Sharing tears and beers
Country music community unites for emotional benefit show at Stoney’s
hospital.
He wonders what this night means to her.
“Being under one roof, seeing our country family together, all the love and support, we need this,” she responds. “I need this.”
Dancing on
Or course, they were all still processing things.
“Monday I was OK. Yesterday was the hardest day I think I’ve ever had in my life,” Higginbotham says, recalling the terrifying moment when he was attempting to drag his girlfriend to safety as shots first rang out. “The scream and horror in her voice — ‘Don’t leave me!’ — is what I woke up to yesterday.”
What do you do, then, when it feels like everything is falling apart?
You come together.
You come here.
This is an intensely communal, close-knit scene — and not just locally.
Singer Dylan Schneider, who performed at Route 91 Harvest on Sunday, didn’t get back home to his native Indianapolis until Tuesday morning. When he heard of the Stoney’s benefit show, he caught a flight, arrived in town at 5:30 p.m., performed, then headed straight back a few hours later.
Likewise, singer Carter Winter flew in from Nashville, Tennessee, on a moment’s notice.
Performer after performer, plenty was said from the stage, feelings shared, encouragement given.
The true essence of the evening, though, wasn’t embodied by words, but by something else.
It was the hugging of strangers.
It was the tipping of brews in a crowded room.
It was the dad spinning his young daughter by the hand, dancing on.
Contact Jason Bracelin at jbracelin@reviewjournal. com or 702-383-0476. Follow @Jasonbracelin on Twitter.