On a picture perfect Colorado evening, a young country music singer from Bethel Acres, Oklahoma chose to wrap up his knockout performance with a tribute to his audience. Wade Hayes' rendition of "One More Night with You," a song he had written with friend and fellow songwriter Chick Rains, was delivered to all those in attendance as a thank you for coming out to the show. Or, as Hayes said, it is his fans and followers that keep him and his band coming out night after nigh. He wanted everyone to know how much he appreciated their support. As befitting Hayes' nature, it was a gracious ending to an evening that packed one punch after another.

Hayes first appeared on the stage of the Grizzly Rose Dance Emporium shortly after 10 p.m.to cheers from a boisterous crowd. He wore a long-sleeved black velour shirt over a light blue T-shirt, a black hat, black boots, and jeans. On this warm evening, it wasn't hard to figure out the that the black shirt was going to be coming off soon and the timely removal of this outer layer brought shrieks of delight from the females in the audience. This small bit of showmanship foretold that it would be a fun evening for perfomer and audience alike.

Hayes opened his first set of songs with Steve Earle's "Nowhere Road" and kept it uptempo with "On a Good Night"; sliding effortlessly from that into a perennial crowd favorite,"Don't Stop." By this time, the temperature, at least in the crowd gathered at the stage edge, had risen considerably (can anyone listen to that song without thinking of the video?)

The next 4-song set was an interesting juxtaposition of songs: two "I've done her wrong songs" alternating with two "she done me wrong songs." The second song, "How do you sleep at night?," a dark song of anger and reproach was couched between two songs in which the singer apologizes to the woman he loves for his faults and weaknesses. The first of those two songs, "This is My Heart Talking Now" is from the latest CD. Throughout this song, Hayes would gently place his hand over his heart while singing and this effortless gesture only enhanced the power of the words. The third song, "What I Meant to Say," was an early hit, and this, once again, was followed by a song in which a woman is rebuked for the poor way she treated her man in "Someone had to Teach You."

Hayes' biggest radio hit of the year, "The Day She Left Tulsa" was up next and the introductory fiddling drew an immediate response from the audience. This is the type of song that few singers could carry. Hayes' immense vocal talents are let loose upon the song and the sheer expressiveness of his voice drenches each word with poignant meaning. This song, along with "Family Reunion" from the first CD and "Summer was a Bummer" from the latest CD showcase Hayes' talent for singing traditional country music that is unequaled by any of his peers.

The next set of songs were a tribute to some of the artists whose singing has influenced Hayes. Included in this set was a Bob Wills classic, "Take me back to Tulsa," Merle Haggard's "It's Been a Great Afternoon," and "You're Something Special to Me" by George Strait. The final song of this set was a cover of the Glen Campbell hit, "Wichita Lineman." No, Hayes doesn't sound like Glen Campbell, but his interpretation of the song is every bit as good. Especially powerful is the key phrase, "the Wichita lineman is still on the line" in which Hayes' ability to string out the soaring notes at the end almost pulls the audience off their feet.

Another crowd pleaser was up nex., "Tore up from the Floor Up' is one of those barn-burner type songs that just make you MOVE. It is one of the best cuts on the third CD. Following "Tore Up," Hayes went back in time to sing the song that helped start his career, "I'm Still Dancin' With You."

Just before the closing song, Hayes took time to introduce all his band members and give them their due, he then jumped into "Old Enough to Know Better" which will probably always be his signature song, regardless of how many hits follow. It's too good a song for the audience to ever let him drop it from the playlist.

The encore packed as much punch as the preceding sets. Hayes opened with "My Old Friend the Blues," followed by "Copperhead Road," both powerful songs, written and previously recorded by Steve Earle.

The concert closed, as mentioned before, with "One More Night with You."

Hayes' vocals are his strength but he doesn't rely solely on his singing to connect with his audience. At his concerts, one won't find a contrived supercharged atmosphere, but instead will be drawn into a more intimate connection with the performer. Hayes' habit of waving to and smiling at people he recognizes in the audience is endearing. His propensity for leaning over the audience at stage edge while picking his guitar can electrify and energize the crowd.

On this night, his playful side came to the forefront when he danced across the stage, launched guitar picks at his band members, and manipulated his hat to match the mood of the song. His more serious, emotional side came out as he engaged the audience during ballads by alternately holding hands with, or singing directly to various individuals near the stage. This familiarity, rather than closing out the rest of the audience, seemed to only intensify the power of the song for everyone.

Wade Hayes' Denver performance was top-notch, and, as is his way, he gave it everything he had. The high-spirited crowd knew they'd been treated to a good show, certainly no one left this concert feeling cheated. I'm betting the good feelings were a two-way street because, on this night, Hayes' Colorado fans "loved him right."

Wade Hayes Fan Network Party, Fan Fair 1998
Wade Hayes Fan Network Party, Fan Fair 1999
Don Hayes Interview

Mountain West Music 2002