Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, March 15, 1992 TAG: 9203150005
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: E7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MARK MORRISON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Imagine:
Not long ago, he was a nobody, working odd jobs, fixing and selling old cars, and struggling as a country singer and songwriter.
Today, he is about the hottest thing in Nashville, as evidenced by his appearance Saturday night at the Salem Civic Center before an adoring audience of 6,130.
The procession of roses, teddy bears and other other gifts to the foot of stage was semi-ridiculous. Jackson literally received dozens and dozens of flowers.
Wearing his now-trademark white Stetson cowboy hat and Wrangler jeans, he was met with a near-worshipful greeting and launched right into one of his first hit records, "Chasin' That Neon Rainbow," a song, poignantly, about playing the honky-tonks and chasing your dreams.
Is that cool or what?
Energized perhaps by the reception, the Georgia-born singer - introduced as the Blond Bomb, a reference to his blond hair and heart-breaking good looks - didn't disappoint, as he ran through a string of songs destined to be modern country classics: "Home," "Someday," "I'd Love You All Over Again," "Dallas," "Here in the Real World" and "Don't Rock the Jukebox."
In between, he took time out to chat occasionally with the audience about some of the songs and the stories of heartache or past memories that inspired them.
Despite the recent fame and overwhelming adoration, the casual way Jackson talked to the audience was nice. His appreciation and thanks for all the support just dripped with aw-shucks sincerity. His performance was equally informal, loose and lively.
"Wanted," a ballad about forgiveness, and "Here in the Real World," about how real life doesn't always have a happy ending like in the movies, were highlights from the more somber material.
But the show-stoppers came in his up-tempo numbers, particularly "Don't Rock the Jukebox," which featured a three-story inflatable Wurlitzer jukebox, and "Better Class of Losers," a song Jackson co-wrote with Randy Travis.
It talks about the pitfalls of high-class living and going back to friends who "don't pay their bills on home computers" and "buy their coffee beans already ground." Amen, brother.
A nice touch was his encore homage to George Jones, doing the country music legend's "One Woman Man" and leaving the audience on its feet and begging for more.
It has to beat fixing cars.
High-energy newcomers Diamond Rio opened Saturday's show.
In a driving, 45-minute set the group particularly shined when harmonizing or lined-up center-stage trading solo riffs. A mid-set bluegrass break had guitarist Jimmy Olander switching to electric banjo and playing with mandolin player Gene Johnson. It showcased the group's talent as individual musicians.
As a band, few groups play as tightly. And vocally, the band complimented its musicianship superbly, with beautiful harmonies that soared through every song, from its hits, "Mama Don't Forget to Pray For Me," "Mirror, Mirror" and "Meet in the Middle," to the lesser-known "They Don't Make Hearts [Like They Used To]' and "This State of Mine."
by CNB