Vince opened the show with "One More Last Chance" which gave him the opportunity to convince everyone in the audience not already convinced that he is a virtuoso guitarist. MAN, did he have the audience frenzied. He then kept the momentum going by doing a couple of other rockers including "Oklahoma Border Line."

About 45 minutes into the concert, the program changed moods as Vince did his songs about his deceased father ("Key of Life") and brother ("Go Rest High on That Mountain"). After the audience's tears dried from this set, Vince again worked his magic with some of his classic love ballads. He had the incomparable Dawn Sears with him as his backup singer and so when they did "Don't Come Crying to Me," it sounded just as the recording. Not surprisingly. But it came as somewhat of a surprise when Dawn sang Patty Loveless' part on "You're My Kind of Woman, You're My Kind of Man." She sounded EXACTLY like Patty.

The highlight of the concert for me (and I know it was for Vince, too - he as much as said so) was the performance of "Look at Us."

The lyrics to "Look At Us." Composed by and written in the hand of Vince Gill. On display at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville.

This to a great extent was due to the pedal steel playing of Hall of Fame guitarist, John Hughey. John absolutely owns this song. Vince admitted that he is in awe of the pedal steel on "Look at Us." And I thought it was just me. John Hughey played with Conway Twitty for more than two decades before he joined Vince ten years ago. His fifty years of playing experience, in addition to his native talent, explain his preeminence on this instrument. Another song which John owns and which Vince highlighted was "Nobody Answers When I Call Your Name."

This picture of John Hughey was taken in 1910. (Approximately)

I'm sorry I missed the concert Vince put on with Kathy Mattea in August. That must have been an awesome show.