Story by Bridgette McAuliffe, Contributing Writer

Photos by Nick Bohannon/The News

Former “American Idol” contender, Casey James, performed at the Lovett Live concert series Tuesday, Feb. 20 in historic Lovett Auditorium.

Lovett Live is a concert series put on by Racer Live Productions, all Music Business students, Karen Kane, Music Business Department Chair, said.

There are three shows in the series, and for each show, students take on a different role, Kane said. This is so they can learn as many different aspects of live performance in the music industry as possible. Kane said the students work on advertising and promotions, social media, media relations and production as part of their pre-show roles, and then they are all given day-of-show tasks.

Mary Moore, senior from Livermore, Kentucky, was one of the students to come out of the live performance class. She is now the House Manager at Lovett Auditorium. Moore said that generally, her role is to run lights and sound for every event, set up and tear down and to keep the auditorium clean.  

Having come out of the live performance class, she has been on the students’ side of the production before, and Moore said this was definitely a change.

“It’s definitely different having to lead rather than follow,” Moore said.

Moore is hoping to enter the live performance area of the music industry as a venue manager when she graduates from Murray State.

Lovett Live is designed as a small, intimate show that is meant to bring the audience “closer to the music.”

“That’s sort of the whole Lovett Live vibe,” Kane said. “The cool lighting with the chandeliers, purple mood lighting, couches and chairs up in the front.”

When choosing who performs at Lovett Live, Kane and her students have a few options for each show. “We want to get acts that people will start hearing on the radio next year,” said Kane. “That way, you sort of hear it here first.”

Kane used to work at Sony Records in Nashville, Tennessee, which is where she first met Casey James. “I’ve always just wanted to work with him again,” said Kane. He is one of the artists that Kane said watching him perform is a “religious experience.”

Casey James was a competitor on the 9th season of American Idol, where he came in third place. James said that coming out of the show, Sony offered him a record deal, where they signed him as a country artist.

“I feel really lucky to have been where I was, to have had the success that I had, to be a part of the things I was a part of,” said James.

While signed to Sony, he had two songs in the top ten country charts. Since leaving the label, James said he’s been able to focus more on the music that he loves. “I was able to take full control and really just do exactly what it was that I wanted to do on every level,” James said. “I just wanted to make a record that I loved, that I wanted to hear, that made me happy to play, that said things that I wanted to say.”

James’ said his new record is rooted in Blues, R&B and Rock. To learn more about Casey James, and for music and merchandise, visit caseyjamesofficial.com. For more information on upcoming Lovett Live concerts, visit the official “Lovett Live” Facebook page.