Wade Hayes wins another one....
dedicated fan, that is!
Wade Hayes wins another one....
This review was submitted to me while I was the editor of a fan magazine. Reading the review, I was reminded of the excitement I felt the first time I met Wade Hayes and how, I too, was struck by his sincere charm and humility. This review reflects the feelings of a majority of Wade’s fans. You always come away from an encounter with Wade feeling a sense of awe and a renewed
faith in humanity. His talent is only one facet of this remarkable entertainer. He IS an inspiring, kind, and
genuine human being who loves what he does and it shows. This review and photo
are published here with the permission of the writer and the photographer.
Mohegan Sun Casino - Connecticut
Wade played at the Mohegan Sun Casino in the Wolf’s Den, which is a circular cocktail Lounge in the middle of the casino. It was a free concert, thus there were people waiting in line to get in at 3:30 PM for the 7:00 PM show! Keep in mind, this was a Thursday night too, so people made special plans in order to be there on a non-weekend night. We arrived in line at 4:30 and were able to get a seat on the floor near the stage.
Concert Review
by: Teri Muskavitch
photo by Elaine Hollenbach
Wade’s band, Wheel Hoss, was positioned by exactly 7:00 o’clock and the announcer wasted no time introducing Wade to the waiting audience. He came striding on stage from the back and immediately went into his first number, This Is The Life For Me, while the audience cheered and enthusiastically applauded. He and his band had a unique way of segueing into the next number without stopping, which kept the momentum and excitement going in the crowd. After Old Enough to Know Better, he stopped to say he wanted to play some cuts from his newest album. The audience showed approval of that as he sang many of his new songs, including: How Do You Sleep at Night, The Day She Left Tulsa, This Is My Heart Talking Now, One More Night With You, Tore Up From the Floor Up, and of course, When the Wrong One Loves You Right. He also included many of his older songs, which the audience more than appreciated, such as Don’t Stop, Someone Had To Teach You, Where Do I Go To Start All Over, Our Time Is Coming, and of course, On a Good Night.
For anyone who has not attended a live concert and wondered if the recording studio is what makes the singers sound so good, well, that is NOT the case with Wade. From the first note he sang, his voice was as clear and strong as on all of his albums. If it weren’t for the strong background beat reverberating through the lounge seats and the over-all singing and hand clapping of the crowd, you would swear you were listening to his perfected voice on a recording.
Wade definitely had a way with the audience. I’m Still Dancing With You brought couples down to the tiny dance floor near the stage, where Wade nonchalantly tossed out guitar picks to the appreciative dancers, and he never missed a note while doing it. He would simply smile demurely and toss out a pick, one at a time, with a slight flick of his wrist while he continued to play. He did this throughout the performance. Even the men in the audience were reaching for them, which proves that Wade is not just a performer only liked by the ladies. There were almost as many men, as women, at this concert.
When Wade sang Wichita Lineman and held onto the note to the phrase, "....still on the linnnneeeee", the men were applauding as loud as the women were! Wade displays a sincere appreciation for his fans. At one point, as he was starting a song, he stopped, said, "Excuse me", and walked over to the edge of the stage where a fan was standing with a bouquet of flowers. He bent down, picked up the flowers, conversed with her for a split second, and after placing the flowers by his microphone, continued on with the number. He also was extremely good about having his picture taken. More than once, he ducked under the microphone and gave a big smile to fans that were up close to the stage with their cameras, so that they could get a good picture. He also made a point of noticing people who waved to him from the audience. He did his best to acknowledge them, even saying to one person, "I can see you waving. How about you come on down here and dance?"
What makes Wade unique is that he is not only a singer and songwriter. He is an excellent musician, as well. He played various guitars while he sang. He did not rely solely on his band to back him up - although he could have, because his band (Wheel Hoss) was excellent. Wade performed for more than an hour, then announced that he would sign autographs. The audience brought him back for an encore, and he dispensed the rest of his guitar picks to the enthusiastic crowd. He was gracious enough to thank US (the audience) for coming out to see him. Well, I for one, have to thank HIM for coming to Connecticut. It’s not often enough we get a chance to see such a great country talent here in New England!
If you aren’t a member of his Fan Club, I would suggest you join. Fan club members are taken backstage (before or after a concert) where Wade is personally introduced to you. He takes the time to talk to you, sign his autograph, and even pose for a picture if you have your camera with you. That is where I found out that what everyone has written about him is absolutely true. He is very unassuming and appreciative of his fans and career. He actually seemed a bit embarrassed when I told him he was 'gorgeous'. (Well, Wade, you ARE gorgeous!). When I shyly told him that the Editor of 2Steppin’ wanted me to give him a hug for her, he smiled and said, "Well, give me that hug!" (Thanks, Cheryl! I never would have had the nerve to ask for it for myself!!)
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