Jackson and Pickler headline latest St. Leonard concert

Friday, Sept. 18, 2009

Click here to enlarge this photo Submitted photo Kellie Pickler has been opening up concerts for Alan Jackson. E-Mail This Article | Print This Story Click here to enlarge this photo Submitted photo Alan Jackson is known for his traditional country sound.

According to Roberta Baker, members of St. Leonard Volunteer Fire Department had long wanted to host and promote big concerts. Six years ago it became a possibility when SLVFD bought property near the firehouse and built a 5,500-seat venue with company labor.

That makes Bayside Toyota Pavilion about four times smaller, in terms of seating capacity, than Columbia's Merriweather Post Pavilion, where country stars Alan Jackson and Kellie Pickler will appear just one night removed from their local engagement.

Tickets for both concerts are roughly the same price. The venue in St. Leonard, meantime, continues to be operated entirely by volunteers.

SLVFD has approximately 160 members, and the concerts are its primary source of funding, said Baker, the chairwoman of the fundraising committee. When it comes to the bottom line, though, that doesn't mean the performers cut the fire department a break. And in economic times like these, all that sounds like risky business.

"We knew it was going to be a challenging year," Baker said. In fact, her first thought was to skip the season.

Instead, in 2009, the fire department seemingly played it safe with an all-country lineup.

Phil Vassar opened for Little Big Town on Aug. 29. HERS and Kings County opened for Montgomery Gentry on June 5. "We have a big calling for country in this area," Baker said. While Hootie & the Blowfish once drew a big crowd here, Huey Lewis and The News drew a smaller one in 2008.

In 2005, the first concert featured Charlie Daniels. Lonestar also performed that year, and Lynyrd Skynyrd came here in 2007.

In the past three years, Baker said some performers have complemented the volunteer company's professionalism. She has met each one and shared kind words for all, even if the backstage rider quests can be a tad bizarre — from a pound of green M&M's to tube socks and an exotic snake. (The latter request was denied.)

Jackson's commercial breakthrough came in the 1990s, and he was initially critical of country music's shift to pop. In 2000, he and George Strait teamed up for "Murder on Music Row." The song, incidentally, charted rather well.

"Murder on Music Row" was recorded again by Dierks Bentley and George Jones in 2006, the year Jackson recorded his first pop-country album, "Like Red on a Rose," which was produced by Alison Krauss. For his next album, "Big Time," Jackson returned to a more traditional sound.

Pickler, meanwhile, was among the numerous pop stars who recently shared a harsh "tweet" regarding Kanye West. The rapper extraordinaire crashed the stage at Sunday's MTV Video Music Awards and tore the mic away from Taylor Swift during the 19-year-old pop-country ace's acceptance speech for best female music video.

Now 23, Pickler made the top 12 in the fifth season of "American Idol" and her popularity skyrocketed in the aftermath. Her most successful single, "Best Days of Your Life," was co-written with Swift and released in 2008.

If you go

Allan Jackson and Kellie Pickler will perform at 7 p.m. Sept. 20 at Bayside Toyota Pavilion, 200 Calvert Beach Road, St. Leonard. Tickets are $45 to $70. Call 800-551-SEAT. Go to ticketmaster.com.