The Magic Number

Someone asked me this past week, “How many Bill Gentry concerts are you going to??? Have you turned into a groupie?” I can tell you that I don’t know what that number will be… but I know what that number will NOT be. 4. The magical answer is unequivocally, resoundingly, emphatically NOT 4. It may be 44 or 444 but it is definitely not just tiny little old 4.

Last night was my fourth Bill Gentry show and I walked out of the venue as excited about him as ever, maybe even more so. He was as genuinely friendly, humble, and fantastic as the night in February when I met him the first time. We like his attitude, his demeanor, his music, and the friendships we’ve formed because of him so much that before the show even started last night, we were making plans for a June road trip to see Bill and the band again. You may call that being a groupie; we call it being fans (and maybe on some level, friends) with a great group of guys who work hard at playing hard. We know enough to know that if you find a good thing and a great group of friends to share it with, you hold onto it. Bill & BMF, in case you didn’t know by now, we’ve got you by both hands!

In true BG style, last night’s concert was a foot-stompin, fist-bumpin, butt-kickin’ good time. Bill Gentry literally lives the lyric from one of his signature tunes, I Want What You Want, happily giving it to you “if you want your country revved up with wild guitar licks”. Jaime and I are debating if it’s “wild guitar licks” or “loud guitar licks” but we’ve decided it really doesn’t matter; we love the song either way.



A little country...



A little rock & roll!

As much as I love the music, I also love that there always seem to be some funny fluke things happening at Bill’s concerts. Never a dull moment, it seems that wardrobe malfunctions are becoming a requisite part of the good time. In Lynchburg, Bill split his pants (not that we were complaining). In Charlotte, Chris lost his shirt (again, no complaints here). In Raleigh, Steve forgot his boots (complaints mysteriously absent there too). I wonder what will happen in Winston tonight… I wonder more why I’m working tonight instead of going to the show. Oh yeah, house payment, that would be why.

No shoes? No problem.

It's also been discussed and determined by our group that Bill Gentry must have the sexiest knees on the planet. Strange, I know, but it seems like everywhere we go, there’s at least one woman who wants to grab the poor man’s kneecaps. Although we maneuver into front row spots for lots of reasons, Jaime likes to say we're there to give Bill a “safety bubble”, a little space on the stage in front of a little section of fans he knows won’t grope his knees (or any other part of him). We hoot and holler, we scream and sing at the top of our lungs like we’re the next American Idols; we hug and we fist-bump; we love & adore, but grope? Nope.

Although I’m very disappointed I couldn’t be in Winston with the Gentry Nation tonight, I already have at least two more concerts in permanent ink on my calendar and I am anxiously awaiting news for the album’s release date. I hope Bill’s planning to include tiny little fire extinguishers with the CD because “Wild Bill’s gonna burn it down, nice and slow” (Wild Bill’s Rock & Roll Revival) and when he does, you’re going to want to be around for the fireworks.

If you’ve not taken my hints yet, let me just make it crystal clear. It’s BEYOND time for you to consider becoming a member of the Gentry Nation. I believe the Gentry Nation can be summed up quite well by this billboard slogan I saw not too long ago: “There ain’t no place like this place anywhere near this place so this must be THE place!” In the Gentry Nation, you can come as you are and stay as long as you’d like. The music’s loud and the lyrics are easy. The beer is ice cold, the women are red hot, and there’s always someone to take you home.

See you at the next show!