November 10, 2024- Six stellar musicians took the stage last night, in the Crystal Room, of Prescott’s Elks Performing Arts Center. Each has at least one other band, with whom he or she plays, but Ponderosa Grove brings them all together. There are twin brothers, whose passion is fusing bluegrass with jazz and blues-a hit or miss exercise, which is sometimes delightful. There is a multi-talented keyboardist, who is a drummer for his other band. There is a drummer, who played for fifteen years with Mariah Carey. A lead guitarist, who is one of the area’s premiere guitar instructors, fires up the set.

It is the lead singer, though, who sets the house rocking. She set the tone by having her hair dyed fire engine red, and once she opened her mouth and sent the notes flying at the audience, there was little pause, save a ten-minute intermission. None of the musicians skipped a beat : Jonah and Jason Howard, Zach Dominguez, Gigi Gonaway, Drew Hall-and Candace Devine, a granddaughter of character actor Andy Devine. Her voice is anything but gravelly; it is fire with no brimstone.

Women who show a fiery spirit are they who make the planet spin and the truth be known, each and every time they speak-or sing. Mother put the fear of God in us, very early on, without getting physical. Penny, my late wife, could purify a room, with her fiery speech. There are others in my life who, when they are headed your way, it’s best to step aside. Kathy is much gentler, but her fire burns clearly enough that no one argues.

Candace just threw her head back and let everything come rushing forward-with a megaton voice. It was an evening I won’t forget for years to come. The best part, though, was her eight-year-old son hugging her at intermission. How many kids hug their parent when the grown-up sings?