Andrews – After a five-month hiatus, The Blue Stage returned to the local music scene with two rousing Andrews Idol Reunion weekend shows.
Weekend one on June 8 saw a new emcee for the season, with Judd Cresman taking the stage for introductions.
A mix of the two previous seasons the evening saw second-season finalist Gage Hill take the stage along with finalists Andrew
Cody, better known as the Mississippi Hippie, and Kevin McCall, known for his renditions of Alabama classics.
The three performed as both a duet, with Hill and Cody performing a Tyler Childers cover; then twice as a trio known as The Stupid Cowboys, when they power-housed the Journey ballad “Faithfully” along with “She Don’t Know She’s Beautiful.”
Hill’s solo song served to remind the audience about his prowess as he performed an Eric Church favorite. McCall chose his staple “Mountain Music” to close with a guaranteed Alabama toe-tapper.
Also gracing the stage was Emily Franklin with her signature cover of Dolly Parton’s “Jolene.” Franklin went on to sing an original tune, “One Day at a Time,” then finished with her brutally heart-wrenching rendition of Little Big Town’s “Girl Crush.”
Back again was Allen Walker, who crooned smooth 1990s country favorites including “Brand New Man,” “If You Ever Change Your Mind” and “Neon Moon.”
Kenneth Lyons returned to a star-turning performance of “Let’s Stay Together,” solidifying his place as the soul singer from season two. He then slid in smooth as “Tennessee Whiskey” to the delight of the crowd.
Renee Pellom returned, and reminded everyone of her talented soprano and operatic ranges with her best selection of Train’s “Drops of Jupiter.” That took the audience to the stratosphere before reining everyone back in with a poignant version of Harry Styles’ “Falling.”
Nathan Melton also came back with new material, including a fine take on “Hurricane” from Band of Heathens. Melton, who took second place in season one, has been playing gigs on the regional circuit, with shows in both Andrews and his native South Carolina.
The second weekend’s show held on June 15 also served as a reunion for season one winner Colton James, hot off playing several gigs in Murphy and northern Georgia. James opted for an opening cover of “Old Men North of Richmond,” only to wind up the evening with a standing ovation of sorts with “Grundy County Auction.”
Other former contestants included Momma T, who brought her sultry blues sound back to the stage with soul-stirring covers of Jelly Roll’s “Save Me” and Stevie Ray Vaughan’s “The Sky is Crying.” And among the other female reunion contingent were Christy Jordan and Rebecca Woodard, who each showed off their vocal ranges.
Jordan conjured both Stevie Nicks’ Fleetwood Mac classic “Landslide” along with Nina Simone’s “Feeling Good,” much to the delight of the roaring crowd. Woodard, touching on both the sacred and the scared, did justice to that woman’s anthem “Independence Day,” as well as a trio with her two young daughters with a mind-blowing version of Carrie Underwood’s “Blown Away.”
Duets were the theme of the evening, as Randall Griggs again performed with friend Sam Stewart and Andrew Cody, who accompanied Gage Hill in season one and was joined by Hill on his own week of performing.
Griggs and Stewart held close to their Bryson City roots by performing “Fontana Dam,” closing with Tim McGraw’s “Humble and Kind.” Cody and Hill brought the “Simple Man” theme with their cover of the Lynyrd Skynyrd classic, as well as Cody’s signature solo version of another Southern classic with The Marshall Tucker Band’s “Can’t You See” to close the evening.
Rounding out the rest of the performers were season two winner Austin Zachary, again accompanied by Tanner Davis, for the crowd pleasing singalongs “Keep Your Hands to Yourself” by the Georgia Satellites and Tom Petty’s “Southern Accents.”
The reunion shows served as a warm-up to the venue’s June and July concert series, which saw Saturdays showcasing acts gaining national traction, including Texas guitar wunderkind Jack Barksdale, local band Brother, bluegrass singer and recent Grand Ole Opry performer Amanda Cook, and Americana sensation Sunny Sweeney.
Owner David Howell said The Blue Stage is excited for the rest of their upcoming events, including comedy performances as well as open mic nights featuring local artists. And the third season of Andrews Idol started Saturday night and continues this month.
Details: Visit thebluestage.com.