Lovelock opened an early Christmas gift on Wednesday night. The Pershing County Library presented the first in a series of free concerts at the Community Center.
In–Tune Tales, a Reno trio, brought an hour of holiday music to town.
Scot Marshall played bass. He also sang and told stories in a deep baritone. Catherine Matovich added violin. Ron Savage pounded the keyboard. Each musician soloed several times throughout the hour.
Over one hundred people attended. Seats filled up quickly. The audience spilled onto the floor. Families spread out blankets.
The group led off with "Oh, Christmas Tree," arranged by Vince Guaraldi for A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965). Next, "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen," nodded to the style of John Coltrane, saxophonist.
Marshall talked about the composer of the third piece in the group's repertoire, "Cool Yule (1953)."
"Steve Allen was one of the original hosts of the Tonight Show," he said. "He was also a comedic writer, composer, singer and a great piano player. "Cool Yule" became a big hit for Louis Armstrong."
The group asked the audience to help them out with the song.
"If you snap your fingers on the first and fourth beat – we'll get that forward momentum, that swing," said Marshall.
Ashley Allred Knight sat on the floor with a lapful of children: Wallace, 2, Wilford, 4, and Audrey, 11 months.
Audrey Doll Knight came into the world at 5:31 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2017, - the first Lovelock baby of the new year. On Wednesday the toddler snapped her fingers to the songs of her first Christmas.
Next, the trio played "Swinging Drummer Boy," with some acoustic help.
"When you use a drum machine on a gig you never have to worry about the drummer talking back or chasing your girlfriend," said Marshall.
But the highlight of the evening was In-Tune's rendition of "How the Grinch Stole Christmas," the Dr. Seuss classic.
"I owe a great debt to Dr. Seuss," said Marshall. "The Grinch was the first book I read by myself. It was very empowering and opened up a lifetime love of reading."
Marshall assumed the persona of the Grinch. Savage sported reindeer antlers. And Matovich sprouted a headful of green hair.
Marshall morphed from grouchy hermit to full-fledged Christmas-lover. The residents of Whoville led him to love the holiday. He decked himself out as Santa Claus.
“Maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more,” concluded the Grinch as his heart grew to three times its size.
The musicians closed their show with a crowd favorite. Lovelock kids and grownups sang along to "Santa Claus is Coming to Town."
The Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts (PCPA) sponsored the show. They offer concerts to elementary schools and libraries within a 150-mile radius of Reno.
Library Director Kathie Brinkerhoff applied for a LSTA (Library Services and Technology Act) grant to fund monthly concerts for Lovelock through May 2018.
"I think everyone enjoyed the performance," she said. "We got lots of positive comments. In -Tune Tales returns next month with a different program. They said they enjoyed the Lovelock audience's energy."
