Golden Nugget Casino 2005
Topic: 2005 Reviews
By Jessie Mann

After The flight from hell, I was concerned...But, we never got lost at any time we were in Vegas, we still have a house to come home to, so we didn't lose EVERYthing in Sin City, so all is well.

Now for the positives....A beautiful legendary hotel that treats their customers like royalty, complimentary valet, fast room service, a sports bar that shows ALL NFL games, seeing old friends and meeting new friends and 3 Patty Loveless shows in a 400 person theatre, in 3 nights, in the same seats (front row center, seats 1,2 and 3)!!!

The first night of the show, Mike and I went to the bottom of the escalator to meet up with Bonnie, a long time visitor to PLMS from Canada. Bonnie has been coming to our site for a long time, but Friday night was the first time we had met. She is a gem and another one of those people that "get it". Another one of those people that wonder why in the hell Patty Loveless isn't revered and bowed down to where ever she goes. Another one of those people that get incredibly ticked off when a couple of rodeo drunks decide to talk (in NORMAL voices) when Dreamin My Dreams is performed.....

Soon after we met our newest family member, one of our original family members showed up...Jackie. Jackie is the reason Mike and I went to Vegas...She shamed us into going, by telling us that even if you don't have the money to do this kind of trip, this kind of trip is one that you go out and rob a bank for.....Soooo, disguised as Pamela Anderson and Michael Moore we managed to talk my credit union into just enough to make it to and from Vegas....

At the top of 2 escalators is the theatre. It was there that we met up with another family member, MikeD. He had flown in from Connecticut and was there for all of the shows, just like us. This was the first time that Mike and I really had a chance to get to know MikeD. We have met him at several other shows, but it was always at big Patty Head gatherings, so, we really hadn't had the chance to talk to him much. I will say this about MikeD....Anyone that flies all the way by himself from Connecticut to see our girl, is all right by me!! You go MikeD!!!

The first show was probably the only show that wasn't completely sold out. But, Patty and her band were in fine form. The sound system was bothersome for Patty and us..I don't know if it is because we were so close that the majority of what we heard was band and not Patty, or that there was a problem with the sound system. I do know that she was constantly looking back at the sound guy wanting him to adjust something. It was a "decent" crowd, not overly rowdy, but not asleep either. It did have it's share of geriatrics that were wondering who they were seeing and hearing, but it was, like I said, a decent crowd.

The last show had a full house, but these people were barely breathing. It was definitely one of those times you wanted to go check pulses....A damn shame because it was Patty's last show of the year, and these shows are always so special. But what can you do when everyone acts like they wanted to be somewhere else???

Now the second show???? Now THIS was a SHOW!! A great lively crowd that was in to every song Patty sung, and she could tell. She was having fun with us and with her band. This crowd hung on every song and gave Patty long ovations on every song. This was the kind of show that made you wish the same people had shown up to each show..This was the crowd you wanted to bottle and keep for all shows.

Now, before this show, Jackie and I were talking and I told her that I had written an old family member and told her about the shows, told her that Mike, me and Jackie would be there and that I would love to see her again and hoped she would come. I then told Jackie that she never wrote me back, soooo I guess she wasn't able to show. Two minutes later a woman is standing in front of me smiling...It was her...it was my original Patty Pal Annette!! She was able to fly in for one show and this was the one! She came with her long time best friend Renee' whom we had also met a long time ago when we all went to Vegas in 97(?) to see Patty in Stateline Nevada. That was the first and last time I had seen Annette until this night. She and Renee' had front row seats on the other side of the aisle and all I could do was look over there and shake my head in disbelief!! I could NOT believe that Annette was there. She was the first person that I made cyber friends with when AOL had their Patty board waaaaay back when. We used to have unbelievably long IM conversations 3 or 4 nights a week waaaay back then. But, then, as things happen, we kind of lost touch with each other, until a couple of years ago when she came to PLMS and made contact with me again. And, if you want to talk about some luck in Vegas, Renee' is the person to talk to..She won 4 or 5 jackpots while she was in Vegas those 36 hrs that totaled close to 10k!!

Patty had the same set for all 3 shows with the exception of the last show..she sang Pretty Little Miss, but didn't sing Big Chance, which she did sing the other 2 shows..Probably because no matter what she did this show, it wasn't going to change this crowd.....She did sing Here I Am all 3 shows.........The first night she said that someone had requested it and she was more than happy to oblige because it was one of her all time favorite songs to sing and that she did. Each show she nailed it and the last show....damn it was impeccable, it put me in tears....all I could do was look at her and mouth thank you to her, while I wiped the tears away.
I didn't swipe a set list, so, I am going to do my best to name all the songs...More than likely not in order.
Keep Your Distance
Last Thing On My Mind
You Don't Seem To Miss Me
You Can Feel Bad
She Drew A Broken Heart
Dreamin My Dreams ( Always drawing huge applause, even in the 3rd show)
My Old Friend The Blues
Never Ending Love (The first 2 crowds loved the acoustic set, the 3rd show crowd just didn't get it....amazing and sad)
Pretty Little Miss ( You know how the crowd goes nuts when they start this song? 3rd show.....silence....can you believe it??????)
Cheap Whiskey
Big Chance (not sung to the corpses at the 3rd show)
The Boys Are Back In Town
Here I Am :-)
Nothin Like The Lonely
On Your Way Home
Blame It On Your Heart
Elvis.....duh....

