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Published: Saturday, August 04, 2007 - © The Edmonton Journal 2007
A poised Lines proves he's on his way to the big time
The pride of Fort McMurray lures impressive crowd to Friday afternoon set
Stories by Peter North, Special to The Journal
CAMROSE - It may have been midday, but the first star to shine at Big Valley this year was a homegrown product.
Aaron Lines, the pride of Fort McMurray, proved he's a performer well on his way to the big time -- and a good 6,000 Jamboree fans agree.
Yes, you read that right -- 6,000, not the usual 600 or so hardcore country music lovers who find their way to the main paddock as the event gets underway.
Impressive indeed that so many Lines fans were seated and ready to respond at 2 p.m. after Marty Grambo pulled the switch on mainstage an hour earlier.
In his allotted 65 minutes, the singer, songwriter and bandleader showed that a five-year run of working diligently and assessing every facet of the equation from song selection to instrumentation has paid off handsomely.
Ready for the big stage? Lines acted like he built the super-sized venue to his specifications.
It was a case of poise from not only the main man, but also his entire backing unit. Beautifully paced presentation of material and a solid sound reinforcement combined for a set that ended with a standing ovation from a crowd largely made up of fellow Albertans.
The 27-year-old is blessed with obvious talents, and the sincerity meter soared from the time longtime Big Valley MC Danny Hooper introduced him.
Lines's originals wash down easily, and his ability to write strong hooks and choruses was reinforced as he laid down ballads, uptempo country-rockers and even a tune titled Sometimes It's Summertime that kicked in with a bit of doo-wop vocalizing. The sentiments of the tune also perfectly matched the laid-back, good-time feel that was at the core of the Big Valley day.
Understanding where his comfort zone is as a singer makes everything Lines delivers all the more believable. Still, he could have sung My Hometown in a falsetto and we'd still understand how much he likes burnin' up the blacktop going back to McMurray.
The instant applause for tunes such as Seeing Things and Waitin' On Wonderful were two reasons Lines was staring at a post-performance autograph line that ran about three city blocks long.
Top the set off with some faithful rootsier nuggets from the books of Springsteen and Mellencamp, and you know there's bound to be a return invitation to Big Valley.
- © The Edmonton Journal 2007
Discography
Albums
2001- Love Changes Everything
2002 – Living Out Loud
2005 – Waitin’ On The Wonderful
2007 – Moments that Matter
13 top 10 singles on Canadian Radio
5 #1 Video's
1 #1 hit Cheaper to Keep Her on Canadian Radio
Photos
Bio
“Moments That Matter”, the latest CD from acclaimed country music artist Aaron Lines, is all about family. It makes sense considering the sole reason he moved back to Canada from Nashville a year ago was to be closer to his family. “I just really felt like I needed to be closer to them. I grew up in a really close family and I felt like I was missing out on a lot of the important things in life not being around them very much. I learned quickly that success was no substitute for time spent with my loved ones”. That sentiment is evident in the title track of the new CD which Aaron co-wrote with a friend....the chorus screams “there’s a big pot of gold at the top of the ladder, but you can’t buy back moments that matter”.
This kind of heartfelt lyric is what fans have come to expect from Aaron over the years through songs like “Waitin’ on the Wonderful” (the most played song on Canadian country radio 2005), “The Lights of my Hometown” (the most played song on Canadian
country radio 2006), “Living Out Loud”, “You Can’t Hide Beautiful” (top 3 song in the U.S, #1 video in the U.S), “20 years late”...and the list goes on. The new CD is no exception with songs like “Somebody’s Son” an ode to a fallen Canadian soldier and
“Everyday Heroes” a testament to the often overlooked heroes in our society. With 11 hits under his belt, Aaron has continued to hone his songwriting over the years and his wide arrays of fans are in for a treat with this new CD.
This new collection also shows a different side of Aaron, one that most of his fans haven’t seen to date. The tongue and cheek sing along “Cheaper to Keep her”...a humorous take on a friend’s divorce and “Let’s Get Drunk and Fight”...a song about 2 married people in a rut are sure to become party anthem’s for crowds around the country.
“I noticed that a lot of my fans only knew one side of me, the serious side. I wanted to let people know me better on this CD. I enjoy joking around a lot and wanted to lighten things up a little bit”, states Lines.
So whether it is a serious love ballad or a honky tonk sing along you’re looking for, this CD has what you want and everything in between. It truly is a roller coaster of emotions from the first to the last song and showcases Lines’ abilities as a seasoned singer songwriter (He co-wrote or wrote every song on the album)
“Moving home to Canada was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made” states Lines. “This CD really reflects that happiness in me. Being closer to family really made me write from a different perspective. I hope people enjoy the songs and it makes them think about the real moments that matter in their lives”
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