Fortune Bay Review
April 16th 2010
9:00 PM Show
Fortune Bay Casino
Tower, Minnesota.
Review by: John

If Flat Patty would have been on this trip she would have ended up a mere 70 miles short of the Canadian border and would have stopped to see the worlds largest hockey stick at the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in Eveleth along the way. Also nearby is the site of the plane crash that in 2002 took the lives of Senator Paul Wellstone and his family. This area also harbors one of the largest deposits of iron ore in the world called the Mesabi Range or just the range. Mining is important here and the economic forces haven't always been kind to people of Northern Minnesota as in other mining areas across our country. Almost 900 miles of road needs to be traveled to get from Nashville to Tower, we feel very fortunate that Patty and the crew made the long haul and entertained close to 800 fans between the two shows.

The Band
Deanie, fiddle, mandolin
Sydni, fiddle, vocals
Gary acoustic guitar,mandolin,vocals
Pete, Steel,Dobro
Todd, Lead Guitar
Matt, Bass
Dave, Drums
Patty, Chick singer

Now blue ain't the word, five words into the sixth song and Patty holds the audience in her hand. The girl that sits behind us leans over to her date and says Oh My God what a voice she has, and I smile knowing Patty just made another fan.

The set list:
The Nights to Long
Nothin but the Wheel
On Down the Line
You Don't Seem to Miss Me
Lovin All Night
Crazy Arms
Why Baby Why
Bramble and the Rose
Busted
The Boys are Back in Town
Here I Am
Halfway Down
The Trouble with the Truth
Blame it on your Heart
You Dont Even Know Who I Am

I walked up to the stage before the show and peeked at the set list, my fiance asked me if that wasn't like reading the ending of the book first. It's true but when it's a book you've read over and over, but still love, it's well worth it. I saw five of my all time favorites and settled in for our first show since Nashville last November.

I was lamenting the fact that Deanie wouldn't be with Patty and probably Pete too. I will admit that I can spend alot of the show just watching those two pros weave their magic around Patty's superb voice. I was absolutley thrilled when they came out on stage.

The sound was spotty through the first five songs and the waitresses were a distraction at best as Patty and the band were finding the right mix. It all came together by the time Crazy Arms was in full gear. The crowd just loved the classic country music soul of our girl and continued the love fest after Why Baby Why.

I'm always in awe of Patty's ability not only to sing but to bring the crowd along the journey of her career in music. Different venues bring out different kinds of fans but she makes the connections and pleases the variety of fans that fill the seats each time.

Bramble and the Rose is becoming a fast favorite of mine and this nights version saw a quicker tempo in the second half of the song. Busted was well received and the twin fiddles of Deanie and Sydni livened the crowd for a great The Boys are back in Town.

Here I Am is my favorite Patty song and it always goes by way to fast.I love watching her sing it and also closing my eyes just to concentrate on the voice for a few moments, the moments that will hold me over to the next show.

A rousing sing along to Blame it on your Heart and You don't Even Know Who I Am rounded out a very satisfying evening with our girl and the band. But later we had a chance to meet with Patty that made the night and endeared Patty to my fiance.

We stood out by the bus after the show and it was just the two of us waiting for awhile. Patty came out and we waved and she returned the gesture but was making her way to get on the bus. We had bought a Hatch print poster at the Ryman show and hoped to have it signed but we know what a long ride was ahead of her and her mates so we headed off to our car. Patty's road manager called out to us as we were crossing the parking lot and asked us to come back. Patty came out shared a few minutes with us and signed our poster. She certainly didn't have to do that and yet she did. It meant alot to us and speaks volumes to the kind of person our girl is and why we do the things we do to see her when we ever we can. Thanks to Patty for another great show and a better memory.