Dickey Betts and Great Southern at The Cox Capitol
I leave every concert at the Cox saying it was the best one I’ve seen- but it’s going to be damn hard to top this one.
Aside from the amazing music and total vibe from the place, the band members and crew were totally amazing. There are some bands that you expect to be standoffish. As the venue photographer, there are time when I have to move quickly to get out of the way of someone or I have to talk to the tour manager and assure them I won’t use a flash or even adhere to a “no back stage photos” rule (not often- thankfully).
But not this time, not when I would have honestly expected it.
This time, the band came with an entourage that would bring homemade sweet potato pies, fried chicken and other goodies. As Carlos, their guitar tech would tell me, they’re like a family. Anyone who was backstage afterwards was offered a plate of food- and the sheriffs assisting that night were practically forced to take some.
The other thing I’ve observed during shows like these is that, being a smaller statured photog- as long as I am nice and polite while trying to push my way through to the front of the stage to get photos, the audience members are nice as well. They *want* me to get the great shot.
And then there was this show, it was beyond words. I didn’t even take photos during my favorite song, “Jessica”, I simply took video. It might be a little shaky in places because I was trying to also take some pictures and short videos with my phone for social media purposes:
The opener was amazing as well- and the biggest thing for me wasn’t just how good the music was- it was how nice everyone was. Don’t get me wrong, for the most part the bands that come through here are nice. But this was time different. It really was like a family backstage- I even had someone offer to bring me a water on more than one occasion (and an audience member offered me her drink- but I had to decline that- as I sat on the edge of the stage to take pictures).
I’m thrilled to be a part of everything that is happening in the music scene in Macon- not just at the Cox but also the bands that are coming to The Hummingbird, those that will be here for Bragg Jam, and even Second Sunday. The last Second Sunday performance by Seven Handle Circus was a topic of conversation at the family gathering today.
Macon is well on it’s way to becoming a living music town again, and not just one that celebrates its past.
Love to all y’all,
Molly
