Benefit for Bobby with Dramatic ENdings and Kelly & Sarah
05.11.2023 - When I first met Bobby Steinmetz at Maggie's Landing the venerable intuition across the street, it took me a few questions to get him to loosen up and even then, it took even more visits to get to know him and what I discovered was a kind, determined soul that had a great story to tell.
Bobby’s story continues to unfold as the community of Smithville/DeKalb County came together to raise funds for Bobby’s ongoing lung issues. The clouds parted and then they came back with a deluge that can so often happen here in the Upper Cumberland.
However, Spirits were not dampened as the wonderful sound crew of Howard Bennett would not be foiled as the show must go on. Mother nature showed out and so did Kelly and Sarah with a full band this time, and they sure did captivate the audience with their stage presence, their songwriting, and the musicianship with band members from Kansas City, Baton Rouge and Southern Illinois, this Nashville based band kicked off a set of songs that captivated us all.
Dramatic Endings, made up of locals Lucas McCoy (lead guitar, vocals), Tommy England (bass guitar, vocals), Mike Seiler (lead guitar), Terry Coyle (drummer, back-up vocals), and Tony Luna (harmonica, percussionist, vocals), debuted their new rock band right here on the Redbud Stage with southern fried rock including some well-done vocal and guitar covers of classics you don’t normally hear in live performance.
The “Star” of the show, however, was Mr. Bobby Steinmetz himself - who appeared via Facetime as most of the attendees crowded up close to the Redbud Stage, so that Bobby could actually see his fans/supporters on his phone...he was obviously delighted at seeing the turnout, and then emotionally thanked everyone for showing up.
In the big picture, last night’s Benefit for Bobby experience is the way a community’s supposed to work ideally…everyone who can-do helping someone who can’t-do, and when we are fully focused and intent on such a concentrated positive action, it’s amazing how our “differences” suddenly don’t matter so much any more. One small example from Thursday, if you’re helping hold down a tarp over a beautiful drum kit in the middle of a near-tornadic thunderstorm, it doesn’t really matter about where you’re from, who you worship or who you love, this is local supporting local, what a great place we live!!
One more “big picture” observation re: Benefit for Bobby, nights like Thursday’s event don’t “just happen”. And although there were many people involved who gave time and monetary contributions to the cause, the driving force that made the evening possible was Johnny Croom, local businessman and resident. Johnny put his business on hold for an entire month, planning and coordinating every aspect of this community effort that brought us all together last evening to focus on helping Bobby Steinmetz. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how positive things happen-caring people taking action. Thank you, Johnny Croom, you’ll look good in that halo! We raised over $5,000 for Bobby!
Special thanks to all Bert Driver’s Burlap Room Security and Staff, Ya-Ya’s Food for the Soul food truck, and hometown fave, Tio’s Taco Truck for the great grub!
Up next is our first theatrical performance with the Nashville Shakespeare Festival’s Education Experience Tour at the Harvester on Thursday, 5/18, then Collins Horton (winner of the Harvester’s 2023 TN Songwriters Qualifying Round) and Bobby Kropp at the Burlap Room on Thursday, 5/25, and our annual Summer Solstice Shindig with Airshow and Austin Grimm on Saturday, 6/17! All the details for upcoming events at burlaproom.eventbrite.com. Stay up-to-date with all the events in the Bert Driver Network (Nursery, Burlap Room, and the Harvester) by signing up for our Burlapper Newsletter - released every other Tuesday morning straight to your inbox!
