Blend of music makes for an unconventional concert

The GAC Country Christmas Tour is a bit of a misnomer for the tour that rolled into the Show Me Center Monday night. The concert wasn't totally country or totally Christmas, although elements of both were present. However, the blend of country, folk, acoustic rock and country-, rock- and jazz-infused Christmas standards made for one of the Show Me Center's most unconventional concerts in years.

Only 1,173 people showed up for the concert, but those who were there seemed to enjoy the show immensely.

The concert was split in half -- the first half an informal performance with the five artists (Deana Carter, Blue County, Steve Azar, Julie Roberts and late-tour replacement and former "American Idol" contestant Bucky Covington) sitting on stools at the front of the stage, all but Roberts with acoustic guitars in hand. The large stage was mostly empty. Each performer sang two songs.

Azar was the first to show off his unplugged prowess with his hit "You Don't Know A Thing." Roberts seemed nervous as she followed with the title track from her second album, "Men and Mascara," but her sultry voice overshadowed any lack of confidence her stage presence initially showed.

Covington was up next, and he immediately shifted the direction of the show. Covington put his rock influence on display with a revved up version of Elvis Presley's "Suspicious Minds" that had most of the audience clapping their hands and stomping their feet.

Carter followed with her hit "We Danced Anyway," showing off her pop songcraft tinged with country twang, while the duo Blue County got the Show Me Center rocking again with a blues-infused performance of "Good Little Girls."

GAC Country Christmas was the most stripped-down concert the Show Me Center has seen in a long time. It was just musicians showing off their talents. The result was the most intimate atmosphere of any concert I've ever witnessed at the venue.

The intimacy continued in the second half of the show, as each act took the stage one-by-one for a few Christmas tunes each. Carter gave a standout performance with jazzy versions of "Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire" and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas."

This was a different concert for the Show Me Center, and a welcome change.

msanders@semissourian.com

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