Between the 5 of us that were there for all 3 shows, we ran into everyone in the band during our stay at the Golden Nugget, including Patty (MikeD outside by the bus). From what I can gather, not too many of them are gamblers...Troy spent his time on the internet, Martin watched Mike on a slot machine for a few minutes and commented on what he thought was a win for Mike....it wasn't...We talked with Shayne almost every day, he said that they had flown in on Thursday...Oh yeah, he got his hair cut!!! The first night, we weren't sure if it was him up there on stage working with the instruments...he has a regular haircut..he said he looks like his dad now....I guess fatherhood has changed him...

Three nights of getting to bed after 3 in the morning and getting up at 8, three nights of late dinners, laughter and gambling with Jackie and Bonnie, three nights of 9:30 front row shows listening to undoubtedly the best voice in all of music....what more can you ask? We didn't win enough money to pay off the mortgage (hell, we didn't win enough to pay for our room!) We got up at 8 in the morning to go downstairs to watch an NFL game at 10 in the morning( this is unnatural...football games are on AFTER noon...)( AND they lost!!) But, I wouldn't have missed these 3 nights for the world and even though the 3rd show had slugs in the audience, Patty and her band were in top form and entertained us with all their hearts for all 3 shows. Those that "got it" were completely and wonderfully entertained and touched by what this woman brings to the table everytime she walks out on stage. Thank you Patty...you ARE the BEST!!

Rams Head 2005
Topic: 2005 Reviews
By Jessie Mann

The reunion continued in Annapolis Md, at the Rams Head Tavern. Once again Richard did his Patty Head duty and secured the entire front row for his Patty family for BOTH shows.
No camping out this time, we all had assigned seats.
Mike and I arrived around 5 for a 6:30 show. We sat outside at a table and had a drink and waited for the family to appear...A lot of the family had met there earlier for dinner. Mike and I decided to come later and get something in between shows. First to appear was Jackie, and then the one missing from the night before, Teresa. Da Brat was missing from the shows tonight, she was doing penance for getting a bad grade on a test at school and Chris wasn't able to get tickets. Sooner or later, we saw all the gang from the night before and when they opened the doors at 5:30, we were all accounted for.
We had the same seats for each show, but since Bobj and his wife were so kind as to give us the front seats at Birchmere, we let them have the front seats at the first show tonight, and then Jackie and Teresa got the front two seats for the second show. It really doesn't matter at a place like Rams Head. This showroom holds 300 people, and if you are in the front seats, you are jammed up against the stage. So, the second and 3rd seats at each table is every bit as close as front seats at Birchmere.
I am not going to repeat the set list since it was not a whole lot different from Birchmere. Any changes will be mentioned in this review of both shows.
The first show was at 6:30 and started the same way Birchmere did with the band entering first and Patty closely following. And once again, Patty was in excellent form as was her band and the audience. The audience included (as at the Birchemere) Guthrie's parents, who were celebrating their 27th anniversary and Troy's parents.
Once again, Patty garnered tremendous ovations at Dreamin My Dreams, My Old Friend The Blues and Big Chance, along with just about every other song in her set. She sang Here I Am again the first show, and switched to On Your Way Home for the second show. (She wanted to make sure I heard Here I Am for my 100th show!!)
When Patty asked everyone to stand up for Blame It On Your Heart, we all did and we all sang along for the entire song. Sometimes Patty just moves the mike along the front row for different people to sing but for the first show, she gave the "come here finger" to (heh heh) JACKIE!! Jackie fervently shook her head "no" to Patty but Patty just gave Jackie the "come here finger" once again...Jackie gave in and went over and sung those famous words.......
Ladies and Gentlemen we have a new star on the horizon!!! Jacquelyn Morgan of Oakland, California!!! I am her manager and any inquiries for club dates, please contact me at jackiesmanager@youknowit.com Jackie was flawless...on key and robust!! Patty was sooo impressed that she said as she gestured towards Jackie "Let's hear it for Jackie!!!". Granted, they had to widen the doors so she could get her head out of the showroom after the show and she signed so many autographs she started to charge people, but, she is still our Jackie...

The second time Patty asked everyone to stand up for Blame It On Your Heart,(for the second show) Patty didn't pick anyone special to sing, and she is probably wishing she would have, even though Richard is happy as a clam. She decided to just walk along the tiny stage and let different people sing, and as she walked along, bent over with her mike stuck out into the audience, her foot slipped and off the stage she flew.....Fortunately for her, she fell right into Richard's arms!! Now, I don't think the majority of the audience knew what had happened since we were all standing up, and plus the fact that that woman never missed a note of that song as she tumbled off the stage. She sang the rest of the song from Richards arms, ( you think Richard has come down from his high yet??) and after the song Richard helped Patty back up on stage...The first words out of her mouth "I finally got to fall into Richards arms". Though she was joking with the audience, Patty was visibly and understandably shaken. I could see her heart beating fast and hard through her top and her hands were shaking. Her voice was unshaken but she was. After the show, Richard was summoned to back stage to personally receive a "Thank You" from Patty. I guess he is in the will now....

During the show Patty was talking w/the audience and Richard said in a normal voice I'll Never Grow Tired Of You ( a normal voice is that place, and you will be heard...)
Patty told him that she would never grow tired of him either and went on...A few songs later, she said, "Well, ok, Richard, I'll do it"....she turned and told the band what she was going to do and they broke into I'll Never Grow Tired Of You.

Patty had a 2 song encore, so she didn't replace any of the encore songs w/Richards request like she did for the first show. She sang Nothin But The Wheel and ended the show with, what else....Elvis..

After the show we all gathered out at the buses and visited with each other and waited for the possibility of Patty signing at the bus. Unfortunately for us, Patty couldn't sign this night...Can't hardly blame her, after her adventure with Richard and the stage, plus she had to be in Tennessee the next day. But, we were given two excellent and exciting shows and had one helluva 2 day 3 show Patty Head Family Reunion. Patty has over the years given us some incredible music and along the way, because of her, Mike and I now have a wonderful extended family of fellow Patty Heads. For all of that and more, thank you, Patty.

