| Lee Brice and friends returning to perform hits at Capitol Theatre | | Posted: Wednesday, January 2, 2013 9:03 pm
| By GLENDA CAUDLE
Special Features Editor
He may not arrive by truck, but singer-songwriter Lee Brice will be pulling in to Union City in plenty of time for the annual Boys & Girls Club Songwriters’ Night at 7 p.m. Jan. 21 at the Capitol Theatre in downtown Union City.
Brice, whose current single, “I Drive Your Truck,” is the fastest rising of his phenomenal career, will share the stage with country music writers and performers — and good friends — Rob Hatch and Lance Miller.
The trio, who also happen to be buddies with Portis Tanner of Union City, appeared in a similar setting a year ago to help support the local club. Tanner is the current chief volunteer officer of the organization, which has been providing a safe, secure and encouraging place for children and teens to spend their after-school and summer hours since 2004.
Brice can claim ownership of Billboard’s Top Country Song of 2010, “Love Like Crazy,” which enjoyed the longest run in Billboard’s history.
Since his local appearance, he has released a second rock-solid album, “Hard 2 Love,” which features two No. 1 singles, “A Woman Like You” and “Hard to Love.”
“I Drive Your Truck” rode in on a wave of popularity proven time and time again at Brice’s concerts and in industry and fan recognition of his talent and hard work.
Immersed in music since he was 7 years old and picking out familiar melodies, interspersed with his own compositions, on his Aunt Henrietta’s piano, Brice was strongly influenced by the story-driven songs of Garth Brooks in his teen years. While recuperating from surgery on his arm, he decided to shift goal gears from civil engineering courses at Clemson University to the on-the-road-again promises offered in Tennessee’s Music City.
His first year in Nashville, he co-wrote 150 songs and was soon touring with Willie Nelson, Jamey Johnson and Luke Bryan. He even got to co-write for Brooks, in addition to such country superstars as Eli Young Band, Tim McGraw, Jason Aldean, Blake Shelton and Kenny Chesney.
And he proved himself on the concert stage and in recording studios.
He will be playing his music and talking about the stories behind his songs with Hatch and Miller at the upcoming local event. The group showed themselves not only talented but affable and eager to interact with fans when they came to town last January.
This time around should be no exception, according to Tanner, who said he’s excited about having the multi-talented musicians return to Obion County.
“These are three of the most exciting musicians and songwriters in Nashville,” he said, noting the many tunes they have put on the music charts. “And they put on a great show when they’re together. They feed off each other and the audience really benefits from that by hearing the stories behind the songs.”
Hatch recently scored his first No. 1 hit with Justin Moore’s version of “If Heaven Wasn’t So Far Away.” Artists such as Gretchen Wilson, Jake Owens, Terri Clark, George Jones and Rhett Akins have recorded his music and Johnson’s multi-nominated gold album, “That Lonesome Song,” featured several of his efforts, including “The Last Cowboy Song.”
Miller, who co-wrote Jerrod Niemann’s hit, “Shinin’ on Me,” with Brice and Hatch, can also point with pride to a newly penned Thomas Rhett single, “Beer With Jesus.”
A finalist on the first season of Nashville Star, he has appeared as an opening act for McGraw and Faith Hill on their “Soul2Soul” tours and has also picked up fans of his performing style when he has appeared with Jones, Niemann and Johnson.
“Usually you have to go to Nashville to catch a show of this caliber,” Tanner said, adding that Brice, Hatch and Miller enjoy performing for the local crowd and for such a worthy cause.
“They loved playing here last year. They had a great time meeting the people and seeing the funds raised go to the Boys & Girls Club.”
Tanner said he would like to have been able to give more notice to the public about the upcoming performance, but the artists’ schedules dictated the date.
“As these guys continue to have success, there is more and more demand on their time,” said Tanner, noting that Brice is scheduled to be performing on country superstar Brad Paisley’s 2013 concert tour. “Even with the short notice, though, we’re hoping the community will come out and support Songwriters’ Night and the Boys & Girls Club again this year.”
Admission to the Capitol Theatre event is $30, but area fans who want to spend time with the songwriters and performers before the “main show” are invited to a VIP “Meet and Greet” reception at Commercial Bank downtown at 5:30 p.m. Those attending will be provided with a wristband that must be presented for admission and seats in the first few rows of the “staged” event at the theater. They will also receive a commemorative poster.
VIP tickets are $125 offered on a first-come, first-served basis.
All tickets are on sale at Lanzer’s Printing and Office Supply in downtown Union City and may also be obtained by calling 885-0651.
Published in The Messenger 1.2.13 | | | | |
