About The times. (Gainesville, Ga.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (July 17, 2024)
W&t Srtncs gainesvilletimes.com Midweek Edition-July 17-18, 2024 Greg Finan Jr. Life Editor I 770-718-3456 I life@gainesvilletimes.com ‘I’m an original’ Photo by David “Doc” Abbott The American Troubadour Don McLean is coming to the Boot Barn Hall at Bourbon Brothers this Saturday night, July 20. The iconic musician will play his hits along with some new songs off his latest album “American Boys.” Don McLean set to perform at Boot Barn Hall this Saturday Photo by Jeremy Westby The King of the Trail Don McLean is bringing his unique music to the Boot Barn at Bourbon Brothers. McLean, 78, has been pleasing crowds with his music for over a half century BY GREG FINAN JR. gregfinan@gainesvilletimes.com A long, long time ago Don McLean took the music world by storm with a song that broke the conventions of music, encapsulated the essence of an era and transcended time to become one of the most beloved and influential songs of the 20th century. Now, 53 years after the release of “American Pie,” McLean is set to take the stage at the Boot Barn Hall at Bourbon Brothers in Gainesville this Saturday, July 20, for the second stop of his 2024 tour. “I'm an original. I always was,” McLean said. “I'm an original and I do what I always did. I think that I'm one of the few left. Many are gone and many are very old. And I'm very old. It's very important to me that I get out there and do the thing that I do. It's a really good, healthy thing for me to go out there and sing.” The 78-year-old musician hasn't slowed down since he first broke onto the music scene over five decades ago, something he credits to his performance style. “Fortunately, I stay in one place. If I had to run all over the stage, I think I'd have to go to the gym a lot, which I would hate to do,” McLean joked. According to McLean, each of the 12 shows during his 2024 tour will consist of a different playlist, mak ing each stop as unique as the artist himself. With 20 studio albums, four live albums, 11 compilation albums and 16 singles to his credit, putting together a playlist for his shows isn't a difficult task for McLean. “I play a different set every show,” McLean said. “I make sure that I do all the songs people know, then I do some songs I want to do.” Along with all the hits that made him famous, McLean will also play songs off his latest album “American Boys,” which was released in May of this year. The title track on the album is a look at origins of rock ‘n roll and how the genre was created by Ameri can artists. “We must remember that nobody will ever touch Elvis Presley, the Everly Brothers, Little Richard or Fats Domino,” McLean said. “These people were completely unique, and they came from America and invented this music.” McLean said, “American Boys” is the opposite of “American Pie.” “It's just a literal song mentioning a lot of different, wonderful artists,” McLean said. “It's not something where you have to dig around to fig ure what it's about. It's pretty obvi ous what it's about.” From his start, the musician knew creating music that was uniquely his own would open doors to both opportunity and success. “I wanted to be great,” McLean said. “I did not want to sound like Bob Dylan. I did not want to sound like James Taylor. I did not want to sound like Elton John. I wanted to sound uniquely myself and that is one of the hardest things to do, to find out who you are.” McLean was able to figure out who he was early in his career and let that knowledge guide him and his musical creativity. “If I had an idea that I knew no one else had ever done before, then that was another example of who I was because nobody ever did that before,” McLean said. “That's what I was after. But I also wanted to be good. So, I set a very high standard for myself, and I met that standard.” Starting his career during the height of Dylan, the Beatles and the transition from folk music to folk rock, helped push McLean. “Doors were opening everywhere. I was in the middle of all this amaz ing stuff happening around me,” McLean said. “Everybody was chal lenging you to do better. It was a tre mendous time period.” McLean stressed that he doesn't grow tired of playing his songs from the early 70s, especially “American Pie,” for fans at his shows. “I do these songs because I am proud of them, I love them and they mean something to people,” McLean said. “I am not there [on stage] to please Don McLean, I am there to please the audience.” When taking chances leads to learning Every family leaves a legacy of some worth which lasts three or four genera tions. Sometimes, one good man raises up to see need and wisely chooses his cases. If the man is strong enough in his teaching, then it most likely carries on for a few generations. What finer thing can be said about a person than “She saw need and she helped”? “He saw the wound and ban daged back to health.” The first memories of my life were of going by my Daddy's mechanic/paint garage. We weren't in town more than monthly to pick up necessities like Crisco, flour, commeal and both sweet milk and buttermilk. From the earliest days, I sensed that Daddy's shop was special. Besides Daddy and my brother, there would be anywhere from four to eight others sitting around and drinking coffee. There were no lively debates, just the common man with his common sense. Once I drove, I'd stop by at will, to discover a think tank of men, educated little or not at all, as well as high thinking, powerful men. They knew the horrors of war which gave them insights that many will never know. And if they didn't know the Lord, then Daddy began his sermon. Ninety percent of the times I stopped by, the Bible was opened, in his hand, being taught with a dis cernment that only a Godly man can possess. If he wasn't preaching to both those who are steadfast and world fast, that old King James Scho field Bible was still no further than a finger's touch away. This I can promise you: Ralph Satterfield never had to get up, out of seat, and