An Evening with Ray Allaire - Melbourne, Florida

By Vonna Rose Harrison - AngryCountry.com Staff Writer

As the lights went down in the Gleason Center for Performing Arts, through the smoke emerged an artist who blends country with rock to create a synthesis of spine-tingling music. Ray Allaire is one of those talented performers who not only astounds you with his exceptionally fierce stage show, but also beguiles you with his electrifying personality.
From the moment he stepped on stage Ray’s contagious enthusiasm and high energy were apparent. He distinctly set the show in motion with an inviting song of welcome, before unleashing with a torrent of well-written tunes to which this writer is unable to choose a favorite. From “Feels Like Home”, a rockin’ tune he credits his son for helping him write, he easily transitions into traditional country with “Wasn’t Born Country”, a song with the line “I wasn’t born country, but I’m country now”, to which most of us can relate.

To say he can sing ballads well is a massive understatement. Mere words cannot explain the passion he emotes when singing tunes such as “Ten Times”, “Only One Around” and the splendid “That Time of My Life”. Allaire had those in attendance mesmerized with not only his powerful delivery but also his stellar vocal range. With shades of Jim Croce noticeable in his voice, Ray proceeded to captivate us all with spectacular songs including the superlative “Castles” with its piano accompaniment played beautifully by James Austin Cundiff.

The stage went dark for a brief moment and as the lights came up, we were thrilled to see a fantastic custom bike from Corrupted Concepts center stage. Allaire treated us to the maximum driving force of “Thousand Miles of Road” with its rock infused grooves and essence of freedom.

Ray exudes unparalleled magnetism and was born to perform as I witnessed this versatile performer not only play guitar, he took a turn at the piano and played a mean stick on the drums. And with a numerous selection of well-written tunes including the fast-paced, two-steppin’ “Six Times at Bat”, the sweet, touching “Kristine” written for his wife, and the cool, matchless “Nevermind”, Ray shows he can traverse all genres of music and share the absolute best of his talents.

To end the show in a spectacular manner, Ray, compete with a black cowboy hat, sang his signature song, “Cowboy Walk”. With fierce pride and conviction he delivered an intoxicating tune that touches deep inside your heart. What made this particular song so exceptional was the reaction of the audience who rose to their feet, me included, as the first note was struck. Allaire and his uber talented band proceeded to light up the night as the excitement and verve emanating from the stage crossed over into the crowd. This particular song is the one that caught my attention on 3C Continuous Cool Country UK, where it was chosen among the top 50 in 3c Listener’s 2004-Year End Countdown. Notable as he was against heavy contenders and some of country’s hottest stars.

Ray Allaire possesses an infectious spirit and an extraordinary gift for music. I was delighted to discover he is equally charming offstage. If you are looking for someone who deserves a chance in the spotlight, then Ray Allaire is the artist who merits such an honor. One day he will be gracing the stage of the Grand Ole Opry, singing his self-penned and collaborative tunes to a standing ovation in appreciation of his blessed talent and love for the music that blazes brilliantly from within his heart and soul.

Special thanks and appreciation go out to Ray Allaire – www.rayallaire.com, Randall Addington of Cowboy Walk Productions - www.cowboywalk.com, Derek Snyder of Monster EFX - www.monsterefx.com, Tom Gaynor & Mark Brasel of The Zone Productions - www.thezonepro.com, Lorrie, Kristine, Brian Tilford, Joe Vitek, James Austin Cundiff, Ken Green, and Vashti Germaine for making my first trip to Florida a memorable one.

Authors Note: I attended the after party at Crickets Spirits, Sports & Food in Melbourne and was pleasantly surprised to hear the beautiful voice of Jessica Lee. I hope to hear more from this promising young talent in the years to come.

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