WILBE Records Director of Promotions,Larry Eaglin reports on the “Everyday Will Be Like A Holiday” Tour
Dec. 18th – Dec.21st 2008
Dec. 18th – Dec.21st 2008
This month’s “Everyday Will Be Like A Holiday” tour was quite an extra holiday treat for those fortunate enough to experience it.
Featured entertainers included the phenomenally gifted vocalist,songwriter,pianist,…& new WILBE signee,Lola,as well as “Powerhouse”vocalist & WILBE alum,Jeff Floyd,& of course WILBE Records CEO,The Legendary William Bell!
Each night,the show commenced with newcomer,Lola,followed by Jeff Floyd,…. and a WILBE Records gift pack giveaway preceded the introducion of William Bell.
First stop Lafayette,Louisiana! A Huge Thanks to KJCB Station owner Janelle Chargois & Staff who pulled out all the stops for us,treating us to the best in Southwest Louisiana Cuisine.
The event was held @ local favorite music venue Elsido’s on St. Antoine St.that boasted an abslolutely fabulous sound system & a great opening Zydeco band.
On comes Lola,whom the crowd doesn’t seem all to familiar with until she launches into the first song of her set,”I Can’t See Myself”,it’s popularity attributed to the jocks over @ KJCB who showed it much love.
By the second verse of “Wash Your Hands”,Lola had the audience where she wanted them,testimonials to the shared experience being shouted out @ random.
Jeff Floyd,simply put,is a natural.A ball of energy from the time he hits the stage until his departure.Effortlessly,drawing from his string of hits to bring the crowd into his world,the synergy between Jeff & his audience is similar to a call & response situation.He performed older material such as “I Found Love(On A Lonely Highway)”,Let’s Git It On”,&”Somebody Is Gonna Lose A Good Woman” & brought everyone up to date with the latest single from the”Keepin’ It Real” cd,”Lock My Door.You can be sure to expect huge achievements for Jeff in 2009.
The show closed with the epitome of cool & class, the consummate professional,….Mr. William Bell who arrived on stage amidst a flurry of camera flashes,….kind of like a Soul Blues paparazzi.
He covered all the classics,& I do mean all the classics such as’You Don’t Miss Your Water”,”I Forgot To Be Your Lover” & “Everyday Will Be Like A Holiday”.
There was no shortage of material from his”New Lease On Life” & “A Portrait Is Forever” releases.
I remember being overcome with chills viewing Mr.Bell from my vantage point,his sillouette bathed in spotlights as he crooned.Thinking to myself,this is truly a very special occasion!
The report on the Lafayette show kind of wrote itself & I realize it’s a bit lengthy,so I’ll briefly list some of the other highlights on this tour.
***Lake Charles,LA.: A Sincere Thanks & Continued Success to those powerful sisters,Faye Blackwell & Tami Tousant @ KZWA 105.3 for accommodating WILBE so nicely.And we can’t forget THE MAN Mitch Faulkner(Congrats Bro!,We’re proud of you!),as well as other DJ’s for being excellent MC’s for the show,which was held in one of those church halls that brought to my mind summers spent in Beaumont,TX.,sitting next to my grandmother as she was intensely focused on the bingo game at hand,pots of hot gumbo being prepared in the kitchen,….o.k. forward to the present,…Tami brings me a plate of gumbo & it’s on.
KZWA offered free admission to the first 50 ladies,who were lined up outside the entrance 1 hour prior to the doors opening,which is always a good thing. These folks came to sho’nuff party & I was witness to every ”line” dance imaginable.Of course Lola & Jeff,who kept the dance floor packed his entire set,did an excellent job.William Bell hits the stage & as if one cue,several women,politely,one @ a time come up to him as he’s performing & pose with him as a girlfriend snaps the photo.Mr.Bell obliges the lady’s without missing a beat or note.Now,that’s entertainment!
Extra special thanks also to Lawrence”Gumbo”Morrow of Gumbomedia Network for the T.V. interview.Keep up the great work!
***Greenville/Greenwood,MS.: Actually the performance was held in Lexington,MS. @ James’s place,…preciate ya’!I knew that WILBE was really bringin’ it when I witnessed Mr.James,not a necessarily compact man,swinging from a rafter.As was the case in the shows leading up to this one,Lola was called back out to the stage for an encore performance of “Wash Your Hands”.Thanks to Cyreio Hughes & the staff @ WGNL 104.3 for making it happen in Mississippi!
***Little Rock,AR.: What can I say about “Broadway”Joe Booker & the staff @ KOKY 102.1FM,…..Class Acts!When we arrived to Club Elevations,the place seemed filled to the hilt,…with a few hundred more expected.This had to be the most enthusiastic,interactive crowd of all the dates,….real downhome folks!Cd as well as custom photo sales were brisk.After the performance,the artist meet & greet area remained full of autograph seekers,well wishers &/or folks expressing their appreciation.Alright,the high point of the evening came during Lola’s opening performance when she was showered with bills from the ladies,at one point a woman made change with the money already onstage to allow for a larger tip,…now that’s love,…maybe you have,but I have never ever seen anything like that!One brother,after donating single bills from his wallet,just threw his whole damn wallet out.
The WILBE Records Staff & artists thanks all who were in attendance.Let’s do it again sometime.
Love,Light & Prosperity in “09”
Larry Eaglin
Director Of Radio Promotions
WILBE Records
