of your head,
and songs you don’t want to get out of your head. If he’s belting out the song
he is probably most known for, his current single, “Tonight, Tonight”, or giving
you a sneak peek at songs coming soon to radio, such as “On Your Lips”, or even
relating his affinity for “Hooker Shoes” and making you giggle just a little
bit, you can tell that John enjoys performing them, just as much as his fans
love hearing them and singing them back. I believe in music, there are songs,
and then there are SONGS. These definitely fall into that second category.
Songs you will hear all around you and may even like for the moment. SONGS you
don’t forget.
Of all my experiences that night, the most profound to me is
my last observation and possibly most important one. John loves his fans. No.
He LOVES them. Genuinely. You see that he wants them to have a good time. You
see that he wants them fired up. And you see that he really cares and wants
them to know how much he appreciates them and their support of his dream and
career of being an artist. You get the impression he wants to make his fans
feel like a million bucks. Whether it’s going around and giving everyone, and I
mean everyone, a slap on the hand during his song, “High Five”, or a smile or a
nod from the mic stand, or maybe just simply looking you in the eye and really
connecting with you for a moment, you feel like he wants you to know he is glad
you are there. But the best part is, you can really feel that he means it.
There is a reciprocity about the relationship between John and his fans. What
he gives to the fans in his music and performance, and his connectedness, the
fans give back to him in their adulation and love. I made a point to look
around at the faces of those standing there with me. It was plain to see the
absolute joy exuding from every person in that room. To put it simply, it was a
party, and everyone felt welcomed to be there.
Trust me when I tell you I am a seasoned concert-goer. I’ve
seen the bad, the good, and the out of this world as far as shows go. This show
was definitely the latter by miles. I couldn’t stop thinking of enough
superlatives for John. For his band. For the music. For the overall performance.
It was all top notch, and even better than some of the bigger and more well
known acts I have seen, even with all their production. I came back and could
not stop talking about such an amazing experience as I had. I stopped everyone
I could get to listen to me, and told them they just had to check out John for
themselves, set on getting as many converts as I could. It’s just when you meet
and see someone as special as John, you want everyone to see what you do, and
to experience that magic for themselves. It is certain that John has cemented
himself on my list of artists I am super proud of and proud to support and plan
to do so as much as I can. The sky is truly the limit for this guy, and I want
to be a part of that ride and watch it unfold. It’s so fun to watch people’s
dreams come true, but it’s even better when seeing theirs, inspire your own.
While this one performance blew me away,
I have a feeling I haven’t seen anything yet. Buckle your seat belts, y’all. Liftoff
in 3…2…1…
xox
Amber