Concert at the Konocti Harbor Resort & Spa
By Harold R. LaBonte and Valerie A. Woods
Kelsyville. My old dad used to say that if you had an important job that had to be done, give
it to a busy man. The job in this case was to entertain a crowd of country music fans. The men
for the job? Country musics top vocal group for 1997, Sawyer Brown.. Busy? You bet! These guys typically play 200 concerts a year. Five men with long term talent that has earned them a
half dozen music awards, record sales over 11 million and adoring fans nation wide. Their first
award we remember was their victory on the Star Search talent showcase television program made popular over 12 years ago. Taking the stage shortly after sunset, Sawyer Brown was greeted by over 1700 well warmed (musically speaking) fans. Warm indeed thanks to The Rangers and the country band Toby Keith. Both openers performed their most popular currant recodings as well as past favorites.
Lead singer/song writer Mark Miller instantly began his trademark rapport with his waiting audience. His first and second numbers, It's Hard To Say? And 'Round Here most certainly provided an emotional reminder of why we all live where we do. This is country music with a modern flavor. No cry in my beer sob stories here, but plenty, from the heart commentary of the way things really are. Energy? An abundance of it! One would be hard pressed to believe the schedule this band sets for themselves each and every year! Miller's smooth deep voice was in perfect condition for Sunday night's event. His connection with the audience feels genuine. His perpensity to tell amusing anecdotes of his teenage years provided a healthful sprinkling of comedic respite between numbers.
As the hits rolled on, the rest of the band joined in the creative banter that was never too far
removed from reality. Lead guitar player Duncan Cameron, an accomplished pilot away from the stage, pierced the cool night air with animated impressions of rockers gone by, jumping and running across the stage in a manner reminiscent of The Who from the 1970s. Miller, meanwhile,
gyrated and danced in a manner more familiar to a guy named Elvis, every move met with yells and screams from the female contingency. Keyboard player Gregg "Hobie" Hubbard added to
the blend of music and humor with his attempt to take control of "his band" half way through the
program. His coup was soon dispelled as Miller's voice easily over powered the other's. All in good fun seemed to be the mood as they quickly slid back to the heart of the performance, the music.
Lot's of music, sixteen numbers plus encores! And never forgetting their roots they effectively
thanked the audience with the tune "Thank God for You!" a rousing number that offered the crowd yet another opportunity to sing along. Also impressive was the people in attendance, young and old, western clothes or shorts, even a tie dyed group from Santa Cruz. A couple from Washington State told us that they had never heard of Clearlake but now looked forward to their next family vacation here. There is something about country music that hits a common chord in a wonderfully wide variety of people and Sawyer Brown has fine tuned it to a thoroughly entertaining art form. See it happen! They'll be back I'm sure.
Thank you Harold R. LaBonte for letting me post this review.