Lovett, students shine in show

It was hard to tell who was more thrilled to be at Saturday’s Sisters Starry Nights Benefit Concert Series — Lyle Lovett or the sold-out crowd.

The crowd enthusiastically appreciated Lovett’s music from his intimate opening song, “Just the Morning,” to his last gospel song. Lovett was gracious throughout the evening telling the crowd several times how honored he and his musicians felt to give their time to the series, which benefits the Sisters Schools Foundation.

“We are just so proud to be here,” Lovett told the crowd.

The singer-songwriter complimented the active Sisters music program adding that in his Texas high school “you either marched or you didn’t play.”

Lovett had the crowd laughing when he asked his band members to describe their first performing experience. Most had started in a band at age 13, playing either surfer music or imitating the popular rock of the day. The inventive band names ranged from The Statistics to The Marauders, The Exotics and Charlie Brown and the Peanuts.

Lovett performed with members of his Large Band who have played with him for many years. Joining him were James Gilmer on percussion, John Hagen on cello, Viktor Krauss on bass, Russell Kunkel on drums and Mitch Watkins on guitar. Lovett sang older songs as well as new ones including the title song from his most recent album “My Baby Don’t Tolerate.”

After singing a song of seduction, Lovett said he realized how “inappropriate” his songs were for a performance at the high school. To big cheers he said, “I have another inappropriate song” and sung “She’s No Lady.” After that, he added, “I’m going to work up to something in better taste.”

Lovett said it was “not an easy deal” to follow the Sisters High School Jazz Quintet. The Quintet started the evening in high gear with Justin Veloso on drums, Benji Nagel on guitar, Shalena Edmunson on saxophone, Tyson Edmunson on trumpet and Jared Henderson on bass.

Sisters Middle School choir students performed the Randy Newman song “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” with Lovett.

That afternoon, Lovett spent an hour practicing with the students, making changes in the arrangement to help them shine on stage because “you sound so good.” Seventh grader Kaity Douglass and eighth graders Trish Erickson, Austin Erlandson, Drew Harrison and Hayley Valoppi sang under the direction of Choir Director Tara MacSween.

Lovett told the audience he was grateful for the early musical experience his working parents gave him.

“My mom and dad did what they had to do so I could do what I wanted to do,” said Lovett.

Lovett said he and his band members appreciated the pictures and stories drawn by Sisters students left in their hotel rooms. The stories suggested places to visit in Sisters. Lovett said the second graders recommended the best coffee houses in town which he and his band sampled.

“They wrote really small and with a lot of words,” said Lovett.

Lovett tried to end his performance with the aptly titled “Closing Time” but a standing ovation brought his band back for an encore.

The Sisters Starry Nights Benefit Concert Series is in its ninth year and has raised more than $500,000 for the Sisters Schools Foundation. Revenues have funded a variety of activities in Sisters elementary, middle and high schools including music, art, science and athletic programs.