Review: Shenandoah concert leaves audience with a smile

by Della Batts
The Daily Herald Staff Writer
Published/Last Modified on Tuesday, October 27, 2009 4:24 PM EDT

ROANOKE RAPIDS —  The Roanoke Rapids Theatre hosted an incredible concert Saturday. From start to finish, it was pure entertainment and a great way to spend an evening.

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The band Shenandoah came to town to celebrate its 20th anniversary of their first record deal.

They were in rare form and when you add in the talent of up and coming star Billy Ryan and Thunder Creek the concert was great. Unfortunately most of the Roanoke Valley missed out on all the fun. There were many empty seats.

Thunder Creek started things off with a bang. Great bluegrass sounds sparkled with good clean humor and loads of fun.

Just back from a European tour, Billy Ryan was incredible. Words like haunting, eclectic, powerful all come to mind while listening to his music. Song writer, creator and singer of his own music, Ryan provided a new and honest perspective on life and living one doesn’t usually see in a person with only 26 years of experience.  “When Daddy Drinks,” was probably one of the most soulfully sad, and real  ballads this writer has ever heard. The future looks good for this kid.

Already living the dream, Shenandoah gave a high voltage, keep you on the edge of the seat and breathless performance. “Church On Cumberland Road,” “Two Dozen Roses,” “I Want To Be Loved Like That,” and “If Bubba Can Dance (I Can Too),”  the band offered no recovery time what-so-ever. They moved from hit, to hit to hit delighting the audience with their antics and style. There’s not enough good you can say about a band of this quality. It was an adventure you needed to experience to believe.

Add in the fact that the Roanoke Rapids Theatre is still “state of the art” by everyone’s standards, and you had an evening that was as visually pleasing as it was music to your ears.

There’s no doubt however when you experience an evening with this level of entertainment, you definitely come away with a smile.

Copyright © 2010 Roanoke Daily Herald

Comments

    starrider wrote on Nov 4, 2009 9:12 PM:

    " i agree with the ticket prise. are to high.. Most people here in Roanoke Rapids, anymore are doing all they can to get by. just to keep the lights.. Forget.. keeping the wolf from the dinner. , he's sitten at the Supper table with us.. No really. Here is Joe the Plummber and Everyone else . working and paying taxes on something that most of can't even go to enjoy. but it sure is pretty to drive by "

    fan of music wrote on Nov 3, 2009 3:51 PM:

    " Reba would most definently be a show i would attend! Maybe the Roanoke Rapids Theatre will look into future acts for our money pit. "

    Kimberly wrote on Nov 3, 2009 9:30 AM:

    " Unfortunately, myself and the majority of my immediate neighbors will never see the inside of the theater we are paying through the nose for. The ticket prices are too high for a vast majority of the people who live in this town to afford; hence, the empty seats. I can no longer afford to make frivilous purchases of any kind. If it's not about keeping the lights on, the bills paid and food on the table, it doesn't get done for the most part. My house payment has risen by 80 dollars a month in 12 years because my tax rate between the city and the county has been jacked up so high. Want me to go to a concert? cut my tax rate so I have that 80 a month back in my own pocket to spend at will on nonessential items. "

    tabitha wrote on Oct 27, 2009 10:30 PM:

    " I went to the concert and enjoyed myself. I'm not a fan of bluegrass but they were good. Me my friend and my daughter and her daughter went. The kids were ready to go until Billy Ryan came out and then they were excited. He was awesome and shenandoah was as always. All of the artist were very kind and interacted with the fans. I like that! I actually talked with Billy and he is very down to earth. This set good standards for the theater in my opinion and I plan to go back! They need to get Reba if they want a sold out show! "

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