Arts & Culture
Country music concert puts some swagger in steps
The Pointer
jmath438@uwsp.edu
The Quandt Fieldhouse was screaming as country music stars Josh Gracin and Jimmy Wayne graced the stage at the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point on Sunday, Oct. 26.
Jimmy Wayne opened the show, singing hits from his first self-titled album as well as his latest album, released in August, called, “Do You Believe Me Now.”
Both of these albums include a multitude of hits including “I Love You This Much,” “Stay Gone” and his first number one hit, the title track off his latest album, “Do You Believe Me Now.”
Wayne’s difficult childhood, growing up in and out of foster homes and living on the streets at 16 played host in his underdog anthem, “Kerosene Kid.”
He also played his current single, the second off his latest album, “I Will,” which is currently making its way up the charts.
“This song, ‘I Will’ is rockin’ up the charts really fast, and it’s already within the top 40 within three weeks,” said Wayne.
After the initial success of his first album, Wayne disappeared from the charts for a while. After the collapse of his first record label, DreamWorks, he had to re-establish himself. After three-and-a-half years, he finally released his current album under Valory Music.
“What happened was the realization of no matter who you are or how many records you sold, this could all end tomorrow, and you just don’t take any of it for granted,” said Wayne. “I had so much momentum, four hit songs on the radio and it was just rockin’, and it stopped. In one month it was over.”
After a crowd pleasing performance by Wayne, Josh Gracin took the stage with his catalogue of hits including, “I Want To Live,” “Brass Bed,” “We Weren’t Crazy” and his current single, “Unbelievable,” written for his wife, Ann Marie.
Gracin’s energetic stage presence, talented band and upbeat songs made him a crowd favorite.
An encore by Gracin consisted of a stunning performance of “Ain’t Going Down ‘til the Sun Comes Up” by Garth Brooks, one of his greatest influences. He finished the show with “Nothing to Lose,” which was the first number one single of his self-titled first album.
Currently on tour for his latest album, “We Weren’t Crazy,“ Gracin has come a long way since taking fourth place in season two of “American Idol.”
“We’re just touring and doing a lot of writing now,” said Gracin. “Because it took so long to get the second album out, we’re just looking at this as a way to get out there and get momentum back.”
Gracin’s duty in the Marines made it difficult to record once he was signed with Lyric Street Records.
While he was in the Marines, Gracin’s music gives little evidence of the experience.
“I never wanted to put that out in the forefront and kind of use that to propel my career and move it to the top,” said Gracin.
Flying back and forth to record while on leave slowed production of his second album and he is looking forward to having more time to record, write and perform full-time now that he is a civilian.
“I have a lot more time. I think that’s one problem that we had getting out the second album,” said Gracin. “They were planning on getting it out a lot quicker.”
The lengthy production of the second album, due to his career in the Marines, gave Gracin a chance to be more involved in its content. He co-wrote two songs and has one of his own songs on the album.
“‘We Weren’t Crazy,’ I wrote that and had the album come out; I wouldn’t have that single and that was a top 10 single,” said Gracin.
“Unbelievable,” the final track on “We Weren’t Crazy” was written solely by Gracin in the late hours of the night. Gracin’s support from his wife is evident in the lyrics to the song.
Currently with three kids, and a fourth along the way, constant touring provides its own challenges to an artist with a family.
“Keeping your phone on you one hundred percent of the time and waiting for a call, and if you don‘t you get yelled at. There are a lot of challenges that come with that,” said Gracin.
“It’s always a challenge. It’s going to be even more of a challenge with a fourth one on the way. We finally got a nanny to help her out though. So hopefully that eases the stress.”
Gracin’s busy schedule, life at home, and his previous life in the Marines has helped him to become the artist and performer that he is today.
“Like everything that has gone on in my life, what seems to be a bad situation somehow, someway turns around to be a good situation as long as you keep moving forward and learn from it,” he said.
