I saw Nashville In Concert and it proved we all can have A Life That's Good
“Even though we don’t have new episodes coming out, there are still a lot of stories to be told”, Nashville’s Jonathan Jackson tells the crowd after a stonking foot-tapping second set opener of Borrow My Heart with fellow cast members Clare Bowen and Sam Palladio.
His reminder that the hit TV series came to a close in series 6 - much to the disappointment of fans - is met with boos!
But they’ll be the only boos the cast will hear during their impressive 2hr 35min set of show classics and solo material during the second night of the London stop on their Reunion Tour.
It has been five years since the bittersweet series 6 finale which saw Queen of Country Rayna Jaymes come back from beyond the grave to save the day, before, who can forget, that incredible performance of A Life That’s Good from the entire cast and crew at the ‘Mother Church of Country Music’ - the Ryman Auditorium.
Well tonight, the Hammersmith Apollo became that Mother Church with almost 4,000 fans being taken on a trip down memory lane.
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Despite a few of the key cast members missing, Charles Esten, Clare Bowen, Jonathan Jackson and Sam Palladio put on a performance that Queen Rayna would be mighty proud of.
Charles Esten, Clare Bowen and Sam Palladio put on a performance that Queen Rayna would be mighty proud of (Stewart Fullerton: Glasgowmusic.co.uk)And despite being 4,000 miles away from the famous Bluebird Cafe, there are times during the show when it feels like we’ve been transported all the way back to the intimate venue.
None more so than when Charles - who played Deacon - performs Back Home and a beautiful acoustic version of his new single Somewhere In The Sunshine.
The song is about loss in his life and how those who have passed are ‘singing to us and healing us’.
You can hear a pin drop as the crowd is totally silent, listening to every word…’no more pain, finally free I'm right where I'm meant to be. No, I ain't there beneath that Georgia pine, I’m somewhere in the sunshine.”
Speaking about the background to the song on his YouTube channel Charles said: “The ending is so important to me…’close your eyes, lift your head, feel the sun on your face. Somewhere in the sunshine’.
He adds: “Then you’re both in the sunshine in that moment. I just want people to hear it and see if it blesses them.”
And that it did with Charles thanking the audience for recreating the Bluebird atmosphere.
Charles Esten leads the crowd in song during the Nashville tour (Stewart Fullerton: Glasgowmusic.co.uk)The show opened with a nice nod to the show’s pilot episode from 2012 with Charles, Sam, Clare and Jonathan belting out Even If It Breaks Your Heart - the song that played as the opening title credits rolled across the rooftops of Nashville.
The cast then take it in turns to grace the stage with solo material and come together for relevant character duets.
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Jonathan Jackson’s haunting Hymns of Divine Eros, while night and day from the rest of the show’s numbers, was worthy of a slot just for the blues guitar solo which had perfect pauses to accentuate the mood of the song.
But it was Jackson’s incredible cover of The Righteous Brothers’ Unchained Melody which was quite possibly the best performance of the night and received the first of many well-deserved standing ovations.
A song that only the best should attempt. However, Jackson’s soft soulfulness and complete vocal control climaxing in a breathtaking falsetto to reach the high notes brought the house down.
Jonathan Jackson performed an incredible cover of Unchained Melody (Stewart Fullerton: Glasgowmusic.co.uk)The gravitas of what we’ve all just witnessed is plain to see to co-star and Kent-born Sam Palladio who has the unfortunate task of returning to the stage next.
“How am I supposed to follow that?”, he jokes.
“I’m just going to go back on the tour bus and have a nap.”
But Sam need not worry as he’s already wowed fans with songs Meanwhile In London and Tennessee while reminiscing about giving it his ‘best shot’ while auditioning for a ‘little gig on a TV show called Nashville’.
It’s like Gunnar and Scarlett have never been apart as Sam is joined on stage by Clare to recreate their characters’ love story through Fade Into You, All Of Me and When The Right One Comes Along.
Throughout the night it’s clear the cast are genuinely amazed and so grateful that after five years of the show ending they still are able to go out and do what they love the most - perform!
Sam tells the audience: “We’re going to give you a show tonight, we promise you that.
“After all these years you’re still here, so thank you.”
Kent-born Sam Palladio thanked fans for welcoming him home (Stewart Fullerton: Glasgowmusic.co.uk)Nobody is more excited than Clare Bowen who tells us: “If I just go off in sparkles it’s because of you.”
As well as being with her Nashville family on tour Clare’s also joined by her husband Brendan Young.
Their love for each other is infectious and evident as Bowen Young can’t take their eyes off one another throughout their songs which include the fantastic Water To Wine.
Charles then rejoins Clare on stage to perform Hand To Hold from the show.
The pair clock up plenty of steps as they go out into the audience shaking hands with their fans during the song leaving Charles to proclaim ‘I’m tired! Deacon’s getting old!”
Everyone has their favourite song from the series but when Clare asks fans what they want next there’s only one answer - the haunting Black Roses from Season 2.
Who can forgot the look of excitement on Scarlett’s mum’s face when she’s told ‘this one’s for you mama’ before it turns to horror and then shame when she listens to the cutting lyrics.
Charles Esten and Clare Bowen belt out another hit from the Nashville TV show (Stewart Fullerton: Glasgowmusic.co.uk)Charles’ rousing Down The Road sees all the cast back on stage together again and is followed by an encore mash-up of Telescope, That’s Alright Mama and the aptly With A Little Help From My Friends.
Then it’s sadly time for the country sermon to close but before we all go we’re given the Nashville blessing.
“We’ve got one more for you”, says Clare as the familiar opening to A Life That’s Good is picked on a guitar.
“We couldn’t leave without doing it because it’s so much more than a song. It’s a prayer. It’s a happy thought. It’s a good wish and most of all it’s for you.”
And with that the 4,000 strong congregation burst into song for one final time to prove that life really is good.
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