Thank you Exile for taking me back to my youth. Thank you Exile for entertaining me and many others at your Renfro Valley Christmas Show. Thank you Exile for putting me in the Christmas spirit and for singing “Little Drummer Boy.” Thank you for helping me to relax and enjoy an evening with friends. Thank you Exile for sharing your music for 59 years.
This was not the first time for me to hear Exile perform on stage. If my memory is correct, I heard Exile play the first time at the Madison Country Club. They were the entertainment for a junior golf tournament. I do remember hearing them play at Speck’s and The Family Dog as well as in the parking lot of the shopping center on the corner of Lancaster and the Eastern Bypass. Exile did play my senior prom at Model Lab School. Yes, these memories are some of my best. Oh yes, I did hear them at the Stockyards in Fort Worth, Texas once.
Friday night at Renfro Valley, Exile put on another fabulous show. The sound was so tight. With J. P. Pennington on lead guitar, his vocals and guitar licks were solid and highly entertaining. The voices of Sonny LeMaire and Les Taylor were incredibly vibrant. The three-part harmonies were enjoyable and outstanding..
Exile played several of their Christmas hits from their first “Wrapped Up In Your Arms For Christmas” album/CD and their second “Joyful Noise” album/CD. “Mistletoe Boogie” made me want to put on my cowboy boots and dance a jig. Pennington’s version of “Santa Looked A Lot Like Daddy” was an excellent tribute to Buck Owens. Sonny made me want to take a trip to the beach this Christmas when he sang “Merry Christmas From Cancun.” Les Taylor made Rudolph squeal with delight with his version of “Run Run Rudolph.”
Exile entertained the crowd with several #1 country hits including “Woke Up In Love,” “I Can’t Get Close Enough,” and “Give Me One More Chance.” Les Taylor did a fabulous rendition of “Heart and Soul.” Sonny sang a wonderful version of “Nobody’s Talking.” The hits just kept coming and coming.
The opening act was Magnolia Vale. The twin sisters, Katelyn and Samantha Daugherty did a marvelous set including “Amazing Grace” and brought a tear to my eye with their version of “Hallelujah.” I recommend catching this sister act down the road. They can hold a note together.
Yes, it was a splendid evening at Renfro Valley. Kudos to the management at Renfro Valley for filling up the New Barn Theatre with the music and hits of Exile. Please bring them back next year so we can celebrate 60 years of Exile with family and friends.
