It was a miserable, rainy Friday afternoon, but I was off from work and my wife and I decided to journey from our home in Anderson, SC to the big city of Greenville for a little shopping and a little eating. Along the way we had our local Christian radio station on and there was a promo for a Bob Bennett concert coming to the Grounds For Faith coffee shop in Travelers Rest, SC. "Where in the world is that," was the question that left both our mouths simultaneously. And as we asked that question, we missed the phone number we could have called for the answer. It took hours, but we finally heard the promo again, got the number and called. We had to settle for a spot on the waiting list, but we were number 3 and that seemed promising. The rest of the day we drove around listening to our Bob Bennett tapes which made for a pleasant and mellow journey.
When we arrived home, we got a call from Grounds For Faith. They had two tickets reserved for us. We were thrilled, but we had reservations because we knew nothing about the venue.
The Saturday of the concert (October 18, 1997 if I had to guess) was unusually warm for the date. Storms were expected and, as is customary when my wife and I have to make a road trip anywhere near Greenville, they materialized. We found our way to the heart of Travelers Rest (which is barely a crossroads). At the stop sign at the heart of town we glanced to the right and happened to see a small sign on the front of an ancient building -- "Ground For Faith". We parked across the street and, as we crossed to the coffee shop, who should we see emerging from another car but a certain rotund crooner -- the star of the show himself.
We entered into a small "room" with seating for probably no more than 50 people. My wife and I took seats on some stools no more than 15 feet from the stage. The worst seat in the house couldn't have been 25 feet from the stage. Bob began his sound check within a minute or two of his arrival and from that we were able to tell we were in for a very special evening. Indeed, it was.
The weather outside went right down the tubes. Sprinkles gave way to showers which gave way to downpours with lightning popping all around. But the atmosphere in that little coffee house was intimate and cozy with everyone huddled together. A couple of local kids ("Hunter and Josh", I believe) served as the warmup act. They clearly had talent that will probably be refined over time but their greatest contribution was the anticipation they created for Bob Bennett. Then it was time for Bob to take the stage.
To call it a stage doesn't do justice to the intimacy of the setting. This was more like sitting in the living room of Rob and Laura Pettrie watching them perform with Buddy and Sally. Between songs, Bob connected with the audience as if we were guests in his own home. And, oh the songs. Just Bob and his guitar. Just a small crowd and a dreary evening where we were all thankful for a warm, dry place. It was all so special. We had left our home in Anderson not knowing what to expect of the evening and, in one of those rare events of life, we found a very special place where we had a very special time with a very special performer -- Bob Bennett.
Last night (November 21) was another unusually warm night. Again, sprinkles gave way to showers and then to downpours. The lightning was popping again. My wife and I elected to cancel plans to go see a movie. It was after dinner sometime before I went up to get the day's mail and I was delighted to find that I had finally received the Small Graces CD I had ordered while at the concert in Travelers Rest. As the storm raged outside, my wife and I huddled inside and listened to Small Graces three times through. Deja vu except for the physical absence of one certain rotund crooner.
Thanks Bob for two very special evenings and all that very special music we enjoy day in and day out.
Bob Chambers