Restless Heart: Country Rock At Its Finest

I recently attended a show at the Jackson County Fair in Cottageville, West Virginia. Now I have attended a number of events in the past several months, but this particular show was very special.

It started out as a road trip for my brother and me. Of course we had other reasons for making the trip from Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, but the number one attraction for us was seeing the country band Restless Heart.



From left to right: Paul Gregg, John Dittrich, Larry Stewart, Greg Jennings, and Dave Innis.

In my opinion, this is one of the most underrated bands of all time. To me, they always sounded reminiscent of the Eagles, but still with a sound all their own. These guys gave Alabama a run for their money and were so popular back in the 1980s to early 1990s, with their unique blend of country, pop, and rock. With their impeccable musicianship, tight harmonies, and the highest musical integrity, this band scored six consecutive number one country singles from 1986-1989. Some of their hits include "That Rock Won't Roll," "I'll Still Be Loving You," "The Bluest Eyes in Texas," "Big Dreams in a Small Town," "Fast Movin' Train," and "When She Cries."

Originally formed in 1983, the band includes Larry Stewart on guitar and lead vocals, Paul Gregg on bass, lead and background vocals, Greg Jennings on lead guitar and background vocals, Dave Innis on keyboards and background vocals, and John Dittrich on drums, lead and background vocals.

The five-man band is one of the finest I have ever heard live, and they certainly didn't disappoint with this show. They performed their usual set of hits from their impressive catalog of songs, plus a few other surprises. They paid tribute to those artists who helped them give them their start in the music business, and to those who opened for their concerts in their early days. They performed songs by Alan Jackson, Vince Gill, and Garth Brooks, and also included their own special rocking version of ZZ Top's "Sharp-Dressed Man."



From left to right: Larry Stewart, Dave Innis, and Paul Gregg.

The show was absolutely amazing! Besides being outstanding musicians, these guys are real comedians. Larry Stewart and Paul Gregg in particular had the entire audience breaking out in laughter in between songs throughout the evening. Their shows are very interactive as well, getting the crowd involved and singing along to their songs. After seeing them perform live for the first time, I knew immediately that I wanted to see them perform over and over again.

After the show my brother and I had the privilege of meeting and chatting with Larry, Greg and Dave. There was a "meet and greet" before the show, which we hadn't signed up for, but we were able to buy 8x10 photos of the band, signed by all five members! Really cool! We didn't think we would have the opportunity to meet them, but we very fortunate that three of them agreed to sign autographs, take pictures, and chat with some of the fans after the show. We told them how much we loved their music and to keep on playing. They were quite humble but very appreciative and grateful. They were also very down-to-earth as you might expect. They certainly have my respect and admiration for what they do professionally as artists, but also as people. Great guys!



From left to right: Greg Jennings, Paul Gregg, and Larry Stewart.
 

This was definitely one of the more memorable trips I've ever taken. Aside from the concert, my brother and I also took in the sights of the beautiful West Virginia countryside, stopping in Morgantown at West Virginia University on the way home. But Restless Heart made this a summer I'll never forget. Thanks Larry, Paul, Greg, Dave and John! Keep up the good work and never stop playing music. You guys are the best!