Birchmere Review
Topic: 2005 Reviews
By Jessie Mann

Time for another Patty Head reunion. This time it is the Birchmere. It's a dingy "hole in the wall" looking place on the outside, but once you walk inside, you see a 20's style speakeasy bar, with big double doors that open up into a 600 person capacity dinner theatre.

Mike and I arrived around 3:00 to see a big yellow sign that said "FIRST IN LINE TO SEE PATTY". That was, of course, Richard and Patti, getting to the Birchmere on Tuesday to secure a first in line position for a Thursday show. He had able help from Nicole and Tammy from PLN. They took turns staking out their spot and going for food. Now are there any Patty Heads more dedicated to Patty and their 20 or so friends that they saved that first place for??? NO WAY!!
Slowly but surely the rest of my Patty family appeared...Chris, Da Brat, Jackie, Bobj and Barb, and the newest members of my Patty family, KathyK and Jack.

Promptly at 5:30 the doors opened and we got our tickets. We went into the bar to mingle, talk and drink until they let us in at 6:30 for a 7:30 show. True to their word, Richard, Patti, Nicole and Tammy got us our center front tables. We ordered some food and more drinks and chatted some more w/our family. Jackie and I walked over and said Hi to Shayne, Patty's guitar tech. We had met him several years ago when we went to see Patty at the Opry and Shayne always remembers us. He is expecting is first child later on this week, a boy, and we all wish he and his wife a trouble free delivery of a healthy son.

Soon it was 7:30, the lights dimmed and out walks Patty's band. Patty followed closely behind them and they opened with Keep Your Distance. Can I repeat something that Jimmy Johnson said the next night at Rams Head? "Patty kicked ass!!!" The woman was on her mark this night like no other. She was in magnificent voice, she was upbeat and truly having one helluva good time. She had 3 of the front 4 tables filled w/loyal Patty Heads, and she was tickled pink to have us there.
The set list was pretty much the same list she has had all year with the exception of 2 songs..Someone in the audience yelled early on in the show..If My Heart Had Windows, and later on in the show, Patty answered the request and sung it. The other song....well, that was a request from Mike and me. I did some figuring before we left and discovered that the first show at Rams Head would be our 100th show..So, I decided that we would request that she sing Here I Am. We ordered a dozen yellow roses and had them delivered to Birchmere on Thursday. (we were standing there when they were delivered!!)(The broad that took the flowers commented on how beautiful they were and said that she might keep them for herself because Patty would never know!! I started towards her with my baseball bat, but she laughed and shut the door) Patty did sing Here I Am and said that it went out to Mike and Jessie with a thanks for the beautiful flowers...It made our year...

Set list is as follows:
Keep Your Distance
Last Thing On My Mind
You Don't Seem To Miss Me
You Can Feel Bad
She Drew A Broken Heart
Dreamin My Dreams (which garnered a major long ovation)
The Acoustic Set was:
My Old Friend The Blues (another loooonnng ovation)
Never Ending Love (once again, whoopin and hollerin)
Cheap Whiskey
The Boys Are Back In Town
Daniel Prayed
Big Chance (at the end of the song, instead of Patty saying "oh another one gone", she had New Zealander Kylie Harris say it, doing her best New Zealand Hillbilly accent)
Back to Regular Set:
Nothin Like The Lonely
Here I Am :-)
If My Heart Had Windows
Blame It On Your Heard
Encore:
If My Heart Had Windows
Elvis.....What else???

At one point early in the show, a cell phone went off. Patty said with a smirk on her face,"a cell phone is ringing, and it better get turned off real quick" She did a pseudo glare and said "And it's my sound man" (David, who is also her road mgr). David was alllll the way in the back of the dark room and you could see his red embarrassed face She continued to give him her pseudo glare, and he continued to blush, and finally she just shook her head and continued the show.

This was one of those once in a lifetime shows. One of those shows where everything clicked, the sound was good, the band was perfect and Patty was at her best. Upbeat and flawless with a sold out crowd that was one of the best I have seen. I am soo glad that I was a part of this night.

Mountain Days Festival 2005
Topic: 2005 Reviews
By Tee

I realize this review is a bit late and I do apologize, but getting the kids ready for another year of higher knowledge and still bumming from the loss of our dog of 16 years. So after much harassment from Jess here it is, warts and all.

Mountain Days Festival is a yearly event that celebrates those who have made their way from the Appalachians to the Dayton area, and their culture. The back part of the park is set up with tents and people dressed in old time clothes. From these tents they sell their wares such as, fox tails, deerskin clothes, jewelry and other knick knacks. They are supposed to re-enact the old days of living in the tents, but when you have food and ice delivered to your tent in a golf cart it kinda loses something in the translation. Of course I would dare not repeat this to the woman who put on a display of hatchet and knife throwing. Bet no one ever disagrees with her.

The Festival had several stages, one for bluegrass and another for country and a third for local acts. Also thrown into the mix was a stage for clogging, and at 12:30 that day you could learn the art of clogging. Since I have two left feet and un-catlike reflexes I chose to just watch. Ralph Stanley II was the featured act on the bluegrass stage as Patty was on the country stage.

