In Steve’s words: “I was in Sec 8 row 19 in the grandstand. Sara Bareilles did her part of the show and it was nice outside, sunshine, little breeze, not too hot. They set up the stage for Sugarland. Off in the distance you could see some dark clouds moving in. After they were done setting up the stage, an announcer came to the stage (Hank FM 97.1 WLHK) and said that Sugarland was about to take the stage and there is a storm in the distance. They were going to try and start the show and if it were to start raining, then everyone could take cover in the Pepsi Coliseum and other buildings, then when the rain passed, they would start the show again. He walked off the stage and in less then 2 min, the winds came in and sand was everywhere, I thought immediately – tornado! People were starting to panic and running for the exits. It was too full to go anywhere so I threw myself over 2 of the people that were with me and hoped for the best because I was truly scared!! All of a sudden, the wind picked up even more and as we are looking forward, you see the top of the stage where the tarp is flip up, the stage swayed a little left then just went to the right and down forward! Then EVERYONE panicked and I thought, we have to get going before this grandstand goes down too! It was metal bleachers and just the scary thought of the stage blowing down made you feel like it could happen to the grandstand too! I felt for the first time in my life, I was a goner! We grabbed firmly and headed down the stairs to get to safety in the buildings! People were in a frenzy! The police, fire trucks, ambulances were there instantly! We got to the buildings and little girls were crying because they couldn’t find their parents so we helped them find them, then there was a man in a wheel chair and he couldn’t get through so we got him inside. The lightening and rain picked up for a few minutes then let up so we though we would head to the vehicles. We had to walk that direction towards the stage and around to get to it. We met the triage center and it was horrible!! I saw a lady with her foot upside down, and another with a missing limb, we got around to the tunnels and got across to where our vehicles were and saw the downed stage! I can’t imagine how crazy 9-11-01 must have been if this was only a portion of that because this was crazy, scary!! There were 4 light people in the top of the stage when it went down. They reported there were 2 people crushed by the large hanging speakers that came down. There was a doctor that had been in the front row who said on television that there was a 3 or 4 year old girl beside him and he got out of the way but she didn’t and he had to stop the bleeding of her compound fractured arm! I feel for the families of the lost and hurt! The youngest who didn’t make it was only 23 from Fort Wayne! I was horrified in the Grandstand but can’t even imagine what the people near the stage went through!”

Another friend reports that one of the victims, the spotlight operator Nathan Byrd, was a single fahter of two teenagers.  The family is struggling to find money for the funeral, for the kids to have clothes to wear to the funeral, and money for school clothes and supplies.  If there is any way you can help this family, the local Stagehand Union has set up a fund for your donations:

IATSE LOCAL 30
ATTN:NATHAN BYRD FAMILY
1407 EAST RIVERSIDE DRIVE
INDIANAPOLIS, IN 46202-2037

A State Fair Remberance Fund has also been set up to accept donations to help the families of those killed and those injured.  Donations can be made online here.

I know there are lots of causes, and unfortunately lately there have been more than a few tragedies that have needed our donations.  But if you cannot make a monetary donation,  there’s still one thing you can do…pray.

To my beloved Hoosiers, my heart aches for you all.  Your strength will unite you and get you thru this terrifying event…just know you’re in our thoughts and prayers.

xoxo
-Charley

You may not know his name, but you’ve definitely seen his face – on the big screen in movies like Just Married and Secondhand Lions, on the small screen in TV shows like Angel and Leverage, and even in other singers’ music videos like “So Small” by Carrie Underwood.  But now Christian Kane is fighting his way to stardom in the Country music world, and as his debut single “House Rules” proves, he’s holding nothing back.

Now, many people are skeptical when actors turn to singing, especially in the Country Music world, but this guy is the real deal.  Christian was born in Texas, raised in Oklahoma, and his parents met in the rodeo…doesn’t get much more Country than that!  He turned to acting in college, but has always included singing in his repertoire…in his first professional acting gig, on the TV series Fame: LA, he played a Country singer.  Christian currently stars in the TNT series Leverage, where he plays hard-hitting Eliot Spencer, and recently showcased his singing talents in Episode 306, performing “Thinking of You”.

My best friend has a soft spot for Christian (ok, she has the hots for him!) so when he performed at Johnny & June’s back in February, we had to go.  I must say, when Christian hits that stage, it’s no acting job…he puts every bit of energy into his live show and totally rocked the house.  (Which was even more impressive when we found out he had the flu!  Maybe that’s where the acting chops came in…we would have never guessed)  His current CD The House Rules was released in December of 2010, and features the title track (see the video below) as well as his current single, “Let Me Go” .  If you like your Country mixed with a little butt-kickin’ rock n’ roll, Christian Kane is your man! Get more info and hear more tunes on his website . Enjoy!
xoxo
-Charley

