The Brothers Osborne at Birmingham’s O2 Academy Theatre

After waiting for half an hour, the lights of the auditorium suddenly switched off and we were plunged into darkness. Conversations halted, and the hush of expectation throbbed in the air. Silence. A thousand eyes squinted and strained to see the first sight of their heroes walking onto the black stage. 

Haunting chords of a Hammond organ began to seep from the speakers. Feeling the warmth of a familiar intro, we knew the moment had finally come, and burst into cheers, screams and heavy applause.

I was one of the screamers. My husband and I had been unable to get seats together, so I was a lone woman. Unrestricted by consideration for my trusting and faithful lover, I was free to let rip and release my inner fangirl!

There they were. Spotlights shined on the two brothers, guitars in hand, bowing and waving to the crowd. 

Those sweet familiar faces that had smouldered from their album covers, and whose music I had played almost constantly for the past year, were suddenly very real and in the same room as me! It was hard to believe. At that moment I loved them so much I felt as if my chest would burst. Tears poured from my eyes.

The Brothers Osborne are country rockers from Nashville, Tennessee. But “country rock” barely describes the rich, emotional timbre of their music. Heart-wrenching guitar, played by John with such skill it’s as if his whole life was bursting from the instrument, is the perfect partnership for TJ’s richly textured baritone vocals. 

I am even listening to them as I write. To me, that concert was produced with such exquisite quality, I am still glowing from it. Four months later I’m still waking up with the music in my head. The Brothers Osborne talked to everyone as if we were old buddies, made us laugh and cry and join in with old favourite songs. They sang and played as if they were sharing their souls with us. 

TJ posed and stroked back his dark hair as if he’d been practising in front of a mirror, then laughed with us as we swooned. John, in his cowboy hat with his eyes closed, twisted his face in ecstasy as his notes soared. At times he barely noticed us. They tendered their souls with open arms and were gratefully received. The love in the room was palpable.

When they finally stretched out the ending of a heavy rock number, rising and dipping in arpeggios, eking out every last note as if they couldn’t bear to end it, we knew it was the last song. “No, no! Don’t go yet,” I yelled amongst the others. 

But we knew there was hope for more, and the room exploded with the loudest cheering I have ever heard. The floor vibrated with the stomping and cat calls pierced into my brain before I realised they were my own.

Someone initiated a catchy ditty from one of their songs, just a few notes, and the whole audience joined in. Everyone was singing it together, in tune and with perfect timing, to let them know backstage how much we wanted an encore. It was so moving. The whole room, in total unison, adored these brothers. Their music had touched everyone.

They came back and played three more songs before their final farewell. Everyone around me groaned when the lights came on to let us know it was all over. Dazed with disappointment, I sought out my husband, felt his big warm hand wrap around mine, and was happy to be by his side once more. 

We walked back to our hotel, chattering excitedly about the concert and pointing out little details we thought the other may have missed. The lamp-lit Birmingham roads were mirrored by the rain. Back to reality.

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Perri Dodgson

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Perri Dodgson was born into an RAF family, which meant travelling extensively and receiving a disjointed education. Her first job was a layout designer for a publishing house, then for twenty years she worked in the care sector, looking after the elderly and mentally ill. Now retired and living in Wellingborough, England, and after joining a writing group, she discovered the joy of writing. She has had features published in magazines and online literary magazines and been ‘highly recommended’ in a national competition. She also explores interior design and embroidery. Currently she is researching for her book which will be a biography.

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