That week our area experienced high heat and humidity, but thankfully when the weekend arrived the humidity dropped but unfortunately the heat remained. This show had two of my least favorite things, drunk people in the audience and bad sound. From the moment Patty hit the stage there was feedback and a mushy sound at times. You could see Patty having to go off stage during instrumental parts of the songs to talk to someone who seemed to shake their head no more often than yes. I began to get the feeling that whatever she needed fixed they could not and unfortunately it took away her power in the vocals and the emotion she puts into the song. One of my favorite venue’s is Patty outdoors, she just wails, but when the sound is bad she pulls it back. Now before all you Patty fans become enraged, I am not blaming Patty for the sound snafu’s. The Festival people I believe need to rent better equipment or set things up a bit better.

This was the last show for us this year and I wish it would have sounded better, but regardless of the sound problems she was good. And before I close here is the song list.

1. Keep Your Distance
2. The Last Thing On My Mind
3. Long Stretch Of Lonesome
4. You Can Feel Bad
5. She Drew A Broken Hear
6. Dreamin' My Dreams
7. My Old Friend The Blues
8. Never Ending Love
Acoustic Set
9. Someone I Used To Know
10. Boys Are Back In Town
11. Daniel Prayed - Both forgot lyrics
12. Big Chance
Regular
13. Nothin' Like The Lonely
14. On Your Way Home
15. Lovin' All Night
16. Blame It On Your Heart
Encore
17. Nothin' But The Wheel
18. I Try To Think About Elvis

Mountain Arts Center
Topic: 2005 Reviews
Mountain Arts Center 2005
By Jessie Mann

Being the huge Patty Head that I am, seeing a "SOLD OUT!!!" sign after Patty's name on the marquee at the Mountain Arts Center in Prestonsburg, just absotively positutely warmed the cockles of my heart up faster than the stiffling heat could make me puddle.
This show was almost a challenge conquered for me. 2 other times I was supposed to come see Patty at the MAC and both times I failed. Third time was the charm, I guess. I actually made it there. Without Mike, without Jimmy, but with my youngest daughter Kelly.
Mike told me to print up directions on Mapquest..... Ok Mike, whatever....Route 23 runs from top to bottom in Ohio and right through Columbus. As a matter of fact High Street (Rte 23) is the main road that goes through Columbus. OSU is on High Street, the State House is on High Street and Mountain Arts Center is on High Street (aka Rte 23)!! But, I printed up directions anyway...Kelly and I got on to High Street around 11:45 on Friday and ended up in front of the MAC around 3:45 to find 2 motels right next door to the theatre. Not surprisingly, I saw plenty of my Patty Pals staying at both of those motels.
Tee and her Rabid Patty fan came to this show too, and they arrived about a half hour after we did, so we all piled into the truck and took a little 25 mile ride down the road to Pikeville. We saw Patty's name on a Country Music Highway sign, along w/Dwight Yoakum, The Judds, Ricky Skaggs, Billy Ray Cyrus, Loretta Lynn and Crystal Gayle. All have their names on individual signs going through eastern Kentucky's Rte 23 Country Music Highway. All hail from that part of Kentucky..

On to the show...After a half hour performance of the Kentucky Opry, there was a 15 minute intermission before Patty's show. At 9 o'clock. Patty opened the show w/Keep Your Distance, a new song from her new album Dreamin My Dreams due out September 13th. This song is so powerfully performed by Patty...it is a brand new classic for this legend in the making. Next she sung another powerful older song, The Last Thing On My Mind. Three more older favorites were done, You Don't Seem To Miss Me, You Can Feel Bad and She Drew A Broken Heart, and then another song from the new album. This time the title track was done Dreamin My Dreams. This song became a favorite of Mikes when we saw her in Renfro Valley last month, and it is one of those kinds of songs that you just want to hear over and over again. I haven't heard Waylon Jennings version of this song, since I haven't been listening to country that long, but, I do know Waylon could make you feel a song just like Patty does..and man does she make you feel this one..Two more new songs from the album followed, My Old Friend The Blues and Never Ending Love. Patty has a great time singing this song w/Troy Engle, you can see it right from the start. She keeps her eyes on him the whole time reacting to his voice and movements w/her own little movements directed right at him. He does a remarkable job staying focused w/Patty less than a foot away from him, making faces and unexpectedly moving her face closer and closer to his face, bobbing back and forth. He got a reward for his perserverance of not getting flustered by Patty's antics at the end of this song w/a big kiss on his cheek from Patty, the smack of which was clearly heard through the microphones!!

She enjoyed singing w/Troy so much that she asked him to sing one more song with her, one of my all time favorites from Mountain Soul, Someone I Used To Know. I wondered who could replace all the talent that Garry Murray had when he was with Patty and didn't think she could find anyone that good, but once again, Patty has managed to surround herself with simply the best most talented people. Troy is amazing!!! Unfortunately this night, Jimmy Johnson was not with Patty. His mother-in-law died earlier in the week and he was with his family. In his place was a familiar name to me, but I had never seen her before. Allison Prestwood. I've seen her name on some of Patty's and Vince's albums, but I have never seen a picture of her. Tonight I saw the face behind the familiar name.

The acoustic part of Patty's show is getting bigger and bigger, which means we all are treated to hard core, old time country and bluegrass with that marvelous harmony that I just can't get enough of. Along w/Neverending Love and Someone I Used To Know, the acoustic section of the show included The Boys Are Back In Town, Grandpa, Daniel Prayed, Harlan and Big Chance,. Since Prestonsburg is right in the heart of coal mining country, Patty would have been flogged if she hadn't sung Harlan. Well, there is singing and there is singing, and I have to tell you that I don't believe I have ever heard Patty sing Harlan w/such emotion and heart and just pure perfection as she did this night. The crowd rewarded her efforts with a good 90 second standing ovation that rocked the house!

