Welcome back. 320 pack Lodge for concert.

BY Dawn Rankins

There were 320 people who came out to hear the acoustic duo concert of Craig Campbell Saturday night at the Canyon Lake Lodge. An extra row of seats was added due to the high demand and the selling out of tickets.

Doug Shultz, producer of the Canyon Lake POA’s “Concerts at the Lodge” series, received a passionate response from the audience as he welcomed everybody back to the venue.

“We have a super line-up of National Recording Artists who will perform live, in concert, right here in Canyon Lake, USA, the greatest country in the world,” he said.

With Saturday’s concert being the first concert in 18 months due to COVID-19 restrictions, it was the first time the new high tech sound system was utilized. It was installed at the Lodge right after the last concert with Phil Vassar back in February last year.

Opening for Craig Saturday was Lance Allen Mowdy.

“There have been so many requests for an encore performance and we are happy he is back with us tonight,” Doug said.

Lance sang original music and the audience, which included several of his friends, loved the opening act, Doug said.

Doug brought the audience to its feet when he introduced Craig, who came onto stage and opened with one of his signature songs, Family Man. Mas Tequila was next and Craig let the audience know that tequila is “my wife Mindy’s favorite alcoholic beverage.”

Craig was very interactive with the audience.

“It can’t be described in words how Craig made the audience feel,” Doug said. “Seeing the interaction between Craig and the audience, I knew this is exactly what Canyon Lake needed.”

Before singing Achy Breaky Heart, a Billy Ray Cyrus cover song, Craig said, “people won’t admit they like it.” Other songs he performed during the evening were, “Keep them Kisses Comin’,” “Be My Baby” and “Anymore,” along with some old-school songs that Craig says, “got me to become a country singer.”

Craig Campbell performs at the Concerts at the Lodge series Saturday night. The acoustic duo concert included Craig and keyboardist Lucas Macalouso on stage throughout the concert. Photo provided by Doug Shultz.

A highlight of the evening was when an older gentleman made his way towards the stage while shouting for Craig to play one of his hit songs, “Fish.”

“Play ‘Fish’ so my wife will quit bugging me,” he said. The man went back to his wife, where they began to dance as the audience looked on and Craig sang the song.

One of Craig’s new songs, “Never Mind,” was introduced during his 90-minute set. He filled the show in between songs with several stories about his life, including growing up, his family and career. Some stories were told about his marriage to wife Mindy, who also took the stage and sang two songs while Craig played keyboard.

The entire acoustic concert consisted of just two men on stage, Craig Campbell on the guitar and Lucas Macalouso on the keyboard. There was a meet and greet after the show where some 100 people received autographs and were able to take photos with Craig.

Craig thanked Doug and Anneda Schultz for having him and Mindy over and said they loved it so much, they’d be back.

The Canyon Lake POA’s next concert is CMA and ACM nominated hot country duo, Love and Theft, on Sept. 25. The opening act will be by American Idol Finalist, and America’s Got Talent Golden Buzzer winner, Makayla Phillips.

On Oct. 15, Canned Heat, a headlining act that was at Woodstock Music Festival, will perform. Doug said he loves this group. “Canned Heat is one of the best rock and blues boogie bands of all time.”

The  last show of the season at the Lodge will be the legendary hard rock band with 14 studio albums, nine live albums and 25 hit-songs, LA Guns. The group will perform on Nov. 13.

Tickets are on sale for all shows at Member Services and on the Canyon Lake POA website.