SUPER DUPER BUZZ! -- Gary will be performing at the 5 Spot Cafe in Nashville every Thursay evening beginning May 26th. Gary will be joined by Kenny Vaughan, Mark W. Winchester, Pete Finney, Jimmy Lester and Richard McLaurin, the same band that was so awesome at the Mercy Lounge show. More information is on the Live Dates Calendar. If you go to the shows, be sure to e-mail us some of your fine photos.

Gary Bennett’s Big Splash at the Mercy Lounge
A Return To The Spotlight For Everyone's Favorite Hillbilly Poet

It’s been three long years since Nashville has seen Gary Bennett onstage. After leaving his long-time band BR549 in 2001 (their last appearance was onstage at the Grand Ole Opry), Gary took a well-deserved break from the road.

When promoter and DJ Jon Hensley [That's Jon playing checkers with Gary] decided to organize a fund-raiser for St. Jude Children’s Research, Gary was at the top of his list of requested performers. Hensley had been a fan of BR549 for many years and it was a dream come true for him to book Gary and his former band-mate Chuck Mead on the same bill. Hensley’s dream was also shared by many fans of the group, some of which traveled from as far away as Portland, San Diego, Los Angeles and Milwaukee to check out “Are You Ready For The Country?” on Thursday, April 28, 2005.

The recording sessions for the new CD reaped an unexpected benefit. All of the musicians involved with the project were eager to perform live with Gary. Rehearsals for the show began on Tuesday, April 26 at the Midnight Jamboree Stage at the Ernest Tubb’s Record Shop near Opryland. The show band included Kenny Vaughan on guitar/backing vocals, Mark W. Winchester on bass, Jimmy Lester on drums and Richard McLaurin on acoustic guitar/backing vocals. “Yeah, I guess I was a little nervous,” Gary said. “Didn't think that was even possible anymore after all the shows I've done, but I have had three years off basically and wasn't sure if I could ‘turn the switch on’ anymore or if I even remembered where it was.”

Also added into the mix was singer-songwriter Arigon Starr. Each of the evening’s acts featured a “guest artist” – and the Native American Music Award winner fit right into Gary’s eleven song set. “Gary was a guest artist on my CD ‘Backflip’ and it was great to have him return the favor and feature ‘Mountain Windsong’ during his big return to the stage,” said Arigon.

Although storm clouds gathered on Thursday night, the mood was light and airy backstage. Folks joked together and there were many friends and musicians from the old days ready to cheer Gary on. The show was co-hosted by Great American Country’s “On The Edge Of Country” host Kylie Harris and singer-songwriter Kristi Rose. Gary’s band had a last minute addition of Pete Finney on pedal steel. He and Richard McLaurin and Kenny Vaughan worked out the song arrangements prior to taking the stage.

Gary was third on the bill. He said, “Of course once we got onstage, with all the familiar faces in the crowd, it all just came back to me after a minute or two.” The quick-paced set included new songs and familiar ones to fans from the old days.

The set included:

Human Condition
Just Wanna Be With You
Headin' Home
Ain’t Getting No Younger
What I'm Here For
Steel Ball
Better Than This
Ship in a Bottle
What Turned Out To Be
Mountain Windsong
Even If Its Wrong

The Mercy Lounge audience sat in rapt attention and greeted each song with warm, genuine applause. “Actually by the end of the show all my questions or apprehensions were gone and replaced by a new sort of zeal for it,” Gary smiled.

Arigon Starr said, “At lot of people would be surprised to hear this – but I had no rehearsal with Gary’s band. Yet, they performed ‘Mountain Windsong’ in sweet country way I had not imagined. The song talks about two lovers separated by the Trail of Tears and is very emotional. I talked to people after the show and folks were literally in tears. Heck, I was pretty choked up after I left the stage!”

Many audience members were left feeling the same way. One of Gary’s longtime fans said, “I felt it was Gary's best performance that I've seen to date. The band was so excellent! It was a joy to watch and listen to all of them. At one point I noticed a huge smile on Mark Winchester's face when they were in the middle of a song. That smile seemed to reflect the overall feeling of the others in the band and Gary.” Chuck Mead said, “Wow, Gary sounded great. He has some terrific new songs!” Chuck, along with Shaw Wilson were standing by the edge of stage during Gary’s set – and you could tell they were beaming with pride.

“Of course, it also felt great to be doing almost all new material for a change. I also want to keep that happening from now on, less cover songs, if any,” said Gary.

Fans will be pleased to know that Gary is planning more live performances in the very near future. In the meantime, production work is continuing on the new CD and Gary continues to hone his skills. “I have been practicing singing a little different than I ever have, it seems easier, and I think I'll have better, more natural tones and a wider range on the top and bottom, as I practice better technique,” he noted.

“Are You Ready For The Country?” was a magical night for all of the friends, family and fans that attended to show support for St. Jude Children’s Research and the musical career of Gary Bennett. “It was really great to see and say hi to everyone there,” he said. “I know now that I can outdo anything I've ever done as far as singing and playing with the help of this new bunch of guys I'm pickin' with.”

Everyone who was a witness to the Mercy Lounge show will definitely second that emotion! If you want more check out Gary's Scrapbook for two pages of photo coverage!