ask, “Where did I put my Bible?” He always knew. A cast of characters sat on that two-step stage in the back of that garage. There were common men from the chewing gum company, auto parts place, the Water Department or a preacher friend struggling with his Sunday ser mon. “Ralph, help me with this scripture.” Often, the old-fashioned politician, who wanted to make a difference and not just use the office for power, was there. When I stopped by, sitting at Ralph's figurative round table was a collection who would not have become close friends without the connection of Daddy's business: judges, sheriffs, district attorneys, and assistant D.A.s, FBI and, once, a Secret Service man. In the way of those times, when there was more concern in helping people rather than crumpling them up and throwing them away, Daddy would broker introductions and explain more about the situation than the court papers told. He'd call a judge or D.A. and ask him to come by the shop. “This ain’t a bad boy that’s about to come before you. If he’d had any upbringing, there’s no telling what he’d become. He just needs guidance. I’ll hap pily put my two cents' worth in on that.” Much good was done when men, who could have become hard ened, became instead, a better man. I had a similar experience with a man who had been in and out of jail for decades. The public defender told him that he would serve hard this time. We were there that Sunday when he gave his soul to Jesus. We watched his baptizing and saw a new man come up, out of that Chestatee River, to frankly tell a hard-won testimony. I wrote the Chief Justice, asking that the man not be sent back to jail. “I think it’s his only solid chance at sobriety.” The judge listened. “Someone I highly regard doesn't want you to lose your sobriety. I'll take that advice. But if you come back into this courtroom, I'll throw the book at you.” That was years ago, and he is fine, sober and hard working. Others before me tried, but he wasn't ready. Sometimes, it just takes the right person at the right time. And having been taught the importance of helping. Ronda Rich is the best-selling author of “St. Simons Island: A Stella Bankwell Mystery.” Sign up for her newsletter at www. rondarich.com. Her column publishes weekly. RONDA RICH southswomen@ bellsouth.net EVENTS Adult Summer Craft Week. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. July 17-20. Hall County Library System, Gaines ville Branch, 127 Main St NW, Gainesville. 770-532-3311 ext 4011, gkoecher@hallcountyli- brary.org. Free. Gainesville Ballet Super Hero Dance Camp (ages 3-4 & 5-6). 9 to 10:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. July 17-19. Gainesville Ballet Company, 971 Riverside Drive, Gaines ville. 770-866-5353, info@ gbcdance.com. $0 - $125. Camp Firelight. 5 to 8 p.m. July 17-19. Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 600 S Enota Ave, Gainesville. 770-532- 2428, gslcsecretary@gmail. com. Free. Family Frolics. 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. July 17. Elachee Nature Science Center, 2125 Elachee Dr, Gainesville. 770-535-1976. $0-$10. Flowery Branch Tomato Sand wich party. 3:30 to 7 p.m.July 18. Market Pavilion, 5210 Rail road Ave, Flowery Branch. Free. Volunteer Workshop - Affinis Hospice. 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. July 19. Hall County Library Sys tem, Gainesville Branch, 127 Main St NW, Gainesville. 770- 532-3311 ext.4011, jcline@ hallcountylibrary.org. Free. A Sunset Cruise aboard The Experience. 7 to9 p.m. July 19-20. Lanier Boat Charter, 6800 Ferry Lights Rd., Flowery Branch. 678-882-8062, tom@ lanierboatcharter.com. $35. Friday Night Drift. 6 to 10:30 p.m. July 19, July 26. Caffeine & Octane Lanier Raceway, 5301 Winder Hwy, Braselton. 770-965-9179, liz@highocta- neevents.com. Free. Dawg Days of Summer 24.3 p.m. July 20. NoFo Brew Co., 434 High St SE, Gainesville. 205-587-3221, Usma- rine35976@hotmail.com. Free. Don McLean. 7 p.m. July 20. Boot Barn Hall at Bourbon Brothers, 312 Jesse Jewell Pkwy, Gainesville. Riverstreet 2024 Peach State Bank & Trust Summer Music Series. 8to 10 p.m. July 20. The Arts Council Smithgall Arts Center, 331 Spring St SW, Gainesville. 770-534-2787, hutch@theartscouncil.net. $27 - $296. ONGOING Braselton Farmers Market. 4to7 p.m. Fridays through September;. Braselton Town Green, 9924 Davis Street, Bra selton. 706-654-3915. Free. Camp Pine Mountain. 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays through Aug. l.J.A. Walters YMCA, 2455 YMCA Drive, Gainesville. 770-297-9622, emily.young@ gamountainsymca.org. $145- $165. Card workshop. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. First Saturdays of the month. Hall County Library System, Gainesville branch, 127 Main St. NW, Gainesville. 770-532-3311 ext. 4011, gkoecher@hallcountylibrary. org. Discovery Saturday. 10a.m. to3 p.m. Saturdays. Elachee Nature Science Center, 2125 Elachee Dr., Gainesville. 770- 535-1976. $0-$10. Flowery Branch Farmers Mar ket. 3:30 to 7 p.m. Thursdays through Sept. 26. The Market Pavilion, 5210 Railroad Ave., Flowery Branch. Free. Georgia Cross Stitchers. 10 a.m. to4:30 p.m. Second Saturdays of the month. Hall County Library System, Gaines ville Branch, 127 Main St. NW, Gainesville. 770-532-3311 ext. 4011; gkoecher@hallcountyli- brary.org. Free. Hall County Farmers Market. 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturdays through October. Hall County Farmers Market, 734 E Cres cent Dr, Gainesville, pattyklaw- son@gmail.com. Free. Music Bingo. 7 to 9 p. m. Every Thursday. NoFo Brew Co. Gainesville, 434 High St. SW, Gainesville, topher@nofobrew. co. Free. Northeast Georgia Writers. 1 to3p.m. First Wednesdays of the month. Gainesville Down town Library, 127 Main St. NW, Gainesville. talltaleswriter@ gmail.com. Free. Sugar Hill Farmers Market. 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesdays through Oct. l.The Landing, 4985 West Broad Street, Sugar Hill. 770- 945-6726. Free. Trivia Night. 7-9 p.m. Tuesdays. NoFo Brew Co Gainesville, 434 High St. SW, Gainesville, topher@nofobrew. co. Free.
