Holidays at the Harvester with the Jason Lee McKinney Band and Falyn
12.03.2022 - If there’s one word that summed up the essence of the afternoon/evening of Saturday, that word would be “spirit”.
“Spirit” in one sense, watching excited young people boarding their floats, getting ready for the Smithville Christmas Parade, and then disembarking after the parade, still as exuberant and in “high spirits” as before. The streets of Downtown Historic Smithville were jam-packed with onlookers as the parade wound its way around the square and ended on West Main Street, guess where?...directly in front of the new Harvester Performance & Event Center, decked out for the holidays with beautiful poinsettia specimens to show off our “Holiday Spirit”.
Thanks to so many efforts, the Smithville Christmas Parade was a great success, and reflective of the true good old “American Spirit”. Per Bert Driver’s assessment to me, “It’s a Norman Rockwell Christmas”, and as I surveyed West Walnut Street filled with folks right at twilight…indeed it was/is.
More “spirit on display” was evident at the Harvester, as Falyn performed a very tasteful selection of her original and cover material, mixed in with an occasional “close to jazz” Christmas Carol. This young lady accompanies her vocals very adequately with her keyboard expertise, (which I noted was almost perfect tempo as well). It’s hard to beat a one-person show by Falyn because of her secret ingredient…(ready for it?)....spirit! If Falyn were on Netflix, she’d be classified as a “hidden gem”. She is no stranger to the Burlappers who have heard her magical performance at the Burlap Room, but this is first time for her to be on the Flatwoods Stage!
I suppose it was the first two songs that the Jason Lee McKinney Band performed that really confirmed and solidified the “spirit” kick I was on Saturday...their opening tune was an original that was what I would term a “praise song”, with references to Jesus included, embedded in a nice, happy rock feel...although I didn’t catch all the lyrics, it was certainly a good feel, played by accomplished players, and they obviously believed in what they were playing/saying.
Then, song #2 was a spot-on performance of Allman Brother’s Whipping Post. Ok, this is a stretch, but stick with me here - the “spirit” of both songs was identical and palpable, even though they have vastly different lyrics and meanings – that pervasive “spirit” was a tangible, cohesive factor throughout their solid performance.
I nominate Jason Lee McKinney Band for the “Most Spirit-Filled Performance” thus far on the Flatwoods Stage – obviously aware of the “spiritual common denominator” amidst musical genres much sooner than I...carry on - and thanks for enlightening me!
That spirit filled the Harvester to the rafters - from the street to the stage - there was definitely a local vibration happening. Many new faces from Cookeville to California, and from Nashville to New Jersey - it was an eclectic jolly bunch of well-wishers that makes this place so special. May the spirit carry you throughout the season!
Muchas Gracias to Tio’s Taco Truck for providing their customary excellent authentic Mexican cuisine–always a winner on a Saturday night!
We’re back to the Finally Friday Series for the remainder of Holiday Season. First up is another veteran of the Burlap Room - Atlanta native Parker Gispert joins us Friday, 12/9, followed by our first Tacky Sweater Dance Party with DJ Rob on Friday, 12/16, and the final Friday event of 2022 with Jon Wayne Hatfield Friday, 12/23.
Happy Holidaaaze! Is it Friday yet?? We look forward to a truly magical Christmas season, and to an even better 2023! Stay up-to-date with all the events in the Bert Driver Network (Nursery, Burlap Room, and the Harvester Event Center) by signing up for our Burlapper Newsletter. All tickets for all Burlap Room and Harvester Event Center can be purchased at burlaproom.eventbrite.com.
📸 Bert Driver and Matthew Antoniak