Once the acoustic set was done Deanie did that incomparable intro to Nothin Like The Lonely. This song along with the next one On Your Way Home is one of many of Patty's hidden treasures. On Your Way Home is a masterpiece that should have done a lot better than it did on radio and Nothin Like The Lonely should have been released as a single. It is just one more incredible song that people never get to hear unless they buy the album or are fortunate enough to see Patty in concert.

She finished off the show with 3 songs that everyone that listens to country radio has heard Lovin All Night, Blame It On Your Heart and for the encore, what else but Elvis.

After the show Kelly, me and about 30 other Patty Heads headed for the buses hoping for one last chance to see Patty and maybe even get an autograph. And once again, Patty did not disappoint us. She signed autographs and chatted with all who waited the 2 hours for her to come out from her meet and greet inside. One of the great things about going to all of the shows we go to is seeing all of the friends we have made over the years. Once again Richard, Patti, Teresa, Cole, Tammie, Brad and Janet were all there along with Tee, her daughter, me and my daughter Kelly, who is now a Patty convert.It's like going to a family reunion everytime we go to a Patty Loveless concert. Because of her so many of her fans have become part of one huge extended family. Hopefully I will see all of them again very soon at another reunion.

Renfro Valley, KY
Topic: 2005 Reviews
Question. How do you end a day that began at a bleary eyed 7am which included one baseball game to watch, and a softball double header to coach? Why with a Patty show double header of course. After our double header, the Rabid Patty Fan and I raced home so I could hose her off in the backyard, knock off the dirt and dust, you see. The car was pre-packed, all we needed was ice for the cooler and we were heading down the highway in the “Stanginator.”
Driving as fast as the radar detector would allow we made the supposed three hour trip in a little over two, giving us a little less than 15 minutes to park and get to the show. This was my first time to Renfro Valley and the intimate setting of the barn was perfect for tonights show.
Before I go to much farther in the review here is the song list for the second show. The only difference is the encore which she did not do in the first show due to time constraints.

1. Keep Your Distance – New single.
2. The Last Thing On My Mind – Excellent as usual.
3. You Don’t Seem Too Miss Me – One of my favorites…bravo…bravo.
4. You Can Feel Bad – Done with spunk.
5. She Drew A Broken Heart – Nice to hear this one again.
6. Dreamin My Dreams – New Single.
Acoustic Set
7. My Old Friend My Blues – New Single.
8. Never Ending Love – New Single.
9. Grandpa – Never get tired of hearing this one.
10. Boys Are Back In Town.
11. Daniel Prayed – Love this one glad she has it in the set.
12. Big Chance – New Single.
13. You’ll Never Leave Harlan Alive – Gets better everytime she sings it.
Back to Electric
14. Nothin’ Like The Lonely – Never grow tired of hearing this one and very well done.
15. On Your Way Home – These two pair up nicely in shows.
16. Lovin’ All Night – Liking it a bit more each time.
17. Blame It On Your Heart – A crowd pleaser.
Encore
18. You Don’t Even Know Who I Am – What show would be complete with out something from When Fallen Angels Fly.
19. I Try To Think About Elvis – See reference above.

Patty opened the show with the new single Keep Your Distance from her upcoming new album due to be unleashed September 13 as rumor has it, and you can hear it on the jukebox at the official Patty Loveless. site. If you have not heard this song yet hurtle yourself through cyberspace and take a listen, you will not be sorry. The only draw back to this song is it's too country for radio, and I am afraid it will not be as embraced as it should be. After all it is a country song.
Dreamin My Dreams is the title of new album due to be unleashed September 13, as rumor has it and this one is just so beautifully done. Patty’s voice was made for this Waylon Jennings song. I could almost hear Waylon singing along with Patty. The perfect song for her voice.
Never Ending Love is a duet with Dwight Yokam and this familiar country song is on the new album Dreamin’ My Dreams. In case you are unaware it's due to be unleased on September 13, as rumor has foretold. I am anxious to hear this one, for I like Dwight, or is that I like Ike. Patty had fun with this one on stage as she did with all the up-tempo songs.
My Old Friend My Blues is a new song that will be appearing in case you missed the news, on her new album due to be unleased August 16th. I really like this one, she has a pretty meloncholy way on this one, kinda sad. You can hear in her voice why her old friend is the blues.
Big Chance was the final new song she rolled out, and in case you have not gotten the hint as of yet. The new album is to be unleased September 13, and you need to get out there and buy a copy for yourself and several more for friends. This song is a follow up to Pretty Lil’ Miss from Mountain Soul, which if you have not purchased you really should. You must buy Mountain Soul in order to understand Big Chance. Seems our Pretty Lil’ Miss is a few years older now and has the hots for someone in Shelby Gap.
Overall this was a good set of shows for the start of my Patty season. I have two more to attend, one in July and the other in August. Patty still sings the familiar favorites with as much spunk and spark as when we first heard them. Only differences are some of the intro’s to the songs which she keeps fresh.
One thing I did miss in this show was the MCA years, nothing from that period but her acoustic set was longer and that I really enjoyed. So maybe you have to give up one to have the other.
Patty has reached a milestone in her career that few artists achieve. Twenty years ago in 1985 she signed with MCA records and began recording singles until her first real record in 1987. As with any artists who reach this pinnacle their presence on radio soon fades and they are replaced by the next big thing. I like the music Patty is making now and if that means less radio presence but better music, I choose the music. Whatever these next 20 years hold, or the second game in her double header career, the name of the game is making great music. And I am here to tell you Patty’s got game.

The Greek Theater
Topic: 2004 Reviews
The Greek Theater October 15,2004
By Dennis Hurt

The Greek theater is a small outdoor theater nestled in the Hills of Hollywood, California. It has the most amazing crystal clear sound I have ever heard. The line up for the night was Vince Gill, Patty Loveless, Rebecca Lynn Howard and the Del McCury Band.

