TWO YEARS AGO TODAY – Taylor Hicks in Mobile, AL
February 27, 2009
Going Mobile – by beachn
Taylor’s much anticipated concert in Mobile, Alabama on February 27, 2007 gave us a performance beyond our expectations. With Taylor’s beloved Grandmother Ms. Joni in the room, along with personal friends and family from the Gulf Coast area, Taylor could certainly feel an extra special vibe in the building that night. Of course, the Soul Patrol was in full force, as this local girl was surrounded by fans from as far away as Seattle, New York and Canada. At this point in the tour, the band is feeling Taylor’s rhythm as their direction and we are loving the ride!! The energy reached a new level when Taylor premiered as an encore his version of The Who’s Going Mobile.
Fox 10 – Heaven Knows – when he came hooooooooooooooome!
Photo by beachn
TWO YEARS AGO TODAY – Taylor Hicks in Orlando, FL
February 24, 2009
Shake N Bake – by Jan4Taylor
I don’t know where to begin….I couldn’t believe it..Taylor Hicks coming to my hometown! PBoyers, Hottay and I went on a Florida road trip! Our first stop was Jacksonville, then Tampa and our final stop, my hometown ORLANDO…..we met up with another loyal Taylor fan, ConnieB and we were all ready to party. We arrived at Universal and shopped a little, had something to eat and then it was time to get into line for the concert early so we could get a good spot…but the line was unbelievable already, over 2 hours before showtime…but we stayed put, it wasn’t too long after that they opened the gates and we all started running – it was insane! we ended up about 4 or 5 rows from the stage…and there we sat not moving crammed together like sardines for 2 hours waiting on the concert to start. The show started and the applause was awesome. Taylor was in his glory – singing, dancing, jumping and twirling around the stage.
When he started with the “SHAKE AND BAKE” we knew something was up, the moment he opened his mouth and that beautiful sound came out it seemed like something was different and we didn’t know what was going to happen – you could cut the air with a knife. The moment Taylor started into the SHAKE the crowd erupted in thunderous SCREAMS AND APPLAUSE! Pat was screaming, I was filming and trying not to lose it, then I screamed at the top of my lungs…he’s “Taking Us To Church!” When the end of the song came we quite couldn’t believe what we had just witnessed – everyone was a little spellbound… still to this day I get chills thinking about that moment….I will never forget that trip as long as I live. I witnessed that fantastic performance with my best friends and also got a hug and an autograph from Taylor in Jacksonville!
Video by Jan4Taylor, photo by Karen
HARP! by Cassie
Though I had seen Taylor at a couple of AI concerts in 2006 (including the original, inimitable “shadow show” at Coyote Joe’s in Charlotte in August),Coral Springs, Florida was my first solo Taylor concert.
A bunch of Soul Patrolers gathered pre-concert, and we had a great time meeting new and old friends from Gray Charles and THF.
These videos are from The Runaround. Please do not re-post without permission from the videographer.
Videos by Cassie
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TWO YEARS AGO TODAY – Tampa, FL – February 22, 2007
February 22, 2009
Takin’ It to Tampa – by 4Tay
The Tampa show was one that many of us felt we just had to be there. Taylor’s 4 shows in Florida kicked off his first solo tour and we were ready for some real, live Taylor. The album’s released, the band is smoking and then we hear that Taylor is sick for the first show in Jacksonville. Taylor not only goes out to perform, he slays the crowd. So big things are expected on the second night. From the first minute Taylor was on stage to the last breath he took an hour and a half later, it was pure joy in the theater. Taylor was happy to be there and kept telling us his name, which would go on to become a funny in-joke amongst the Soul Patrol. He mentioned his ‘boss’ telling him his first single was to be JTFTW. Months later in VA, he would tell the story in a whole new way. Taylor moved and grooved his way through the setlist and the crowd ate from his hand all night. If he was sick, and we know he was, he never showed it. The band was tight, Taylor was talkative and funny but most of all he was soooo happy to be there headlining his own tour. Many shows later, I thought that the Beacon and Cohasset were my favorites, but Tampa is right up there with them because it was Taylor history being made and those of us who have been brought together by Taylor’s music just had to be there to witness it.
Photograph and video by 4Tay and Laciluvbug
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TWO YEARS AGO TODAY – Taylor Hicks begins his first solo tour – Jacksonville, FL – February 21, 2007
February 20, 2009
Young Turks – by Diane
I felt honored to be present for Taylor Hicks’ very first concert on his first solo tour. The crowd was on its feet from the first glimpse of silver hair to the final note. When Taylor came out on the stage, there was a ROAR that shook the Florida Theater to the roof. Taylor just stopped, drank it in for a moment and then did “the lean” in sheer joy. This is what he had waited and worked for his whole life. After a few songs, he slung the guitar around to the side and began to talk to us about the significance of his first concert being at the Florida Theater. He asked us if we knew who else had their first indoor concert at this theater. Everyone yelled “Elvis Presley!” “Who?” “Elvis!!” “Who???” “Elvis!!!” He loved that the audience knew that.
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