By Michael Worrell
Staff Writer
The Wednesday twilight was cool, but not too cold, as Josh Bales bopped his way to the stage built in the center of the Grassy Bowl.
The singer-songwriter who graduated in 2003, was far from his home in Maitland, Florida, but he regularly visits the campus, often to hold concerts, like the one that night. He stopped to greet students, to thank them for coming, before taking his place on the platform and slinging his guitar onto his shoulder.
The crowd scattered around the bowl was sparse a first, and many were gathered around the table of cookies and milk near the road, but as Bales began singing, empty spaces on the ground were filled by concert-goers and their blankets.
Bales was acutely aware of his venue, reminiscing about songs of his own time at Bryan and his own experiences in the Grassy Bowl, and dedicated one of his songs, “Gray T-shirt” to Grassy Bowl couples.
For nearly two hours, the space was filled with the soothing sound of his voice and the melodies he was able to coax from his guitar and piano. His songs ranged from country to alternative folk, but the mood throughout was subdued, though not quite solemn.
The sunset behind the stage framed the opening half of the concert, bleeding into starlight as the night went on. Except for a brief interruption of a train and its whistles passing through between songs, the concert went off without a hitch, culminating with a song he had dedicated to Bryan College, “Count the Stars” while under the very “million beams of light” that inspired the song.
Bales first reached out to Jeff Eenigenberg, director of campus worship, saying he was going to be in the Chattanooga area and asked if he could do a concert. From there, Eenigenberg talked with Tim Shetter, assistant dean of students, Olivia Kezer and Rachel Garnett, SGA executive events directors.
Bales was not difficult to provide for, said Eenigenberg, and was fine with holding his show outdoors, an opportunity that SGA had been looking for.
“We’d been wanting to do something in the Grassy Bowl for a long time,” said Garnett.
SGA tries to plan an event for every month and this concert fit in with their scheduling. Garnett believes the event was a success, bringing many people to the bowl for an evening of great music and great scenery.
“It was great. Being outside in the dark made it so much better.” said Jaclyn Capes, one of the concert-goers.
