Lorrie Morgan and Pam Tillis: Grits, Glamour and a Ladies Night Out

 It's not often I get to see one of my favorite singers two nights in a row.  It's an even slimmer chance I get to see two of my favorite singers two nights in a row, but September 13 and 14 I was able to do just that.  Country stars Lorrie Morgan & Pam Tillis came to different parts of Pennsylvania and I was lucky enough to see them both nights and meet them as well.

I grew up listening to Country Music and Lorrie and Pam were two of my favorites.  I've seen them quite a few times the past few years and even though they might not be mainstream Country anymore and get radio play, they continue to tour and put out new material that can easily stand side by side to their hits of yesterday.  Tillis just released a single entitled "Two Kings" (available for free on her website pamtillis.com) with R&B singer Kris Thomas that's currently number 2 on CMT Pure Pack 12.  She also released an album entitled "Recollection", a re-recorded collection of her hits and in 2007 released "Rhinestoned" to critical success.  Morgan has released three albums the past 3 years-2009's "A Moment In Time", 2010's "I Walk Alone"-which featured Lorrie writing or co-writing each of the songs and 2011's "Live" (available on her website Lorrie.com).

In 2010, Lorrie & Pam hit the road for a few dates and performed a show which they titled "Grits & Glamour".  A laid back, bare-bones tour which featured the daughters of legendary Country singers Mel Tillis & and the late George Morgan sharing the stage, playing guitar with a handful of musicians for an intimate evening of songs.  It became popular and the show has continued since in between their own solo gigs.  This year in addition to touring, they went into the studio and recorded an album together due out in the near future and the duo plans on hitting the road again next year in support of it.

I had seen "Grits & Glamour" back in 2010 when they played the FM Kirby Center in Wilkes-Barre, PA.  The format worked incredibly well and everyone loved hearing these two Country divas perform together and enjoy each others company on stage.  In November 2011, they duo came to The Broadway Theater in Pitman, NJ and the show had changed a bit-this time adding a few Christmas numbers for the Holiday season but still kept the same format as before.
 

On September 13, Lorrie & Pam came to The Palace Theater in Greensburg, PA.  The show was slightly different than the last two times I had seen it.  Along with the hits, there were a few more covers added in including a gorgeous version of the Skeeter Davis hit, "The End of the World".  Also, Tillis performed "Two Dollar Hat", which she had written as a tribute to the late, great Minnie Pearl.  In keeping with honoring legends, Pam & Lorrie performed a medley of  George Morgan's "Candy Kisses" & Mel Tillis' "Burning Memories".  They introduced it by saying they had recorded the song, "I'm Tired", that their dads had done together on a TV show from back in the 70's.

As the night went on, Lorrie
performed "Mirror Mirror" off her latest release, "I Walk Alone" and Pam performed her 1994 Top 5 single, "Spilled Perfume" off "Recollection".  "Maybe It Was Memphis",Pam's signature song, received a huge round of applause which continued as Lorrie sang the opening lines of  her signature, "Something In Red".  Unfortunately the lights came up to early which concluded in no encore for the evening.

Greensburg, PA/September 13, 2012 SET LIST:

Both Sides Now/Watch Me/Shake The Sugar Tree/Except For Monday/Cleopatra, Queen of Denial/Leavin' On Your Mind (Patsy Cline cover)/Two Dollar Hat (Tribute to Minnie Pearl)/Candy Kisses/Burning Memories (George Morgan/Mel Tillis covers)/The End of the World (Skeeter Davis cover)/Mi Vida Loca/Mirror Mirror/Spilled Perfume/King of the Road (Roger Miller cover)/I Didn't Know My Own Strength/Maybe It Was Memphis/Something In Red/Operator


September 14, "Grits & Glamour" moved to Lancaster, PA.  This time as part of a package show entitled "Ladies Night Out" and featured Country legends Connie Smith, Jean Shepard & Lynn Anderson.  Lynn kicked off the show and performed a few of her hits including her signature "Rose Garden" which rounded out her brief set.
(SET LIST:  Someday Soon/Top of the World/Rocky Top/Cry/Rose Garden)


Up next, Connie Smith performed songs off her new album "Long Line of Heartaches" along with hits including "Once a Day".
(SET LIST: Ain't Had No Lovin'/I Never Once Stopped Loving You/A Heart Like You/Ain't You Even Gonna Cry/Blue Heartaches/Once a Day/Peace In The Valley)


Jean Shepard closed out of the first half of the show performing hits "Slippin' Away" & Second Fiddle" among others while telling jokes and stories in between.
(SET LIST: Another Day Another Dollar/Tennessee Waltz/If I Could Hear My Mother Pray Again/Slippin' Away/Second Fiddle (To An Old Guitar)

After an intermission, Lorrie & Pam came onstage for their segment of the show.  Due to the fact it was part of a package show, their set wasn't quite as long as it was the night before but non-the-less they delivered crowd pleasing hit after hit as well as a new song from their current albums (Pam-"Train Without A Whistle" and Lorrie-"How Does It Feel").
You can tell watching Tillis & Morgan that they have fun with their shows-joking around about men, shoes and themselves.


After their last song, "Operator", the ladies went backstage to await their encore that they didn't get to do the night before, but the emcee of the evening invited out Jean, Lynn, Connie, Pam & Lorrie back out  with no plan.  They gathered around and decided to perform an impromptu version of "Will The Circle Be Unbroken", ending the evening on a high note and standing ovation.

Lancaster, PA/September 14, 2012 SET LIST

Both Sides Now/Except For Monday/Shake The Sugar Tree/Candy Kisses/Burning Memories/The End of the World/Mi Vida Loca/How Does It Feel/Train Without a Whistle/King of the Road/Watch Me/Maybe It Was Memphis/Something In Red/Operator
Encore w/Lynn, Connie & Jean: Will The Circle Be Unbroken

After each show Pam & Lorrie come out into the lobby and meet with fans, sign autographs and occasionally take photos depending on time.  Usually before Lorrie's show, you can buy a backstage pass to meet her one on one and now with "Grits & Glamour", you can buy a pass to meet Lorrie and Pam before the show to avoid the long line afterward and you can chat with them briefly compared to a quick rush through after.  At the Lancaster, PA show, Lynn, Connie & Jean sat at a table and signed, took photos with fans.  











 As of now, I have seen Lorrie in concert and met her 6 times and I've seen and met Pam 4 times.  I've seen "Grits & Glamour" 4 times and will definitely see the show next year which Pam told me will be an all new show since their new album together with be out by then.  I always enjoying meeting Lorrie & Pam, they're always very nice and don't rush you through.  They'll take a photo with you and will sign whatever you bring.  It's something I look forward to each time I go to their show.