10 Man Jam in Hindsight

Twelve years ago the program director at KIKK/KILT in Houston saw the Tropical Storm Allison benefit I put together at the Firehouse. I had so many artists that wanted to help I didn't have room for them all and some couldn't bring their whole bands.

Sooooo I had to come up with a solution that would be entertaining, bring out a crowd and make the artists who were volunteering their time happy.

I decided I'd put a few guys together on the stage. They'd introduce each other and go down the line swapping tunes, sharing stories and telling jokes.

It was a HUGE hit and some of the artists told me how much they enjoyed it and would be putting together similar events themselves.

The program director and his assistant went back to the station...took the idea as their own and called it the KIKK 10 Man Jam.

While I can't dismiss how it stings a bit over the last dozen years I'm given no credit or part in the show. I am proud how my idea incubated from necessity has given so many people joy over the years - not to mention a big stage for local artists who have been invited to play.

Having said that, last night's KILT 10 Man Jam - the station that has put it on since 10 man 2 - had a great lineup (with one exception that stuck out like a sore thumb) and a rocky start that picked up once the acoustic line-up FINALLY got on stage.

Alan Jackson is a huge star and KILT was lucky to have gotten him for the event. But his too short for the effort opening set and subsequent too long full band strike before the acoustic stuff started really put a big damper on the show from the get go. I hope KILT learned something from that and won't allow another full band set to bog down such a peppy and lively show in future years.

Martina McBride was fabulous. Her singing of "Oh Holy Night" was really a highlight for me. Josh Abbott's obvious giddiness when she sang part of his KILT hit song "Oh Tonight" with him was sweet and one of the things that makes this set up such a musical wonder.

In the 2nd acoustic set there wasn't a weak performer. I was pleasantly surprised by Thompson Square (mostly that Shawna didn't have that weird hairdo anymore) and Eric Church was a major rowdy standout. I dare say he may be the Hank Jr of our time.

Home boy Jack Ingram prompted everyone to pull out their smartphones and check their Facebook status when his long winded story mid song during "Barefoot and Crazy" almost lost everyone in the crowd.

It was fun, it was loud (sound always sucks at the Verizon so we won't even pick at that) and everyone had a good time. But it was way to long a show for a weeknight. I hope we get back to the roots of the event next year and do 10 acoustic performers.