WHAT A NIGHT! Crowd roars for the boys while on stage at Ryman Auditorium
It was a night to remember. The boys performed for the first time ever at the Ryman Auditorium when they opened for Merle Haggard on Wednesday, June 25th. Always wanting to promote traditional country music, Christopher took to the Ryman stage where his heroes have all once stood and said, “It’s been a long time since good country music has been done on this stage, but you’re gonna hear some tonight.” Christopher’s rendition of Hank Williams’ Jambalaya turned the the crowd on and he had them hooked right from the start. Christopher said after the concert, “You could tell this was our kind of crowd. They like real country music.”
Taylor, who was picking the mandolin during the set, moved to the center mic for his chance at making a historic memory of his own. When he crooned just two words from his mouth, “Hello walls,” the crowd roared with appreciation, knowing these boys understood the heritage of the Grand Ole Opry at the Ryman Auditorium. Taylor commented after the show that he’d been wanting to do that Faron Young song at the Ryman, then said it was odd to see that Faron was in almost every photograph hanging backstage.
Christopher closed out the set with That’s Alright Mama, nearly bringing the house down as he gyrated and wiggled his hips and legs through one of Elvis’ most well-known songs. The boys went off the stage as the crowd roared for more.
Backstage, and while other opening acts were in action, Christopher got to meet country music star Gretchen Wilson by chance. She came out of Merle’s dressing room and was standing next to Christopher. He asked for a photo with her and the result can be seen below. Taylor, on the other hand, got to meet John Anderson out by the bus as John was leaving the show.
All the family and friends that attended the event had a wonderful time.
June 30th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
While watching the guys perform 6/24/08, I thought what a nice refreshing opening act. Boy was I wrong. I found myself speaking more of the Malpass Brothers after the show than I did Merle (nothing againist Hag, that was who I paid to see anyway).
But on 6/25 in Nashville while staying at the same hotel, I got to meet the brothers along with some of the wonderful family members and I was HOOKED! While outside the Ryman meeting more of the family and both grandmothers and a grandfather, I felt like I was part of the klan. What a family!! With another great show that night how would it get better? The following morning leaving Nashville, I put in “Hillbilly Fever The Way It Was” cd and headed to Atlanta to see one more Merle show. Three hours later I was walking into that concert singing “Is that you Myrtle” (one of the many refreshing songs from this cd). Congratulations boys for making the Ryman and with any luck and by the grace of God I look forward to many more shows.