Here is a constantly changing list of the top five shows, concerts, etc. that I have made an appearance at over the past several years. They are all special to me for one reason or another and I hope to convey why. All but one has taken place in Texas. One I saw had a $100-a-ticket cost. Another almost felt like attending a raucous church assembly. And the one that clocks in at #1 had more than a touch of fate involved in my being there. I'll start from the bottom and work to the top over several posts. Here we go...

Coming in at #5 on my all-time list of live shows that I have seen personally is Jack Ingram & The Beat Up Ford Band live at Gruene Hall on December 11, 2004. Jack's Christmas show at Gruene is one that I haven't missed in years and one where I always have a blast. The only show that rivals it seems to be the Real.American.Music festival at Floores Country Store at Labor Day time, but that deserves its own post in the near future even though it is not in the top 5.

(A quick aside - This particular Gruene Hall show happened to be just two nights after I had seen Robert Earl Keen in the same building for his Christmas show. The 12/9/04 REK show was the first time I had heard REK's bass player Bill Whitbeck sing his great tune "There's Only One S In New Braunfels" which I derive way too much pleasure in hearing. But seriously people, it isn't pronounced New Brauns-fells.)

Jack & the BUF are consistently my favorite act to watch. I have seen them too many times and they never disappoint me. Jack always gives away everything he has whether there are 30, 300, or 3000 people in the audience. I know this because I have seen him play as a part of 30, 300, and 3000.

I did arrive a tad late to the Hall that night because I just had to see LeBron James (23pts, 10asts, 6rebs in the Cavs only regular-season game San Antonio) lose to the Spurs. Jack had already hit the stage, but I managed to catch almost all of the show. The crowd was heavy, but not teeming at what I would call a 'Pat Green' level. There was nothing too crazy happening and my brother and I settled in somewhere in the middle of the pack after meeting up with some other friends at the show.

At the time I was a little bummed that Bukka Allen wasn't there on the organ which I thought he might be, but I let it slide because I am really enjoying the addition of Chris Masterson, on lead everything, to the Beat Up Ford Band. That in itself is a big step for me because I thought for a long time that no one could drop the opening riff of Work This Out like former BUF member Jens Pinkernell. Anyhow, somewhere along the line Jack decided the stage was played out and started moving into the rafters of Gruene Hall. He did some swinging on one of the lower beams before he maximized his upward mobility and did his best impression of a cat who got himself very high up before thinking about the details of the return trip.

The crowd at this point was absolutely loving it. Jack had his mic and continued to sing even though he was closer to the roof than the stage. At the end of the song he managed to wrangle himself earthbound again and took the stage saying something about finding Joe Ely's drivers license up there. Not sure how much longer the show went after that, but it wrapped up in usual fashion with Jack's version of the Will Kimbrough / Gwil Owen written Goodnight Moon. When the last verse came Jack unplugged his guitar, stepped away from his mic, and sang the last verse truly acoustic to a willingly hushed crowd.

As is the case every time I have seen Jack Ingram perform, he went back to his merch table after the show and stuck around to sign any and everything for all of his wanting fans. Putting on a late show on a Saturday night can take a lot out of you. Jack certainly gave away a lot away that night. It amazes me that he hauled back to Dallas in the wee hours and ran the White Rock Marathon the next day.

Jack, keep takin' it to the people.

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