an evening with kenny chesney

Canandaigua is lucky to have a recently expanded and refurbished outdoor entertainment amphitheater on the grounds of the local community college. With the backing of the largest wine company in the world, Constellation Brands, the facility has become THE place to see big-name entertainment this summer. Kenny Chesney and LeAnn Rimes brought their "Poets and Pirates" tour to town last night and over 12,000 fans attended the concert. Just about every other fan was wearing a straw hat, a la Kenny, and most of them stood for his entire set. The noise was deafening (I think...I hope...I have full hearing back this morning) and the energy high. During the middle of the concert the heavens opened and it poured. There were thousands of soaked fans sitting on the lawn....but we didn't see anyone leave. We were grateful to be seated inside, under cover.

Kenny interacts with his audience and gives a great show. He spoke of flying in right before the concert and how he saw beautiful lakes and green hills below (yes, the Finger Lakes area is gorgeous). He thought of his boat down in the islands and decided to play...for the first time live, on any stage..."Be As You Are." Now, I am not a rabid Kenny fan like most there last night, but I was pleased that I had already been introduced to Kenny's "Be As You Are" album by our family friend, Mike Donofrio, when he and Angela visited our famiily over the 4th of July. Mike knows his music (he's a part-time DJ) and when he heard we were going to see Kenny, he punched up this album on his iPod for us to hear. I loved it! And hearing it in person, when no other audience had, made for a special evening. Thanks, Mike! and thanks, Kenny - it was a night to remember.