Alabama performs at Thunder Valley Casino
Rachel Steele and Scott Prentice of Road 88
LINCOLN, CA – The legendary country music band Alabama made its way to Thunder Valley Casino Resort on Saturday with special guest, Sacramento’s own, Rachel Steele and her band Road 88.
It was an evening of southern rock infused with a bit of bluegrass, sprinkled with a whole lotta of country as the award winning Alabama reminded fans why they have reigned over country music since the 80s.
Rachel Steele and Road 88 kicked off the concert in fine fashion with a cover of Miranda Lambert’s “Gun Powder & Lead” as temperatures hovered in the mid 90’s. Steele sang a number of original songs including “Drive a Little Faster,” “Nashville” and, my favorite, “The Shot Song.”
Randy Owen of Alabama
Steele was in complete command of the stage and the audience with her band Road 88, consisting of Scott Prentice (guitar/vocals), Charlie McGimsey (drums), Vinnie Panteleoni (bass), Bob Kinney (guitar), Gordon Graft (keys) and Sherry Eidhammer (backup vocals).
Kaitlyn and Sue with Randy Owen of Alabama
Alabama has been together as a group for over 40 years and in 2004 the group decided to part ways and played their “final” concert in Bismark, North Dakota. In 2013 the band reformed for their 40th anniversary and set out on their Back to the Bowery tour, in reference to the Myrtle Beach club where they got their start.
During the bands time apart, Owen stayed active as a solo act and also successfully battled prostate cancer. Cook was performing with his Allstar Goodtime Band, while Gentry was producer for his band Rockit City.
When Alabama took the stage everyone in the packed outdoor amphitheater was on their feet cheering as original band members Randy Owen (lead vocals/guitar), Jeff Cook (lead guitar,violin) and Teddy Gentry (bass), kicked off their 90+ minute set with “If You’re Going to Play in Texas,” with the audience singing along.
Jeff Cook of Alabama
They continued on with “Tennessee River,” followed by “Dixieland Delight.” The mostly older crowd remained seated for the majority of their performance, with small clusters of fans standing. During some of their songs people would dash to the aisles to dance to their favorite song.
Teddy Gentry of Alabama
Two audience members were singled out by Owen when he invited them up onstage so he could sing them “Happy Birthday.” Sue and Kaitlyn made their way to the stage and after Owen finished singing “Happy Brithday,” he asked them if that was good enough. By the looks on their faces it was plenty good enough.
For their encore they performed “Mountain Music,” at which point the crowd exploded to their feet to sing and dance along.
The post Songs of the South at Thunder Valley appeared first on Celebrity Examiner.
