I decided not to go to many fan club parties this year. When it was announced in April that there would be a Montgomery Gentry fan club party this year, I knew I had to attend. This is the first fan club party since Troy Gentry was killed in a helicopter crash before a show in 2017.
I first saw Montgomery Gentry perform at CMA Fest in 1999, although it was called International Fan Fair and still held at the Tennessee State Fairgrounds back then. I suppose it’s fitting that my first show without Troy is during CMA Fest week as well.
Eddie Montgomery did a meet and greet before his performance.
Although I expected it would be hard and emotional for both Montgomery and the the audience, I was looking forward to the show. I was lucky enough to see Montgomery Gentry play a few times through their career. It was always a great show full of energy. Tonight’s show wasn’t a typical Montgomery Gentry show. It was much more somber and reflective.
Montgomery could have handled it a lot of different ways, but he chose to celebrate Gentry. He asked for anyone with a story about Gentry to come up and share the story. Gentry’s widow was also at the show.
Montgomery took requests from the crowd. He played some songs from the “Tattoo and Scars” album. It occurred to me that those were the same songs I had heard them perform 20 years ago.
I have a lot of respect for Montgomery. After Gentry’s death, he could have walked away from music. I am glad that he didn’t. Even though it was sad to be at a Montgomery Gentry show without Gentry there, I was glad I was able to hear those great songs again.
Dillon Carmichael, who is Montgomery’s nephew, opened the show and did a great job. I hadn’t ever seen Carmichael perform, but I became an instant fan. He also came out during Momgomery Gentry’s set and performed with Montgomery.