August 24, 2014 originally posted by this author/self on Examiner.
Kellie Pickler performs an intimate show as part of Starwood Preferred Guest’s Hear The Music, See The World at Four Points By Sheraton Nashville-Brentwood
We have written about one of our favorite country music artists in Nashville, Kellie Pickler and then last night, we finally had an opportunity to see her perform in person. The event was an intimate show which was part of the Starwood Preferred Guest’s (SPG) ‘Hear The Music, See The World’ at the Four Points By Sheraton Nashville-Brentwood on August 23.
When we arrived at the Four Points Sheraton in Brentwood for the event, there was a pre-show cocktail party in progress so we were able to mix and mingle with the lively and enthusiastic crowd which appeared to be between one hundred and one hundred fifty strong. While we waited for the big event to start, we were entertained by a small band with only one of the musician’s names known to us. That was Ronnie Kimball, as he is a ‘friend of a friend’.
After we contacted Ronnie Kimball about the name of the band to identify the great singers who were in the opening act for the concert, this is what Ronnie said:
The group playing in the opening act at the Four Points Sheraton was ‘Penny Opera‘. This was my first gig with them, sitting in on bass and vocals. Our main focal point is Brandi Spradley on vocals, who is a veteran singer in many bands and as an independent artist. She’s capable of covering almost any artist whose songs she sings. On guitar and vocals is Chip Martin. Chip is also a longtime artist, producer, studio owner and songwriter in Nashville. His guitar playing is admired by many of his fellow pickers. (Chip and I together also play in a 70’s classic rock band called Vinyl Radio which we’ve done for over 3 years.) And that’s Penny Opera.
In the Kellie Pickler band was also a friend, Jason Roller, whose wife, Kalii Palmer-Roller is in one of the earlier stories we wrote about in one of our columns here. (See link.) We asked for the names of the five gentlemen in Kellie Pickler’s band and these are the names and the instruments they play:
Gregg Lohman-drums,
Jay Gorman- bass,
Kyle Stallons- keys, acoustic and accordion,vocals,
Dave Baker-electric and acoustic guitar, vocals,
Jason Roller – electric and acoustic guitar, mandolin
Let us tell you that Kellie Pickler, entertainer extraordinaire, puts on a lively, entertaining, enthusiastic show, and we all enjoyed the songs she sang, along with the great rapport with her audience, who, like us, loved her and constantly let her know it by showing appreciation at every interval between songs.
Kellie treated her audience as though she was at home with them, and we could almost hear her opening up the door for us and saying, ‘Y’all come on in!’. We are grateful to the Starwood Preferred Guests (SPG) for giving us this experience for the Kellie Pickler intimate concert in their ‘Hear The Music, See The World’ concert series.
NancyG43blog 
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