Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Montgomery’s Show Was Worth The Wait

William Berry Correspondent

John Michael Montgomery, Friday at the Arena.

Country fans setting out to hear John Michael Montgomery at the Arena on Friday got a treat. Not only did they get to hear Montgomery in top form, but they heard some great singing from openers Mark Chesnutt and James Bonnevie as well.

Montgomery was slated to open the new Arena back in September, but was sidelined with throat problems. With his throat back to its golden self, he seemed to be genuinely happy to be in Spokane.

The Grammy-winning star several time offered apologies for not showing up earlier, and took a lesson in the pronunciation of Spokane - “cane” or “can.” He was somber and serious when he said, “I worry about these things.”

If Montgomery’s near-hero status had not already won the packed Arena over, bygones were certainly bygones when he traded his black cowboy hat for a “Spokane” baseball cap which a woman brought to the front of the stage. The crowd appreciated the sentiment, and he wore the cap for the rest of the show.

Montgomery nailed down his popular hits with the easy style which has put him at the top of the charts for the last couple of years. In the ballad-and-love-song department, the slow, powerful and positive “I Love the Way You Love Me” elicited screams of approval, and fans swooned at the words to the big love promise, “I Swear.”

“Life’s a Dance (You Learn as You Go)” had the audience literally singing in the aisles, but Montgomery also showed that he has plenty of depth for more than a few pop winners. The single mom’s lament, “Livin’ In No Man’s Land,” turned a few heads as did the rock rendition of Pete Seeger’s road song, “Here I Am - Here I Go - Turn the Page.”

The Kentucky singer trotted out some hard-driving straight-ahead country with the good-time “‘Til Sunday at Closing Time” and his powerful party song, “Kickin’ It Up.” Montgomery ended the show with an extended rocking guitar solo on the driving “Country Ain’t What I Say, It’s What I Am.”

The show’s first opener was James Bonnevie. He applies his fresh and clear voice to a somewhat rockabilly style on songs like “Dog On a Toolbox (on the Back of a Pickup Truck, Trying to Hang On).”

Bonnevie has strong material for his new album, to be released Tuesday. “I Don’t Think I Will” and the rocking “She’s Got A Mind of Her Own” show a good range.

Mark Chesnutt, next in the lineup, also has a new album out, titled “Wings.” He shared a few tunes from it, including the up-tempo and bluesy “Brother-in-law Song (Wrong Place at the Wrong Time),” and the title track. His generous set also included a dramatic portion - he sat on a stool to sing “No one Like You” and “I’ll Always Miss Dreaming My Dreams.”

Chesnutt’s voice has a deep bottom and a real twang. His songs have more harmonic twists and variety than a lot of country fare.

Fans certainly got their money’s worth, a long back-to-back show with three strong vocalists.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo