Final show ranked with best of series

It was too bad the last Hot Summer Nights free concert couldn't have been held in the park, but the overnight downpour justified the organizers' decision to move the TASL concert into the Fox Theater.

If you can't have a concert in Norris Park, the historic old theater is a great substitute.

The main floor and balcony were far from packed, but the hundreds of us who attended were treated to songs ranging from 1930's "On the Sunny Side of the Street" to a Dave Matthews-esque version of Bob Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower."

Many of us may have forgotten or never known just how talented lead guitarist and vocalist Mike Adams is, from his days as a McCook businessman, but we all got an introduction or reminder of his abilities Thursday night. We hope he, the band or both make it back to our area again soon.

Drummer Craig Link and bassist Terry Sinnard supplied the foundation to keep the whole show together, but the highlight of the night was Greg Tesdall's horns, whether on baritone sax, tiny curved soprano sax, flute or melodica.

Not many local bands have that level of sophistication, and you're not likely to hear jazz and Johnny Cash in the same set anywhere else.

Anyone who had low expectations for a "local" band to close out the series was treated to a performance that ranked with the best of this year's Hot Summer Nights concerts.

It is hard to believe it's been 10 weeks since the Ginn Sisters kicked off the summer concert series in Stratton, then the summer gap before "WestGrass" group "Sons and Brothers" restarted the series Aug. 3. (Incidentally, Mike Adams revealed that the group's "father" is his cousin, proving talent runs in the family.)

Then two weeks ago, Zoe Lewis brought her eclectic blend of folk, funk, latin, jump jive and what-have-you to Norris Park for the third in the series.

Our thanks to the sponsors, McCook National Bank and MNB Insurance, who footed the bill and arranged the help to make these summer concerts a reality, like they have for the past eight years. There's nothing like free, live music to lend spice to life on the Golden Plains.