It was a cool October night and Vince Gill took center stage. He did about five songs with one of them standing out in my memory and it really got the audience going. It’s hard to kiss the lips that chew your ass out every night.

Next up was Rebecca Lynn ….. And although I didn’t know much about her she was awesome. Rebecca did about five songs and the audience really seemed to like her.

The Del McCury Band was next up. They took stage and did about five of their blue grass songs.

They saved the best for last. Patty was the last act to take stage that night. She walked out stunningly dress in a gold ankle length skirt, a red sweater and high heel boots. She kind of had a Christmas look to her. The audience seemed to be going crazy and the noise that was made for Patty was louder than for the acts proceeding her. She didn’t open the show with her usual Tear Stained Letter it was a different song line up then in the past. She only did about five songs but the audience really loved the five she did.

After Patty’s act Vince came out and introduced Patty as his musical sister and they did several songs together. Rebecca Lynn and The Del McCury Band then joined and they all did several songs . When they all sing together Vince, Patty and Rebecca Lynn just sound awesome.

All in all is was an awesome show although I prefer a show that Patty doesn’t have to share her stage time with other acts. I have some pictures of this show posted on this site.

Ashland Ky
Topic: 2004 Reviews
Ashland, Kentucky
by Jessie

Less than 24 hrs and 420 miles later, we arrived in Ashland Ky for Patty's final show of the year. Knowing this, we knew we were in for a special show. Since this was a late add for Patty and Ashland, people didn't know about the show and let's face it, it was on a Thursday night, so the crowd was not a large one, and if the truth be known, not real enthusiastic. It's just a good thing that Mike, Teresa, Nicole, Tammi and I were there to make some noise! There were a few drunks up in the balcony, but other than that, our group of Patty Heads were the cheerleaders at this show.
We were in the 4th row, right next to Nicole and Tammi. As the show neared it's beginning we noticed that there were 4 empty seats in the front row...amazing.....The show started and those seats were still empty...even more amazing....About 10 minutes into the show Mike went to the back of the theatre and asked whoever was back there if we could take the seats since no one was there and they said yes, so up we went to the first row! :-) However, first row at Ashland compared to first row at Birchmere are two different things...There are "corporate sponsor tables" right next to the stage, Which puts the "front row" about 15 feet from the stage....But, who's complaining!! Teresa already had a front row seat sitting next to Brad and Janet, so she wasn't complaining at all!
This show was like last nights show with a few exceptions. Patty stuck in a few more songs for her final show of the year. I'll Never Grow Tired Of You was not planned in last nights show, but thanks to Richard, Patty sang it. She must have liked the idea because she put it in tonights show too! Along with I'll Never Grow Tired Of You, Patty sang Rise Up Lazarus and that incredible acoustic version of Too Many Memories with only Deanie and Guthrie providing the music.
During this show, Mike started to feel, well, not so good. During Lovin All Night, he excused himself and never came back. I found him after the show leaning on a trash can and wanting to do nothing but head for home. But, he was willing to let me hang around outside for a bit to talk to all my Patty Pals. So, I did, I hung out and talked to Teresa, Brad, Janet, Nicole and Tammi. Jimmy J came out and shook hands with the people hanging around, thanking them for coming out and saying good-bye till next year. What I really wanted to do was say good-bye to Marcia, and when I finally did get to talk to her for a few minutes, she was telling me about Patty asking the band for requests of her songs.. Marica suggested 1000x A Day and someone also suggested Here I Am. Patty didn't sing either one and Marcia said "she doesn't listen at all, does she??" I finally said good-bye to her and told her that I hoped she returned next year, and then Patty came out.
There were more than 25 people out there, there was a big old long line. Patty talked to all of them and signed whatever anyone wanted signed. I wasn't going to stay, because of Mike, but he told me to go ahead and stick around a little longer. So, I stood in line with Teresa, who promised to give me a good elbow nudge if I did my normal "Patty Freeze". She didn't need to elbow me, this time. I was able to tell Patty exactly what I wanted to tell her. A simple "I don't need anything signed, I just wanted to thank you for another great year" along with a warm handshake (first one for me!!)(hey, it only took 9 yrs!!) and a "You're welcome and thank you" from Patty.
I said good-bye to all my old Patty Pals and headed for the car to take the old man home. After we had driven for a while, we stopped and got something to eat and some gas and Mike seemed to be feeling better, but what he was really experiencing was the beginnings of a good old fashioned cold.....He is coughing and sneezing now as I type this and I am staying as far away from him as I can!!
I'll say it again...Patty, thanks for another great year, have a wonderful and relaxing time off and we will see you next year, once again!!!

Birchmere 2004
Topic: 2004 Reviews
Birchmere
by Jessie

We are back and finally rested from our two day road trip that covered over 900 miles, but a trip that was worth every mile.

We arrived at the Birchmere around 5 pm while Richard, Patti, Jackie and Teresa held a spot for us. And before I go any farther, THANKS PATTI!!! Patti actually spent the night in her SUV so she could be first in line for this show!! Because of Patti's diligence our group was able to secure two of the front tables about 4 ft from the stage.

Mike didn't get his wave this time....he didn't need it, when Patty first came out on stage she looked right at Mike and gave him a huge smile and Mike was in heaven the rest of the night!! Since her tour was winding down to the last two shows, Patty was loose and relaxed and ready to have some fun with this totally enthusiastic crowd. She acknowledged the crowd by thanking us all for being there despite the high gas prices. And that she knew that some of us had traveled some miles to get there and she did appreciate it. There were at least 4 standing ovations and deafening applause after every song.

