John Michael Montgomery wows fans

MOSES LAKE - About an hour before Saturday's John Michael Montgomery concert, friends Megan Phelps, Jordyn Murray and Devin Robbins were hanging out at the Carolyn Fischer Stage area.

Phelps and Murray took a few minutes to reminisce about some of their favorite Montgomery tunes.

Phelps, of Moses Lake, said she grew up listening to Montgomery. Her favorite tunes include "First Chance" and "Be my Baby."

Murray said she likes Montgomery's "Life's a Dance" and was happy just general admission into the fair was needed to see the performance.

"It was worth it to stand in the heat," Murray said.

Apparently other concert-goers felt the same way. According to estimates from fairgrounds manager Jerry Gingrich, between 1,500 and 2,000 people poured into the concert area to see the popular singer, toting folding chairs and umbrellas.

Montgomery, a Kentucky native, is known for many country music chart toppers, including "Life's a Dance," "I Love the Way You Love Me," "If You've Got Love," "I Swear," "Rope the Moon," "Sold," "Letters from Home" and "Cowboy Love."

Montgomery opened the show with "Cowboy Love" and judging from the audience's participation performed some top-tapping favorites, including ""Life's a Dance," "I Love the Way You Love Me," "Letters from Home," "Be My Baby Tonight," and "I Can Love You Like That."

During "I Swear," couples embraced and slow danced.

Fans clapped, sang, danced together and snapped photos with their digital cameras and iPhones.

Anthony and Daunielle Soberg, of Othello, attended the concert with their kids. Daunielle mentioned "I Swear" as one of her favorites, but also said she likes a lot of his songs. She started listening to Montgomery as a child.

Anthony enjoys "That Girl," "I Swear" and "I Love the Way You Love Me." He commented about Montgomery's talent for injecting emotion into his music.

Anthony said he would have played "I Swear" on his wedding day if he would have had the CD.