As my friends and I sit to watch the sun setting, we watch the crowd build. The sea of bag chairs grow with every hour. Everyone is excited to see Willie Nelson. The smell of chicken on a stick fills the air with a wonderful aroma.
An hour later, the crowd acts like they are not interested in listening to Willie Nelson. Willie seemed to rush through his songs and not interested in being in Chattanooga. There was a mass exit during his show. People started packing up their chairs and leaving.
Three Dog Night performed for the older crowd with great success. They went through their many songs such as "One" and the most famous one "Joy to the World." The Chattanooga Symphony was wonderful as well. They kept up with the band with great precision.
Faith and Family night was filled with excitement to see gospel artist Steven Curtis-Chapman. He had been in Chattanooga earlier this year. He toured with Michael W. Smith.
Steven Curtis-Chapman performed his songs. It seemed that he could not grasp the crowd's full attention. People seemed restless. The crowd began to leave in droves. The show was half over. I could not believe that people were walking out on Steven Curtis-Chapman.
If anyone has ever seen a Chapman concert they know that he talks a lot. Just recently his family and he experienced a death of a small child. His daughter was killed. I admit that I was losing interest when they began to talk about adopting out of the country. I feel that the children of this country need help as well. Who is going to speak up for them? A lot of orphan children in this country do not get as much attention. Why is that? I am sorry but that is a subject that I cannot understand.
Even though the acts have been a little "iffy," the nights of sitting on the riverbank has been wonderful. We have a beautiful city. Riverbend is a great way to get people down to the river.
Laura Crane
Red Bank
ToBSketching@aol.com
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I would assume that Laura did not go Saturday night? Train pulled off one of the best shows Riverbend could have. It has been a disappointing Riverbend this year with several acts not playing to what I hoped was their potential, but several acts have also blown me away, such as Davy Knowles and Back Door Slam, Train, and the B-52's. All I have to say about the "mystery" guest Thursday night after the B-52's was that I left when they started playing. Now before closing night gets here let me make a plea for next year - please bring better talent for opening and closing night and not two old men like Willie and Richard (who should be on the Bud Light stage at best). Thanks Chattanooga for a great 29 years of Riverbend.
Russ Wise mojo_wise@yahoo.com