This must be the place: 'Such a long time to be gone and short time to be there'
The 'Concert for Carolina' on Oct. 26 in Charlotte. Garret K. Woodward photo
Hello from Section 117 at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. I’m here on assignment covering the “Concert for Carolina,” a flood relief fundraiser put together by country megastars and Western North Carolina natives Eric Church and Luke Combs. Some 82,000 folks filled the outdoor venue, while around $25 million was garnered during the performance.
The murderers’ row lineup included Church, Combs, James Taylor, Sheryl Crow, Keith Urban, The Avett Brothers, Billy Strings, Chase Rice and many more. It was, well, surreal, to say the least.
Cruising into Charlotte Saturday afternoon, we were tailed by dark rainclouds the entire way from Waynesville to the Queen City. It was wild to see the storms rolling across Western North Carolina, seeing as, literally, the last time it rained in our backyard it was Helene and the horrific flooding that ensued thereafter.
Heavy raindrops and a cool, stiff breeze blew across the hotel parking lot between the Charlotte airport and the stadium as we waiting for our Uber to the stadium. But, the weather wouldn’t deter the tens of thousands of music freaks from their pilgrimage to this whirlwind circus of a show in the coming hours.
After a short rain delay, the performance erupted on the massive “in the round” stage in the middle of the football field, country singer Eric Church now completely surrounding by a sea of people as he slowly weaved his guitar strumming into a beautifully poignant rendition of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah.”
Throughout the six-hour gig, it was a blur of melodies, big name appearances and sing-alongs that shook the massive structure, the sound waves vibrating into the ether above. Smiles and handshakes will familiar faces from all over Western North Carolina sitting a few seats or rows away, all of us making the trek to the Charlotte for this night. Sharing sorrowful stories and uplifting experiences from each of our respective paths pushing forward towards life post-Helene — physically, emotionally, spiritually and intrinsically.
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At one point, I ran into my good buddy Cory Short, who owns Silverados Music Park in Swannanoa. Although the enormous stage at the facility was unharmed, the rest of the property was covered in mud and debris. No matter, for Short immediately turned his business into a donation hub for those in need. Even over a month out from Helene, Silverados remains a drive-thru for supplies, seeing as many are still without clean water until further notice.
While talking with Short, I noticed a section of empty seats near us that hadn’t been sat in at all during the ongoing performances. I asked him what’s the deal with those seats. “They reserved that section for folks from Craigtown,” Short replied in a solemn tone. “Most of them aren’t here yet, seeing as the last funeral for their family members was earlier today.”
My heart sank. I knew exactly who Short was talking about. Craigtown. A tightly-knit holler near Fairview filled with the extended branches of the Craig family. Of which, 11 of those members were killed in a landslide. At the center of this tragedy is Bryan Craig, a football coach at AC Reynold High School in Asheville. Last Friday night, he was still on the sidelines calling plays and doing the best he could to be steadfast and true.
Bidding my friend goodbye following a big bear hug of gratitude, I found myself simply wandering around the stadium. I wanted to soak in the raw emotion and real time feeling the evening conjured with such ease. Powerhouse sets and hit songs sung with gusto. Chills up and down one’s body. Our souls becoming one in this rare juncture of unity in a modern world seemingly gone mad.
But, it was James Taylor who, for me, was just absolutely staggering. I knew his show was going to be something special. I just didn’t know I would be tearing up thinking about every single person I love and miss, either six feet under and long gone or six feet above and six hundred miles away.
Throughout my life, I’ve been lucky enough to see thousands of concerts. But, what I witnessed Saturday evening, when Sweet Baby James played “Fire and Rain” — as well as “Carolina in My Mind” and “You’ve Got a Friend” — became one of the most beautifully moving and spiritually powerful performances of my entire existence as music freak and old soul human being.
For Taylor to play in an NFL stadium in front of 82,000 music freaks and still make it seem like he was playing just for you in your living room was pure magic. Pure bliss. Pure talent. Pure heart. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house and nor should there be in that moment of connectivity and compassion.
And it’s that pure heart of live music and fellowship that resides at the foundation of what it has taken — and what it will take in the coming months, years and decades — for all of us here in Western North Carolina to overcome the insurmountable obstacles left behind by Helene. It’s about a sense of community and realizing once again that all friends were strangers at one time.
We’re all human. We all hurt and cry. We all laugh and rejoice. And when it really comes down to it in the grand scheme of things within the knowns and unknowns of the grandiose universe, don’t forget that we’re all in this together — lend a hand, give a hug.
Life is beautiful, grasp for it, y’all.
