Pictured (L-R): BMLG Records VP Promotion Matthew Hargis, Brian Kelley, BMLG EVP/BMLG Records President Jimmy Harnen, BMLG SVP of A&R Allison Jones, BMLG SVP of Sales, Marketing and Interactive Kelly Rich, BMLG COO Andrew Kautz and Tyler Hubbard
BOBBY KARL WORKS THE ROOM
Chapter 544
Just in case you’ve forgotten, Florida Georgia Line is one of the hottest country acts alive.
To celebrate selling out Bridgestone Arena, the duo tossed a pre-concert bash on Thursday night (Oct. 13). Jimmy Harnen crowed, “Thank you to all the believers!”
He reminded the attendees that FGL has three No. 1 albums, 10 No. 1 singles (all with a million downloads or more), four CMA awards, four ACM awards and four CMT awards. With 10 million downloads, “Cruise” is the biggest selling digital country single in history. During the evening, the duo added one more accolade, as they celebrated their single “H.O.L.Y.” going 2x platinum.
“This is extremely humbling,” said the duo’s Brian Kelley. “This is our hometown show. This is the night we wanted everybody to see.”
“I just want to celebrate music, to celebrate life, to celebrate us,” added Tyler Hubbard. “Remember, you guys are the reason we are here. Everybody in here is special.”
Commemorative plaques were produced. Trade photos were taken.
Pictured (L-R): Big Loud Mountain’s Joey Moi and Seth England, Brian Kelley, Tyler Hubbard, Big Loud Mountain’s Kevin “Chief” Zaruk and Craig Wiseman
The party had a disco theme. It was called “A Night at Studio FGL.”
“They wanted it to be something that was as far away from what they do as possible,” explained Gillie Crowder. John Zarling added that they tried to transform what is your basic, boring, backstage space. This was accomplished by yards and yards of white drape to cordon the area, plus disco mood lighting.
Mirror balls rotated above the spacious central bar. Dance music thundered from the DJ platform. Two model-type babes “vogue-d” on risers. They wore sleek, ‘70s-style, silver, bell-bottomed, halter-topped jumpsuits. Two giant projection screens showed various FGL performance images.
Craig Wiseman, Brett Warren, Mike Molinar, Mike Craft, Mark Brown, Allison Brown Jones, Lisa Konicki, Lisa Ray, Ray Sells, Ellen May, Joana Carter, Jim Catino, John Marks, Jensen Sussman, George Flanigen, Dixie Owen, Dale Bobo, Bob Doerschuk, Sherod Robertson and Becky Harris, plus Wes Vause, Chandra LaPlume, Vernell Hackett, Hunter Kelly, Scott Stem, Todd Cassetty, Pam Matthews, B.J. Hill, Beville Dunkerley, Chuck Aly, Haley Crow, and Eric T. Parker schmoozed.
Did you skip dinner to attend? No problem. The generous buffet featured beef Wellington puffs, coconut chicken skewers, huge Swedish meatballs, beef & cream cheese rollups, ham & pimento cheese rollups, dinner rolls with butter, shrimp cocktail, tortilla chips with salsa and/or guacamole and tomato basil soup and/or champagne brie soup shooters.
Click here for a recap of Florida Georgia Line’s Bridgestone Arena concert, including their very special guests.
