“She’s in Love With the Boy.” “Last Summer.” “Gone Country.” “Goodbye Says It All.” You can’t truly call yourself a country fan if you don’t know these titles. They all stem from a special era in country music . . . one that laid the groundwork for many of today’s brightest stars. We are of course talking about the 90s, and these songs and more were all sung last April at Exit/In by today’s up and comers in the first edition of “90s Night with Adam Sanders and Friends.” Sanders, a signed Yellow Dog writer with hits under his belt like “Ain’t Worth the Whiskey” for Cole Swindell and “Hell of a Night” for Dustin Lynch, invited some of his best friends to the Exit/In stage to pay homage to those who came before them. Hit makers like Craig Campbell, Adam Craig, Lauren Alaina, Dustin Lynch, and Michael Ray were joined by guest artists Rhett Atkins, Shenandoah, Mark Wills, Gary Chapman, and Martina McBride in what became one of the most memorable Nashville nights of the year.
Fast forward one year. An even more enthusiastic crowd (if that’s possible) at yet another established venue with even more friends and legendary guest artists. And this time, the second edition of 90s Night with Adam Sanders and Friends was thrown to benefit the TJ Martell Foundation, a leader in today’s market for cancer research and treatment. Hosted by 90s icons Lorriane Crook and Charlie Chase and Sirius XM The Highway’s Buzz Brainard, 90s night was full of memories, stories, and surprises and it all took place at Marathon Music Works on March 13, 2017!
Sanders, who has always credited his idol Alan Jackson for his own pursuit of a country music career (so much so that he has a song on his EP called “Alan Jackson”), kicked things off with a fun version of “Chattahoochee.” He then brought out the one and only Tracy Lawrence for Tracy’s classic “Sticks and Stones”. Tracy shared with Crook and Chase details about his new Good Ole Days album and his radio show, in which he admitted that as a huge fan of Reba, he would like to interview her again. Because . . . who wouldn’t?!
Chris Lane had our 90s “Fix”, even going so far as to sport a blue cowboy graphic print, tucked in shirt, big belt buckle, and classic black cowboy hat. Shaking his hips to hits like “I Like It, I Love It” and “Should’ve Been a Cowboy”, he showed us how fast he can spit out words when he joined John Michael Montgomery for the auctioneer song, “Sold (To The Grundy County Auction.)”
And sold we definitely were on returning 90s icon member Michael Ray with his sexy renditions of Dwight Yoakum’s “Fast As You” and “Better Class of Losers” from his idol Randy Travis. Singer turned winemaker Aaron Tippin joined Ray on stage, along with wife Thea, for a little “Kiss This” action.
Tyler Farr slowed the pace with his simple, yet powerful version of “I Let Her Lie” to honor Daryle Singletary, who recently passed unexpectedly. He picked the mood back up with “That Ain’t My Truck” and then brought out his special guests (and one of the most memorable harmonic bands of the 90s) Blackhawk. Henry Paul led the gentlemen in “Every Once in a While” and “I Sure Can Smell the Rain.”
Chris and Preston of LOCASH played not one, but two cards in their back pocket, with the impeccable Tim Rushlow and the beloved Joe Diffie after brushing off the “Dust on the Bottle.” Rushlow serenaded the excited crowd with the Little Texas hit, “What Might Have Been” who then sang along with Diffie to “John Deere Green.”
The band of bros reunited for a little Brooks and Dunn/Garth medley in which Preston (LOCASH) left “the light of the Neon Moon” to go into the crowd and join his “Friends in Low Places.” The kid at heart also borrowed a huge camera from the camera man in order to film the audience singing the infamous third verse. Even Garth hardly sings that one (and if you’ve been to one of his shows, you know!)
Heart throb Cole Swindell attempted to do the “Watermelon Crawl” and by do, we mean sing. But since he is a Georgia boy who knows how hot it gets in late July, we think he should learn the dance. . . in case he ever sees that homemade sign while driving through on tour. And no 90s show is complete of course without the King . . . a little Strait himself . . . well, Swindell’s spot on version of “Check Yes or No” anyway. Don’t worry. We were all thrilled to “Meet in the Middle” with Swindell and Diamond Rio’s Marty Roe and Jimmy Olander.
You can “Never Have Too Much Fun” with Adam Sanders and Friends at the 90s tribute shows! Especially when the ending is so fitting with a tribute to one of the most authentic country voices of all decades, Daryle Singletary. We hope this will be a yearly party! And if you missed this one because it sold out, be sure and get your tickets early for the next show that we just know is probably already in the works. So we’ll be eagerly waiting and watching and guessing as to what 90s songs are going to make the cut next!
Our only suggestion? Start adding the girls! So many memorable songs. And so many bright shining females in the industry today that were influenced by the likes of Reba, Trisha, Pam, Tanya, and Shania. Pull Cam. Pull Lauren Alaina. Cassadee Pope. The list goes on and on. So basically what we’re saying is . . . . someone plan a Legendary Ladies Night and we will be there. We’ll even help you plan it. And kudos to Adam Sanders and team for taking us all back to one of the most memorable decades of country music. Long live the 90s!
Check out our photo gallery from the event below! And of course, for videos, check out our Instagram, @thecountrynote.