Chris and I along with four friends made our way to Big Flats to check out The Southern Uprising Tour featuring Charlie Daniels, The Marshall Tucker Band, and the Outlaws at Tags.

The Outlaws opened up the show and they rocked. They jammed on all their classics including 'Hurry Sundown' and '(Ghost) Riders in the Sky'. They opened with 'There Goes Another Love Song' and wrapped up the show with an extended version of 'Green Grass and High Tides'. I swear 'Green Grass and High Tides' must have lasted over 20 minutes. It was incredible with the guitarists taking turns with solos throughout the song.

Then came Marshall Tucker. I saw Marshall Tucker's last few songs up at the State Fair last year and I thought maybe singer Doug Ray's voice was just a little shaky after the whole concert, but I guess I was wrong. With all due respect to Doug Grey, who was one of the original members of that band, his voice is pretty much shot. I understand it's hard to walk away and I get that. But maybe he should just hire a new lead singer and he can just play the tambourine and harmonize with the band. They played all their big songs too including 'Heard It In A Love Song', 'Take the Highway', and 'Can't You See'.

The last group to take the stage was the legendary Charlie Daniels Band. Daniels, 81 years old, took the stage with his fiddle in hand and started jamming on 'Southern Boy'. He played all his classic songs including 'The Legend of Wooley Swamp', 'In America', 'Long Haired Country Boy', and he finished the show with 'The Devil Went Down to Georgia'. He paid tribute to both the veterans and active members in our nation's military saying that they are the finest of all Americans. He also paid tribute to the late Johnny Cash after telling a story of how Johnny took him under his wing when he was young.

It was my first time ever seeing the Charlie Daniels Band and I would definitely go again if given the opportunity.

Marshall Tucker Band. Jim Free Photo
Marshall Tucker Band. Jim Free Photo
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The Outlaws Chris Free Photo
The Outlaws Chris Free Photo
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