Andrews – Not to put too fine a spin on it, but round five of “Andrews Idol” was a slam dunk, pop quiz and tent revival all in one.
The first round of “Sweet 16” elimination saw eight contestants from rounds one through four return to The Blue Stage for heart-pounding, fist-pumping and foot-stomping renditions of classic country, pop and gospel music.
Much to the audience’s delight, contestants were asked on the fly before their second sets how they would spend the grand prize money if they won. Answers ranged from paying tuition for a youngest daughter to new tractor tires, back-to-school clothes and medical bills. Banking it, splitting it with a friend, further pursuing music and buying daddy a boat also made the intriguing and impromptu list.
From round 1, Charlie Beck and Rebecca Woodard came back with “in it to win it” attitudes.
Originally from Indiana but living in Peachtree, Beck began the night on the banjo with Fred Cockerham’s traditional mountain folk tune “Little Satchel.” His second set gave the audience an original song on guitar titled “So Am I,” which got the crowd’s attention and agreement in sentiment. In an exceptionally ambitious moment, Beck then broke tradition for his third set with a blistering banjo-based cover of Madonna’s “Borderline,” proving that sometimes you just have to keep on pushing.
Andrews’ own Rebecca Woodard dedicated her first tune of the night to her daughters, hoping that they would always dance and never lose faith, leading into her stirring cover of Lee Ann Womack’s “I Hope You Dance.” In her second set, Woodard gave an impassioned testimony of her recent struggles with Bell’s palsy and her fears it would impact her singing ability before launching into an astounding performance of Anne Wilson’s “My Jesus.”
Accompanied by round 2 “Andrews Idol” contestant and youth pastor Justin Daugherty, Woodard turned that moment into one of praise and worship, with the audience erupting into a righteous frenzy. That was a hard to follow act, but Woodard came back strong with her third song of the night, LeAnn Rimes’ “How Do I Live.”
“Idol’s” round 2 contestants included winners Allen Walker of Alto, Ga., Dylan Buchanan of Rosman and Hayesville’s Colton James.
Set one opener Buchanan began the night on an even and soulful keel with George Strait’s ode to the country singer’s song life “Troubadour.” That led to two raucous covers of Jason Aldean hits, including the crowd-favorite singalong “Girl Like You” and a seriously scorching version of “Burnin’ It Down.”
Wearing a Dolly Parton shirt, which many people immediately noticed and envied, Walker also conjured George Strait with his take on the poignant ballad “The Cowboy Rides Away.” Walker then plucked and strummed the crowd’s heartstrings with an emotional take on Robbinsville’s own Ronnie Milsap’s “Don’t You Ever Get Tired Of Hurting Me.” Walker finished the evening with a spirited execution of Vince Gill’s “Go Rest High On That Mountain,” dedicated to his father, which left the audience breathless with both sorrow and joy at the wonder of life and loss.
James generated an even more mournful posture with Zach Bryan’s melancholy “Godspeed,” then transitioned those woeful waves into a slightly upbeat version of Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues.” To finish the night, James kept the feelings forlorn with a particularly tender and touching version of Eric Church’s “Like A Wrecking Ball.”
The sole contestant from Idol’s round three, local songstress Betty Vaughn-Grindstaff blew the crowd away with her first choice of country queen Tanya Tucker’s “(Without You) What Do I Do With Me.” Grindstaff then channeled country legend Wanda Jackson with “Blue Yodel #6” and the packed house was happy to “yodel-ay-ee-oooo” the night away. Closing her set with the much-beloved Parton’s “Jolene,” Grindstaff paid homage to and forged her own place among the patron sainted ladies of country music.
Kevin McCall of Franklin and Randall Griggs of Bryson City were two of last week’s round 4 winners.
McCall made tearful Merle Haggard magic again with his “Today I Started Loving You Again.” His second song kept it classic country with Mickey Gilley’s “Urban Cowboy” soundtrack cover version of Ben E. King’s “Stand By Me.” Again, that Alabama band was a lucky charm for McCall as he sang “Mountain Music,” and the throng went to toe-tapping and enjoyed another Saturday Appalachian hoedown.
Randall Griggs brought back that rousing feeling from last week with both his version of Jamey Johnson’s Depression-era tribute, “In Color,” and Cody Johnson’s referential “Monday Morning Merle.” His final song was the show-stopping Zach Bryan hymn-esque “Revival,” which left the audience eagerly expecting cold bottles and blameless revelations for the churched.
The next elimination rounds for the remaining contestants take place each Saturday through August. The “final four” round and winner announcement is scheduled to take place on Sept. 9.
The winner of “Andrews Idol” season one receives a $1,000 prize along with a full-day recording session at Emanant Music in Atlanta. Each contestant placing from second to fourth also receives monetary prizes. The winners of round five are James, McCall, Walker and Woodard.
Details: thebluestage.com.