Wally Dreesen and Markie Gresham talk about their performances backstage after the first round of Greer Idol 6. The second round is Friday night at 8 p.m.
Ryan Wilson dressed the part in his performance of "Ain't Too Proud To Beg" by the Temptations. Wilson also proved to be a featured dancer during Encore's final number.
John Garrison impressed the judges with his baritone rendition to "We Found Love" by Rihanna.
Chase Wolfe had his family and fan club hold signs like "Chase Me" as he closed out the first round of the competition. Chase sang a capella when his CD had a malfunction.
Downtown rocked and rolled Friday night.
Wally Dressen, the senior contestant for Greer Idol 6, took command of the stage with his rendition of “Almost Like Being in Love” and last year’s runnerup Doug Allen, got this year’s competition off to a rousing start.
“My home is the stage and music is my healing agent,” Dressen said.
Chase Wolfe didn’t disappoint his sign-waving and cheering fan club. Doug Allen, last year’s runner-up, showed he is one of the early favorites. Ryan Wilson dressed the part and delivered a crowd-pleasing performance. And married couple Lauren and Jeremy McCall began their Idol competition with one of them surely to face elimination in the weeks ahead.
The crowd took to the new stage setup at Victoria and Trade streets with rows of seats 25-30 apart and as far back as Smith & James. Sidewalks were overflowing and there was plenty of dancing in the streets during Encore’s performance.
Three of the singers will be voted off when the on-site and online voting is tabulated by the Greer Cultural Arts Council. That result will be announced early this week.
Friday’s competition will have 13 competitors performing to ‘70s and ‘80s rock with singers allowed two minutes to perform. Three more will be voted off with the final 8 to perform during Freedom Blast on Saturday, June 30.
Friday’s performances are Teen Idol at 6 p.m., Rock and Roll Reunion band at 7, Greer Idol 6 at 8 and the band will finish its performance at 9 p.m.
Jeremy McCall and Chase Wolfe performed a capella when their CDs malfunctioned. McCall changed his selection from “It’s My Life” to “Run Around Sue” by Dion. “ Wolfe stayed with “Feeling Good” by Michael Buble. “Entertainment sometimes throws you a curve,” Wolfe said.
Surprisingly, Wolfe said singing a capella was not a problem. “I sang with the CD only 3-4 times,” Wolfe said. “When they gave me an option of singing a capella I thought ‘Yes’, this is great.”
The judges were Wrylie Bettis, Bryan Lister, Dana Jordan and Hope Murtaugh.
The finalists and their songs performed were:
Colleen Gaine
“If I Were a Boy” by Beyonce
Wally Dressen
“Almost Like Being in Love” by Dean Martin
Brittany Pridemore
“Midnight Train to Georgia” by Gladys Knight and the Pips
Laura Simmerson
“At Last” by Etta James
Ryan Wilson
“Ain’t Too Proud To Beg” by Temptations
Jeremy McCall
“Run Around Sue” by Dion
John Garrison
“We Fell in Love” by Rihanna
Hannah Clayton
“Chain of Fools” by Aretha Franklin
Iresha Moorman
“Good Girl” by Carrie Underwood
Doug Allen
“Weekend in New England” by Barry Manilow
Markie Gresham
“So Small” by Carrie Underwood
Ammadezia Styles”
"Hear for the Party” by Gretchen Wilson
Lauren McCall
“Baggage Claim” by Miranda Lambert
Chase Wolfe
“Feeling Good” by Michael Buble
