May 27, 2025

Saturday Night Concert...

 
 
Saturday night was a night to remember. We scored tickets to the Vince Gill concert in Milwaukee at the Riverside Theater. First, the theater is a wonderful, intimate venue and second, we were seeing someone we hadn't seen in over forty years.

When Handsome and I were first dating in the early 1980s, he took me to a county fairgrounds north of home. There, we watched a young band perform while standing on a hay wagon as their stage. We were able to stand within twenty feet of the band (it certainly wasn't a packed venue), and we spent a memorable sunny afternoon listening to great music.

That band was Pure Prairie League, and the lead singer was a 23 (or so) year old named Vince Gill. He was already a great writer and performer, and had a voice like an angel. I remember going home and listening to a cassette tape of their music until the tape wore out.
 

 
A week ago, Handsome told me that Vince would be performing in Milwaukee this last weekend. Did I want to go? Heck, yeah! He got tickets, and we drove to The Riverside for a night of beautiful music and rekindled memories.

I will say we weren't the only ones. As we sat in row W from the front (by the alphabet, that's twenty three rows from the stage), I scanned the audience. There were a lot of white and grey-haired heads bobbing up and down to the music - just like we were.
 

Handsome and I have had a few "our" songs through the years. The Long and Winding Road was the processional for our wedding. Mel Torme's What Are You Doing The Rest of Your Life is another. Then, there's always Anne Murray's Can I Have This Dance

Saturday night, Handsome and I looked at each other as we listened to another song. One we hadn't heard before. Sunday morning, I asked him if he remembered the title of "that one song", and sure enough, he did. It struck us both the same way, and our newest "our" song is "Look At Us". 

I brought it up on my iPad, and we ran the music through our little Bose speaker for better sound. We both stood looking at each other with tears in our eyes. If you know us, you know it's a perfect song for the two of us - even after forty four years together, married forty one of them. If you're interested, you can Google Vince Gill "Look At Us", or pull it up on iTunes to listen to it. You may even find it's a perfect song for you and your sweetheart, too!

Our musical taste runs from jazz to pop to country - and a lot in between. The only requirement is that it be "good music". Vince's concert was filled with just that. You know it's good when the band is having a great time, right along with the audience.

He told great stories (mentioning more than once that he's sixty eight years old now), has a wonderful sense of humor, and writes the best music. It was like seeing an old friend again, except that he has no idea who we are. All I know for sure is that he's a part of Handsome's and my story, and it's a concert we'll never forget. 

10 comments:

  1. Sounds like a fun time.
    He's a great singer.
    Glad you enjoyed it.
    Marilyn

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    1. Hi Marilyn:
      It really was! We're still talking about it. Thanks, dear.
      xoxo
      Donna

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  2. I smiled ear to ear as I read this post...after so many weeks of long work hours, what a lovely way to enjoy time off!! It must have been a very special evening together. So glad you two could go and enjoy it! It doesn't matter how gray the hair...music always takes us back... listening to "golden oldies" and reminiscing and making new memories takes us right back to being those young sweethearts once again . Pitter-pat goes the heart. 😊

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    1. Hi Lois:
      I'm so glad you smiled, too. I did as I wrote it. It was just what this weary soul needed, my friend. We really were an entire audience of folks who returned to their younger days to reminisce and enjoy our new memories. You hit the nail on the head! I'm sure you would have loved it, too. Thank you so much.
      xoxo
      Donna

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  3. How romantic! Vince Gill has one of the purest voices and he's always been a favourite for us too. I didn't realize he was still touring. 'Look At Us' is a beautiful song. 'Our' song is 'Wind Beneath My Wings' (Bette Midler).

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    1. Hi MA:
      When he hits the high notes, it's almost ethereal. Reminded us of Roy Orbison. He only just started touring with his group again recently, as he joined the Eagles after Glenn Frye died. He toured with them for the past two years or so. I would have loved to see Vince in concert with them. Our friends, Mike and Joann flew to see an Eagles concert in California. We asked how they sounded with Vince, and he said they were actually better! We should have made that concert a four-some. I love your "our" song, too!
      xoxo
      Donna

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  4. Sherryofcreateology: This is such a memorable experience for you and Handsome. I love music and to be in the audience listening to Vince Gill would be so wonderful. I am so happy for you to have had this date night with Handsome making memories.

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    1. Hi Sherry:
      I'm so glad we went. It was just what we needed, and Vince didn't disappoint. The entire show was so incredible. Thank you, dear. You're right. New memories to layer with all the old ones.
      xoxo
      Donna

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  5. Such a wonderful, memorable night.
    I love country music, the real country music from back in the day.
    Great pic of the two of you.
    Shirley

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    1. Hi Shirley:
      It sure was, my friend. When I was a kid, my dad's parents owned a bar. You know, the kind where all the older folks grabbed a beer before heading home for dinner. Grandma and Grandpa always had the "real" country music on the jukebox, and I grew up listening to Hank Williams, Buck Owens, Roy Clark, Loretta Lynn and the rest. Vince is a dyed-in-the-wool country singer, in the fashion of all the old greats, but some of his music from Pure Prairie League days leans more into the pop genre. We loved that just as much. Like I said, we love it all as long as it's good, and he's one of the greats. I wish you could have joined us. I think you would have had a great time, too. Thanks, dear.
      xoxo
      Donna

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Blessings, Donna