I saw my first Vince Gill concert last night in Arnold, MO. It was nothing short of a religious experience.

I had second row seats...but I think I could have sat anywhere and Vince still would have had my attention in the palm of his hand. He played for about 2 1/2 hours...great show.

He did more songs than I can remember...but I'll tell you some of the highlights.

He let us shout out request, and he played mine which was Little Brother. I also wanted to hear There's Nothing Like a Woman, but he never got to that.

For you super die-hard fans, he played a song off of his first record. I think it was called Oh Carolina...something with Carolina in the title. I'm 24 years old, and have followed Vince since I was a kid...but I had never heard it. I'm sure those of you that are hardcore fans know what I'm talking about. The lady next to me who had seen many shows acted like she had never heard him play that one.

Another great highlight was when he started to play When I Called Your Name, he could not remember the words...and had to restart twice. Finally, he just said, "the only thing I can do now is play this song like Willie Nelson would play it." So, he played the melody of the song on his guitar like Willie plays (real hard and choppy). He finally rememered the words and started singing. He said he's played that song a million times and never messed it up!

He also played some song that said, "It's hard to kiss your lips at night and chew your a** out all day long." A song that apparently his father wrote? Again, I am sure you die-hard fans will know.

I was glad he did several songs off of These Days. He opened with Don't Let Our Love Start Slippin' Away, and it was awesome...closed with Liza Jane and then the encore was a "New Hymn" he wrote called "Heaven."

Like I said, I can't remember all the songs, but if you ask, I can tell you if he played it or not. Another good one was "Jenny Dreams of Trains."

Unbelievable night! He's coming back to the St. Louis area to do a Christmas show with Amy...looking forward to that.

Glad you enjoyed yourself at your first Vince concert! And now I bet you can't wait to see him again.

As for the song It's Hard to Kiss the Lips at Night..., it's a phrase his father used, so Vince wrote the song based on that phrase...then after he wrote the song and was thinking about the song/phrase, Vince realized that the song was about his mother!

As for Oh, Carolina, yes Vince has an old song with that title. If you want to check out some of Vince's RCA songs, I'd suggest finding "The Essential Vince Gill." It's basically a Greatest Hits of his RCA years and has something like 20+ songs on it.

Thank you! I appreciate it.

So great to hear another person is/has become a Vince Gill fan.We all have that religous experience . He is the best .

So glad you enjoyed your first Vince concert. Anna's right, we all experience that religious experience. There is just something about Vince, and he is certainly blessed with the ability to make a song magical and very emotional.

Yes, Arnold was such great experience! We truly enjoyed it. One that has seen a few concerts and several of his, this was the BEST I have ever seen!

Thanks Vince for sharing your talent with us! We ( the elderly couple with the old faded "Look at Us" T-Shirts who you did a Cheating song for) were privileged to just be a part of it!

Hi! I was sitting just behind you and to your left. Congrats on getting a song played for you.

I was there for the concert, front row center. I agree it was a VERY exciting moment in time for this Vince fan. If any one has photos they could share with me I would be forever grateful, my cam!era didn't work and I am truly bummed about that. I can pay postage and processing fees gladly!

By the way, I am the one who requested the Oh Carolina song. I have always dreamed of hearing this one Live, followed closely by Colder than Winter. It was amazing! Followed up by a back stage visit, this 42 year old fan of 20+ years was blessed!

From his 1983 Album, tract number 2, here are the lyrics for you.

Sunrise through the evergreens
Another day is born
The hills take on a golden glow
A Carolina morn
I used to see you in her eyes
Now I just got to know
Oh Carolina, how could you let her go

Oh Carolina, if I'd only known
Oh Carolina, I would have never gone

I thought the beauty of your hills
Would hold her here for me
I never dreamed while I was gone
You'd ever set her free
I trusted you with all my heart
And the only love I've known
Oh Carolina, how could you let her go

Oh Carolina, if I'd only known
Oh Carolina, I would have never gone
Oh Carolina, if I'd only known
Oh Carolina, I would have never gone
I would have never gone

Hello Kirsten!

We were the old couple next to you in the fadded Shirts... and heard you request it! Great choice.. I got only a couple pics.. To great of a momment to be behind the lense...I'll link to you..

Steve

I was first row dead center of the balcony. I could see the couple with the 'Look at Us' t-shirts and was so envious of you guys in the first couple of rows. Although, it was also great to be in the first row of the balcony.

