Saturday, May 31, 2025, 4:45 p.m.
I didn't know one Vince Gill song. Not one.
Here's what I know about Vince Gill. He's married to Amy Grant. He's loyal to the Grand Ole Opry, and my mom thought he was cute whenever he would come on TV in the 90s.
That's all I know.
A friend had an extra ticket to a Vince Gill concert at Simmons Arena in North Little Rock. She asked a couple of weeks ago if I wanted to go with her and another friend. Sure, why not?
I could have researched Vince Gill, watched some videos ahead of the concert, but I decided to go in cold with zero knowledge and no expectations.
7 p.m., Simmons Arena
The mostly Baby Boomer and Gen X crowd arrived at the arena en masse. Gill's theater show – that means the top part of the arena was closed creating a more intimate experience – supposedly started at 7:30 p.m.
We found our seats and settled in along with the rest of the rather large audience.
7:30 p.m.
Amazingly the show – unlike many regardless of genre – started on the dot.
Gill appeared on the stage with his band to no fanfare – no introduction from an audio recording, no video on a big screen highlighting his career, no hype. He simply walked out in blue jeans, a starched shirt and blazer wearing mustard colored cowboy boots, strapped on his guitar, waved to the clapping crowd and began with "One More Last Chance."
Later, Gill, who weaves many poignant stories about his life into his show, told the audience that he doesn't like an opening act. He likes to play live and give people their money's worth. He decided to go on tour this summer after a break from his gig with the legendary band the Eagles including playing a residency at the Sphere in Las Vegas.
Gill, 68, joked that the Eagles let him off this summer so he could play his songs. That is if he remembered them.
Boy, he did.
As I sat in the arena, songs my parents listened to in the late 1980s and early 1990s flooded back. Some of the songs early in the concert included: "Pocket Full of Gold", "What the Cowgirls Do", "If You Ever Have Forever In Mind", "When I Call Your Name", "High Lonesome Sound" and many more.
Gill can break and melt your heart with his music and lyrics, and you have no choice but to lock in and listen.
Why? No distractions.
Gill had no videos at all that play behind him during his entire show. The background, which resembled train tracks, never changed. Only the colors of the lights did. Unlike many concerts that ramp you up to no end, Gill's was a much-needed calm in an uncalm world.
Two of Gill's favorite cover songs are Merle Haggard's "The Bottle Let Me Down" and Buck Owens and His Buckeroos' "Together Again." Gill performed both.
One mesmerizing aspect of watching Gill was how many times he changed guitars.
His guitar skills are simply impeccable – a musician's musician – who appreciates other musicians including those in his band. One member, Jedd Hughes, recently released a solo album. Gill let him perform a song from it, "Loving You Is The Only Way To Fly" that he wrote along with Roddy Crowell while Gill took a break off stage.
When Gill returned he dedicated a song to his wife called "When My Amy Prays", a sweet song about how his marriage to Amy Grant changed him into a better man.
Gill asked if the audience would indulge him to play new music. Gill continues to write, and he loves to tell stories around his songs.
One particular tear-jerker song was about Benny Garcia, his best friend who grew up in Oklahoma with him then spent more than three decades with Gill on the road as his guitar tech. Gill talked about driving all night to Oklahoma to see his friend before his death. By the time Gill finished playing the beautiful "Benny's Song" few people – even the old men behind us – had a dry eye.
Gill dedicated "Heroes" to Arkansan Jim Price who made a guitar for Gill. Price and his family attended the concert, and Gill thanked them for their friendship.
Unlike a lot of musicians who never connect to a crowd, Gill's honest storytelling resonated. He talked about how a lot of people were having a hard time these days because no one can find much common ground any more. He told the audience about a conversation he had with legendary singer Mavis Staples and all of the changes she had seen in her life. That talk led to the song "Some Times."
Gill also dedicated "March On" to the Little Rock Nine who fought integration in 1957 at Central High School.
Truly, I didn't want the night to end when Gill left the stage and came back for the encore after playing two and half hours straight. But three more songs, and it was good night.
10:30 p.m.
Thought bubble: Trust me, if Vince Gill returns to Arkansas, I will be there.
