Lauren Keaton

Earlier this month, country star Pat Green performed at the Oil Palace for Tyler Junior College's parents' weekend event.

I have been a huge fan of the "wave on wave" singer since I was first exposed to country music in college.

Because of his numerous hits, increasing notoriety and the legendary party atmosphere of Pat Green concerts, I showed up early that evening, ready to fight the crowds.

To my surprise, the parking lot was bare.

"OK, maybe everyone just carpooled?" I thought.

So, I went inside.

Like the parking lot, the venue was sparsely populated with students and parents, who seemed shockingly unenthusiastic.

My younger sister, Evelyn, who accompanied me to the show, was just as astonished as I was.

"What is wrong with these people? Where is everyone? Don't they know this is Pat Green?" she said, taking the words right out of my mouth.

As the concert began, people moved toward the stage and the singer delivered a stellar performance. The kids and parents who were there clearly enjoyed themselves and it truly was one of the better concerts I have attended.

But, the question is: why was the turnout so small?

Being the entertainment writer for the paper, I constantly hear complaints about large acts passing over Tyler. People say "You have to go to Dallas for a good concert," and "All the big stars never come here."

Well, one did and nobody came.

Last week, I called UT Tyler to ask about an upcoming show at the Cowan Center. While speaking with one of the officials, she told me the musical "Hairspray" (playing Nov. 10 at the Cowan Center) was already sold out. I wasn't too surprised; I heard it was a great show.

But, then she told me it had sold out in two hours!

That is impressive. But it made me wonder about what seems to be important in this community.

Pat Green sells out Nokia Theater in New York City, but most students and parents skipped his performance here. Hairspray is a highly acclaimed show on Broadway, don't get me wrong, but being from the NYC area, I know that the people of Manhattan are not falling all over themselves to see it.

So, I realized it must be over saturation. Pat Green is great, but Texas is the Mecca for country music. Whether it is the high percent of the radio stations here dedicated to the genre or entertainment at the Cattle Barons' Gala, country music is everywhere.

I will go out on a limb and guess if John Mayer came to Tyler, it would be a different story.

And New York is equally synonymous with the theater. There is so much to choose from, that even the fabulous plays lose their luster because of the convenient accessibility.

It was the novelty of the country concert in the Big Apple that made Yankees clamor for tickets and the idea of a nationally acclaimed musical in Tyler that made people spring for the phone.

And then I remembered themes for events here. Last year, Women's Symphony Orchestra hosted a benefit ball called "Midnight in Manhattan" and this year's Mistletoe and Magic is themed "Fifth Avenue Flair."

One time my father went to a 5-star restaurant in Manhattan and ordered the highly praised special: breaded tenderized beef smothered in a cream sauce. He looked at the server when his order came and laughed... "This is chicken fried steak, isn't it?"

It is human nature for us to be dazzled by something new... something that makes us realize our frame of reference is not where things end.

That is why, even in our own country, different places and lifestyles seem exotic.

It goes along with the saying: the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.

Kids want to leave the house as soon as they are 18, but spend the rest of their lives trying to get back that security. Girls who have straight blonde hair, covet their best friend's red curls.

My sister, who went to my high school in Connecticut, told me the girl who won best car in the year book superlatives drove a bare-bones, white, 2004 Ford F-150... other kids driving the latest Hummers and Mercedes lost. The truck was different, and therefore cooler.

But, I have the same problem. I am always changing things, moving, trying different foods and enjoying foreign-themed parties... trying to find out what I like.

Things in my life, day-in-day-out, sometimes seem boring.

But, one thing I have learned: you don't always know what's good until things change.

Pat Green is an amazing entertainer, I certainly recognized that, and wished more people saw him at the Oil Palace.

But, I wasn't on the phone reserving my place for "Hairspray"... and maybe that is where I messed up.

Lauren Keaton
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