’90s Country Music Thrives in Spartanburg
Just a few weeks back we chatted about the revitalization of the Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium and its newfound success, fueled by performances from a bunch of heavyweight country artists who left their mark in the 1990s. The legends we’re talking about? Oh, you know, just some small names like Dwight Yoakam, Clint Black, and Travis Tritt. These are the guys who used to fill up arenas and sell millions of albums, back in their heyday. To our surprise and delight, it seems this newfound success is not limited to just the confines of our beloved Spartanburg. Classic ’90s country music is swinging back into favor all over!
Lonestar: From Chart-topping Glory to Resurgence
A Show that Transcends the Ordinary
Use Lonestar as your case in point. These guys started rocking the country music scene around 1995 and stuck around at the top for a good part of a decade. They had five gold and three platinum albums grace their name. And oh, did we mention the flow of hit songs like “No News,” “Come Cryin’ to Me,” “Amazed” and “Smile” sweeping the charts off their feet? Lonestar is back, and Spartans, they are playing right here in our very own town, at the Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium on Nov. 8. Mark your calendars, folks!
Dean Sams from the band, who’s been on keyboard duty, claims he’s seen a tangible bump in the band’s audience lately. “The crowds seem to be getting bigger, and the fan base has become very vast. I think people are longing for some of that late ’90s, early 2000s music,” he noted.
A Rich Musical Era
Lead guitarist Michael Britt isn’t taken aback by this sudden interest in 1990s country music. In his opinion, “I think anytime you have a really fertile era where a lot of good music comes out, that’s going to affect a lot of people, even years later.” Those were golden years for country music and they produced plenty of gems.
The Lonestar Quandary
When you’ve knocked out more than 30 hits, each equally adored by fans, deciding which ones to roll out during a show can be a bit of a pickle. And that’s precisely the sweet spot Lonestar finds itself in, especially when they also have fresh music to share in the form of their new EP, “Iconic, Vol. 1,” which covers rock songs by female artists.
Randy “Keech” Rainwater, the band’s drummer confesses, “We have a lot of No. 1 songs that we’re trying to fit into a show and a new project. And some of the hits we had, those are undeniable; you have to put those in the show. We just try to keep the crowd entertained, and hope that at the end of the night they walk away with smiles on their faces.” Singer-guitarist Drew Womack is another integral part of this group.
With that said, grab your tickets, summon your inner cowboy spirit and gear up for a night of melody, nostalgia, and timeless country music, served Lonestar style!