When you see the Chris Lane Band live, you’ll soon realize the emphasis is not on “Chris Lane”, it’s on “Band”.  6 individuals make up the CLB, and each plays an important part in crafting the band’s sound.  Of course, there’s Chris Lane, lead vocalist & rhythm guitar, who along with twin brother, Cory, on drums, started seriously pursuing a music career after college and founded the CLB (you may have noticed them in the audition segments of Season 7 of American Idol & Season 1 of Can You Duet!) Then there’s Chelsea Sorrell on co-lead vocals, a girl with a Southern twang and a powerhouse voice that can take any Country song and make it her own. (and she also made the top 60 on Season 10 of American Idol!). Add in the talents of Dean Kreseski & Joseph Pope on guitar, and Tom Sale on bass, and you’ve got a full-scale party every time the band plays!  The CLB’s focus is on Country/Rock, but you never know when they’ll mash that up with a little Pop, Classic Rock, Rap, and even old-school R&B!  But their original songs are Pure Country, as is evident below on the first single, “Too Tennessee”.  Check the Wolf’s concert page and local listings for the next time you can catch the CLB live, because trust me, it won’t be long before they’re packing huge venue’s all over the USA!!
xoxo
-Charley
CLB official website

They’ve been mentored by Nashville Hall of Fame songwriter, Kye Fleming, scored a record deal from one of the most powerful label heads in Nashville, Scott Borchetta, and landed an opening slot on one of this summer’s biggest tours, with Country Superstar, Brad Paisley.  They’re the hottest new band you’ve never heard of, Edens Edge.  But trust me, you will!

Edens Edge stopped by the 93.1 The Wolf Studios in early June, and the staff was immediately impressed with their soaring harmonies and true-to-their-Arkansas roots sound.  The group consists of Lead Singer Hannah Blaylock, Mandolin-Banjo-Guitar Player Cherrill Green, and Guitar-Dobro Player Dean Berner.  Hannah’s lead vocals are amazing, and the one thing that really stood out to me about her is that you really feel like she believes what she’s singing in every song.  That to me shows the difference between a good singer and a great performer.

The band just released a 5 song EP that includes the first single, “Amen” and a moving song titled “Christ Alone”. Be sure to check out their live performances right here in the Wolf Studios under the video section on my Facebook Page!   If you’re going to see Brad Paisley this summer, get there early and catch their set!!  Find out more about Edens Edge at www.edensedge.com

xoxo
-Charley

He’s played with the likes of Johnny & June, Charlie Daniels, and Hank Williams Jr.  He’s written songs for Rascal Flatts and Montgomery Gentry.  He’s even played for the President.  And he’s only 19 years old!!

His name is Hunter Hayes, and he scored the opening slot on one of the biggest concert tours of the summer of 2011, the Speak Now Tour with Taylor Swift, so I’m sure you’ll be hearing his name alot in the coming months.  Hunter started playing a toy accordian at age 2, and hasn’t stopped since.  He learned by ear how to play keyboards, guitar, drums and more, and plays them ALL on his debut single, “Storm Warning”!  Some may be quick to discount Hunter because of his cute looks and young age, but his songwriting and vocals show a wisdom well beyond his 19 years.  Plus, if you have a teenage daughter that you’re trying to sway to Country music, just show her this video…she will be in love!

Find out more about Hunter at www.hunterhayes.com, and listen for his fresh Wolf track, Storm Warning, right here on The Wolf!

xoxo
-Charley

I first heard of Jason Sturgeon thru friends from “back home” in Indiana on Facebook.  When I heard there was a talented Country singer from the “next town over”, I had to check him out!  Jason grew up in Petersburg, IN, population 35oo, and just 13 miles down the road from where I grew up.  There’s not much in that part of Indiana except cornfields and cows, and weekends are spent with good friends, family, and good music.  That’s how Jason started singing…entertaining his family for quarters!

When Jason decided to immerse himself in a music career, he hooked up with Dane Clark  (a member of the band of another famous Indiana boy, John Mellencamp).  Jason learned from Dane & his fellow musicians’ insight and experience, and the resulting album is called, That’s Me. You can definitely hear the Mellencamp influence on my favorite track, “Simple Life”!

Jason played last month at Johnny & June’s, and stopped by the Wolf for an interview with me.  Check it out here http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?… and listen for an acoustic performance of his latest single, “The Cover” at the end!  Get more info on Jason at www.jasonsturgeonmusic.com  and keep an eye on the concert calendar for the next time he rolls thru town.

xoxo
-Charley

xoxo

-Charley

I love Facebook.  I love the fact that I can keep up with friends’ day-to-day activities when our busy lives keep us from getting in touch.  I love that I’m back in touch with people that I went to high school and college with.  What I don’t love is when someone you’re not real acquainted with sends you a friend request, and although you don’t want to ignore them and risk offending them, you don’t really want them all up in your bidness either.  So what do you do??  You go ahead and accept their friend request, then hide all your status updates from them!  I know, I know…it’s sort of a backhanded friend acceptance, but it’s better than ignoring them completely.   They never have to know, and if you become closer to them, you can always change the settings.  Click here to find out how.

xoxoxo
-Charley