Luke Bryan Reigns At Spring Break Panama City

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: September 23, 2010 11:23:03 PM CDT

Subject: Bus wreck leaves Rhonda & The Rage without their instruments!

The Martha White Bluegrass Express dropped Rhonda & The Rage in New York City on Thursday morning 9/23/2010. The group went shopping and sight seeing until it was time for

their sound check at Joe's Pub at 4:30pm.  Each member arrived at Joe's Pub, but their bus was  nowhere in sight.

No equipment, clothes, instruments, or CDs to celebrate the new release of "Taken".  They immediately called the driver and discovered he had been in an accident in the Lincoln Tunnel, on his way into New York City.  As the time ticked away, it became apparent that the driver was not going to arrive before the 7:30 show time.

They started calling friends in the area to see who was coming to the show, and might be able to bring instruments.  Luckily, a Zydeco band was also performing after Rhonda & The Rage.  

By show time, they had an electric bass, a vintage Martin guitar, Gibson banjo, and a great sounding fiddle; all from generous donors.

Rhonda walked center stage without a mandolin, explained to the audience that their bus had been in an accident; and with the help of friends, the show would continue, and hopefully the bus would arrive soon with their instruments.

She also talked about how they normally dressed in suits, and she had planned to wear the dress that New York designer Constance McCardle had created especially for the release party.  Instead, The Rage was dressed in shorts, and ball caps; a sight you most likely will never see again.

They performed many songs from "Taken", along with several requests from the audience which included "I've Forgotten You" and "Fishers of Men".

About 20 minutes from the end of the show, the driver arrived with The Martha White Bluegrass Express, and they quickly brought in a mandolin, an upright bass, and the rest of their instruments. During an instrumental, Rhonda quickly changed into the Constance McCardle Original. They received a standing ovation, and after singing their encore, the driver gave every person in attendance one of Rhonda's new CD and a poster of "Taken" in appreciation of their patience during this crisis.

Rhonda signed for an hour after the show, a sight very unusual for New York City. The audience was amazed at the incredible way Rhonda and her band handled this adversity with such poise and true professionalism; proving once again that no matter what, the show must go on!