Her song list was basically the same list it has been for most of the year. Tear Stained Letter with that incredible Deanie opening, You Can Feel Bad, always a hand clapping crowd favorite, Nothin But The Wheel with a picture perfect opening on keyboards by Marcia, You Don't Seem To Miss Me, with Garry doing a great job filling in for George Jones, Trouble With The Truth, that ending of hers just drove this crowd wild, Halfway Down, where Guthrie shows off his superb guitar licks, Draggin My Heart Around, just a great pure country song, Nothin Like The Lonely, what a great beginning, Deanie on the Fiddle with Patty humming along (nobody hums like Patty!)

Then came the acoustic set..Grandpa, geesh what an incredible song, this one garnered one of the many standing ovations, Boys Are Back In Town, these acoustic parts of her show just showcase the talent of Patty and her band, vocally and musically...the harmony these guys make is a treat for the ears! At this point, Patty was talking to the crowd in between songs and good old Richard said "I'll never grow tired of you, sweetheart", Patty looked down at him and said, "You wanna hear that?" She turned around said something to the band and damn if they didn't do I'll Never Grow Tired Of You! WOW!! Next was Daniel Prayed, another harmony filled song with just oooodles of ear candy for us harmony buffs (me), Cheap Whiskey followed with more awesome harmony in a truly hard core country song sung the way it should be sung and probably sung the way Emory and Jim Rushin meant it to be sung when they wrote it. Pretty Little Miss, one of the many songs I play over and over when I have Mountain Soul in my CD player, but so much more dynamic when it is sung live.

The acoustic set was over and then came On Your Way Home with another great Deanie intro. This one always confuses me the way it starts. I always think they are starting Here I Am, (which Patty didn't sing....:-( ) Sitting up front the way we did, I just watched Patty sing this song and did not sing along, I just watched her...she totally gets into this song, she is so intense...no looking at the crowd, no walking around on stage, just standing there at the mike singing her heart and soul out w/a spotlight just on her. It was the highlight of the show for me and probably was for the crowd too, because she got another one of those standing O's after this amazing performance. Next was Lovin All Night, hell you gotta have something upbeat after that last gut-wrencher and this is just the song to do it. Then the last song of the set, Blame It On Your Heart, which Patty had everyone stand up and sing along. At this point Richard offered his new very cool hat to Patty and she put it on and sang a good part of the song with it on..Chalk up 2 for Richard!! After the song she brought the band to the front of the stage and they all bowed in unison and then left the stage...We knew....we knew.....

Back out she and the band came for a 2 song encore. Lonely Too Long, which made Jackie's and my night....One of the bestest songs Patty has ever done, and finally a very oldie but goodie, On Down The Line, talk about reaching into ones catalog!! And what a find! After this they finally did leave the stage and one more show was in the hopper.

After the show we all got together for some more reunions and recollections of the show. I got to meet Bobj and Barb, and MikeD. I saw the young man that I met last year with his PL tattooed on his upper arm. I saw Nicole and Tammi. I didn't spend a whole lot of time with these two, I knew I would see them the next night in Ashland and knew I could catch up then. Jackie, Teresa, Chris, Mike and I were in the very cool speakeasy type bar the Birchmere has and caught up for a while and while we were in there, Patty was outside with the rest of the crowd signing autographs and meeting with the fans....Jackie snarled at me for forcing her to stay in there with us...yeah right, I had her chained to the table, but I really didn't mind not getting to see Patty outside. This show was soo good, there was no need to see her outside, for me, anyway.

We went outside and talked with everyone for a bit, saw the lunar eclipse and eventually said our goodbyes to all our friends, old and new. It was great to see them all once again. It's been 2 years since we have seen Chris and I want to thank him for giving us directions back to Rockville, where we were staying. Thanks Chris!!

Now for the "adventure" part of this trip...As we left our motel in Rockville Md to come to the show, some police showed up. We thought nothing of it. When we returned to our motel, there were about 40 cruisers there along with a SWAT bus.....Seems that some convicted murderer had barracaded himself in a room with a few guns and was refusing to come out.....Seems that this felon was 2 doors down from our room....For some reason, the police wouldn't let us go to our room....It was 11:30, we were tired and just wanted to go to bed and these cops wouldn't let us go to our room!!! Can you imagine that???? Anyway, the police let us go to the office and get our money back and we found another motel to stay the night, with the promise that we could get our luggage and medicine in the morning ("This should be resolved by morning"). So we checked into a Sleep Inn with a Burger King bad and two diet cokes as our luggage...The next morning we went back to the Convict Inn to get our luggage and as Mike was returning the key to the room, a police car pulled in....hmmmm deja vu??? Mike got in the car and I said, "Let's get the hell out of here!!!" He agreed....

First American Music Theater
Topic: 2000 Reviews
First American Music Theater
by Tee and Jessie

What a night it was, and the hardcore Patty Fans showed up to let her know just how much we miss seeing her out there this year. Yes, it was Vince's show, he was well received, but it was Patty they came to hear.

Vince started out this hot, steamy night with One More Last Chance, A Little More Love, and High Lonesome Sound. I have never had the opportunity to see Vince live, so tonight was a real treat. This man knows how to play and entertain. This may not be appropriate to say, but he rocks when he gets on that guitar. Tom Britt was there also, and hearing them two play off one another is a once in a lifetime experience. Those first three songs really set mood for the music that followed. Good country music, foot stompin' fiddle playing, and a very deserving Country Music Hall Of Fame pedal steel player, John Hughey that made each song just soar. For those who are unaware, John played with the great Conway Twitty for 20 years.

