Gary Allan's Fans Meet His New Guitars
"When you get a new guitar, it's like dancing with someone else's wife," Gary Allan said in the middle of his 90-minute show last night (Oct. 14) at Chicago's House of Blues. As he introduced his new guitar to the sold-out crowd of about 1,500 people, he went on to explain how he got it (drove two hours to meet some guy in a Shoney's parking lot) and why (his guitars were crushed when a tornado struck at a show in Canada this summer).
So the fans got to meet his Gibson 1948 J-200, along with a handful of other guitars, over the course of his 20-song set. He opened with a new tune, "Get Off on the Pain," but managed to mix things up with so many of the songs that showcase the gravel in his voice and his rock-heavy sound. (That said, the cry of the steel guitar was the biggest star of the show. Even Allan took the time to sit down and listen to CJ Udeen play at the end of "Learning How to Bend." It was that good.)
Most of Allan's big hits were there, like "Nothing On But the Radio," the piano-laced "Life Ain't Always Beautiful," "Watching Airplanes," "Smoke Rings in the Dark" and "Best I Ever Had." But the standout for me was when the band took a break and he did his soulful "Right Where I Need to Be" with just his acoustic guitar. He closed the show after catching a bottle of Johnnie Walker Black Label tossed onstage from someone in the crowd and sang what he called his favorite whiskey-drinkin' song, "Drinkin' Dark Whiskey."
The tour continues Friday night (Oct. 16) in Houston and runs through New Year's Eve with a show at the House of Blues in Las Vegas.
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Maureen says:
I was at this show and it was fantastic! How he caught that bottle of JWB tossed to him with one hand and never took the other off his guiter was itself amazing. Let’s face it, Gary Allan is just plain cool! Great to listen to and really fun to watch!!
Karen says:
I Loved the show! Not knowing much about his music prior to going, I am now a huge fan. Gary Allen kept me completely entertained the entire time. It was amazing that the band pieced the instruments together at the last minute and sounded as great as they did. Gary Allan is hot and I definitely would go and see him again.
Help from LeAnn Rimes says:
August 5, 2009
On Sunday evening, a stage holding all of Gary Allan’s instruments and equipment collapsed, destroying everything. A tornado touched down at the show he was playing in Canada.
The country singer put out requests for help and was answered by LeAnn Rimes, who sent up a semitrailer full of equipment, Rascal Flatts, who sent a drum kit, and many others that stocked the grandstand at the Mississippi Valley Fair with everything Allan needed to put on a show.
Gary Allan » Blog Archive » GARY ALLAN’S FANS MEET HIS NEW GUITARS says:
[...] By: Alison Bonaguro “When you get a new guitar, it’s like dancing with someone else’s wife,” Gary Allan said in the middle of his 90-minute show last night (Oct. 13) at Chicago’s House of Blues. As he introduced his new guitar to the sold-out crowd of about 1500 people, he went on to explain how he got it (drove two hours to meet some guy in a Shoney’s parking lot) and why (his guitars were crushed when a tornado struck at a show in Canada this summer). [...]