This is the second time I've seen Vince. I got to meet him and sit side stage in Chattanooga in June 2007 but this concert was by far the better fo the two.

I got some absolutely great shots with my digital camera. If you'll get me your e-mail address, I'll be happy to send them to you electronically once I get them downloaded.

I was going to meet my sister in Nashville for the Christmas concert but now that I know he's coming to STL, I think I'll do that instead.

I was at this show, as well, and it was indeed a wonderful night! I enjoyed it so very much!

Vince had commented that it had only been 2 weeks since his knee surgery and also said that he blamed the pain medication on the reason he messed up the words to 'When I Call Your Name.' He was a great sport about it, though and made everyone laugh along with him......I haven't laughed as much as I did that night in a very long time.

He did a lot of talking & joking in between songs and I really enjoyed that.

I was fortunate enough to have a meet and greet with Vince after the show and it was the first one I have ever had. It fulfilled a dream I have had since 1995 to get to meet him. I saw my first Vince concert that year and Patti Loveless opened for him. I have been in Vince's fan club since then.

I knew I was lucky to have a meet and greet for the show but as I was waiting in line for it, I was talking to a woman behind me getting ready to leave and she said she had put in for a meet and greet for the same show and was denied and said she was a fan of his even back in the 80's and had always wanted to meet him, as well. That really made me aware of how lucky I was to have gotten that pass.

As we went back for the meet & greet, Vince was trying to stand, but he was limping so much on his leg that they brought him a stool to sit on to do the rest of the meet & greets. He looked very tired and worn out and just like he felt really bad. Again, I knew I was fortunate that he had done the concert and was following through with the meet & greets even though he obviously felt bad.

I finally got my pictures uploaded and into an album that I can share with you all. I did take quite a few pictures.......this was my first Vince concert since he came to Harrah's casino in St. Louis 5 years ago......because he had not been back to this area since then.

I didn't have as good of seats as some of the rest here have posted....we were in the 11th row on the floor, but I was still able to get some good pictures of Vince.

Here is the link to view them:

http://s106.photobucket.com/albums/m280/Au...nt=c46eacc2.pbw


Melissa

Great Pictures MelissaJane! Thanks so much for sharing.. I only took a couple as I was just in a trance!

This was truly the BEST concert we've ever attended.

Thanks for the pictures and show review! Loved them. I don't know what kind of knee surgery Vince had but let me tell you who have not had that kind of surgery it is the most painful thing in the world and for him to be out singing and doing concerts and even meet and greets is amazing to me! I had a torn miniscus and had 2 orthroscopic surgeries and many shots and finally had total knee replacement and I have a lot more respect for the football players and Vince that have knee surgeries of any kind and then carry on with concerts and games boggles my mind! It is truly excruciating.

Fredia,

My mom had knee replacement surgery earlier this year and she said it was really painful. It's been probably 6 months since she had the surgery and she still has pain in that knee that she had replaced. Funny thing is that she went down to Miami for about 3 weeks last month and she said her knee didn't bother her at all while she was there. She gets back here to Texas and it started hurting again...and with Miami's humidity, you'd think she would have felt it more there than here.

For Vince to be out there doing concerts this soon after the surgery, and even being out there doing concerts before the surgery with the pain he was in *before* the surgery, it really is amazing that he's able to do it. I thought for sure when I saw him at the Opry on Aug. 16 that he was going to have to have someone help him off the stage after his first song...it looked like he could hardly put any weight on that knee at all...that's how bad it was.

Thank you, Stevie & Freida.....I had a great time taking them!

Yes, I agree, this was a very fantastic concert. It reminded me of seeing Vince in 1995 when he sang for 2 hours and 45 minutes. That was a great show, as well, and the one that turned me into a Vince Gill fan.

Super fantastic pictures Melissa .Thanks so much for sharing.

So glad you all enjoyed Vince , when you hear him and see him you always have the best.***i met him 3yrs ago and he is an awesome man, just love him, hope to see him again when he comes to PA,
love ya, Shirl 81 now its 82. so i have been a fan of his for yrs. thankyou all for your great reviews.

Oh you guys -- you're making me so excited. Don and I are seeing Vince in Visalia on 10/26 -- I can hardly wait even though we've seen him so many times before. I'm definitely suffering from severe Vince withdrawals...