Vince next three songs were When Love Finds You, Your Never Alone, and that good country blues song If You Have Forever In Mind. The last one was for the guys. He reminded us that as hot as it was, in a few hours we would be home, in the air conditioning, and under the covers.

Vince let us know right off that no matter how hot it was, they were going to play their hearts out for us, and they did. What followed was the rompin' stompin', heart pumpin' Given More Time that had THE HOTTEST fiddle playing I have heard in a long time. Vince picked up the banjo, and picked it clean. Wow! can he play it. Personally I think his fiddle player should join Patty's band next year. Play there along side Carmella, Lord have mercy, the walls would come tumbling down. Vince also did Don't Come Crying To Me like you would hear it on the Grand Ole Opry. Then finished with Look At Us, one terrific love song.

Then came the moment I had been waiting for. The excitement was building, you could feel the electricity in the air. Vince played When I Call Your Name, one of the late great Roy Acuff's favorite songs, whom he dedicated it to. Vince began, as he came closer, and closer to that soaring background vocal that we all love, the crowd was intensely scanning both sides of the stage for you know who to appear. Finally reaching the chorus, the crowd was ready to shout to the mountain tops........ but she never came out. You could hear the collective wail of sorrow, through the applause at the end of the song. Then again that may have just been me wailing at the end. Vince finished his set with Oklahoma Borderline, the beautiful Pretty Little Adriana, Whenever You Come Around, The Key, Don't Let Our Love Start Slipping Away, and What The Cowgirls Do. Vince put on one heck of a great show, and the crowd responded. But I am here to tell you, Patty received the biggest pop of the night from start to finish. The crowd was ready, and she gave it up. You should have seen the outfit she was wearing. I mean gosh almighty, I never knew you could wear something like that in public, and not be arrested. I had to take a hit off the oxygen tank of the guy next to me I was so shocked. There is no doubt in my mind that Patty was the coolest dressed one onstage. She had to be, with a slit.......well, you don't want to know what she was wearing. You want to hear about the music, what she sang, things like that. So I now turn it over to Jessie to finish this review. Figured since she gave me the free tickets, I would bestow the honor of giving you what you came here to read.

Such an honor!!! I am humbled!! Before I get started, I want to tell you about this place...don't EVER go there if you want to take pictures with anything other than an instamatic!! I had my camera w/my dinky 300mm lens w/me, borrowed T.'s camera w/her dinky 400mm lens and they said they were professional cameras, and would not let us bring them in!! Hence.....no pitchers!

For those of you that have seen a few of my pictures from the Ohio State Fair last year...Patty had on the same dress. Vince wondered if she borrowed that dress from Jennifer Lopez to which Patty responded, "I don't have the tush to fill it out"...She looked very good Lopez tush or not.

Patty sang 10 songs, all tolled (I think), a lot more that I thought she would sing. She came out singing Can't Get Enough which was very cool for me since I have never heard her sing it live before. I hope she puts it in her show next year. Next came T's all time favorite, You Don't Seem To Miss Me. Patty and Vince sounded great on this one. Not that he was expected, but T's still sniffing that George didn't show. Regardless of whom she has singing harmonies with on her songs, Patty and Vince give it a new life when they sing em' together. She sang Lonely Too Long.. this is one of my favorite songs of hers, and she just nailed it. W/Vince's background vocals, it just added a very special touch to this already special song. There was ongoing rhetoric between those 2 all night mostly about the "dress". Vince apologized about his JL comment he made by saying it was a compliment... then he added just a bit more fuel to the fire by telling her that her slit was higher than Jennifer's, to which Patty reached down and tried to close up the slit a bit.

You know Patty and Vince can't get together w/o singing Timber, which they did...again, I had never heard them sing this live before except on TV...Patty said that she believed in her heart that he was the reason that this was a #1 for her....Can't say as I would agree, but who cares what I think. She got together w/the original background singers Jeff White and Dawn Sears to sing You Can Feel Bad....It sounded like the recording, except for the one word change, instead of "better" she changed it to "hotter"!

Of course, they sang My Kind Of Woman/My Kind Of Man which literally brought the house down!! I am dead serious on this, there was whooping and hollering and applause all thru this song....and this song has "stalled" on the charts????? Go figure. This is NOT something that the fans do NOT love...this sounds like country radio thinking its "too country" for their stations is what it sounds like. (oops!! personal opinion there)

Patty also sang How Can I Help You Say Goodbye. I have to tell you, I really liked this version, she upped the tempo a bit, kind of rephrased the stanza's and then had Vince singing background on it...it was different from the way I have heard her sing it many times before, and I really, really enjoyed it...She is getting a little braver vocally and lyrically, out there w/the man, and it was a joy to hear. T. commented later that she has taken an incredibly beautiful song, and made it even more so, along with a new way to enjoy it. If we didn't already have tears in our eyes w/that song, they came right back with Go Rest High On That Mountain...my God...that one just floored me!! There really isn't any two finer voices in all of music anywhere than these two and when they get together and combine those two magic voices, your senses go into Overtime!!!

Patty couldn't leave us all blubbering when she left the stage( unless we were blubbering because she left the stage), so she ended up her portion of the show with Blame It On Your Heart, which is and has been a crowd favorite for quite a few years now.

Now, I don't know that I will ever go back to this venue, but even w/o the benefit of taking pictures, it was a wonderful show, and one that I am glad that I had an opportunity to attend. Having T and her husband share the evening w/us was very special, too. I am glad they were able to drop everything and travel the 550 miles plus to come down to take in the show. If they hadn't I would have had to do this whole review myself, and those of you that know me from AOL know how sometimes I tend to go on and on and on and on and on.

Now, where is she gonna show up next??