Not too many bands can say they’ve been the soundtrack to every bar on Friday night, first kiss and broken heart for the last 30 years. More so, one single band cannot take credit for having those songs be at the top of the charts.
Well, The Frontmen can.
Lubbock native Richie McDonald (former lead singer of Lonestar), Larry Stewart (former voice of Restless Heart) and Tim Rushlow (formerly of Little Texas) have been a part of the connective tissue of country music fans through good and bad times, heartbreaks and much more.
The trio have 30 No. 1 hits, have sold 30 million albums and, more important, can play a song and the audience can sing every one of the words in every set. And that’s where the people in crowd will make the connection that night and beyond.
“Our songs run the gamut,” McDonald said of The Frontmen. “The thing is, we have a lot of people that come up to us and say that our music is the storybook of their lives. … That’s the great thing about that music in that era. It was songs about heartache, songs about love and family. We all three come from bands that had those songs.
“It’s hard to get everything in for one show. … We try to include all of the hits, and bring back a lot of memories for the fans.”
The Frontmen will do their best to hit all the nostalgia notes when they’re set to perform at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 16, at The Cactus Theater. While the crowd will be vibing to some well-known hits, McDonald may shed a tear or two knowing he’s back in his hometown.
“There’s the quote, ‘There’s no place like home,’ and I truly believe that,” said McDonald, who graduated from Coronado High School. “Texas, and especially Lubbock, Texas, has a special place in my heart. And I don’t get back there near enough.
“With this business, it’s just hard to get back. When we do get back, I cherish it. Getting to see my mom and my family and friends. Unfortunately, it’s just for one evening and we’re gone.”
The group recently played at the Cactus Theater back in 2023, to help fundraiser for marquee upgrades. The Cactus is a renovated 1938 theater located at 1812 Buddy Holly Ave. in the Depot District.
McDonald, who lives in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, said he’s looking forward to seeing all of the upgrades and how Lubbock has changed since the last time he was fortunate to get back in town. He’s also eager to stop by Rudy’s Bar-B-Q before he visits his mother in Tahoka.
Once he’s gotten a sense of solace from being back in and around the Hub City, McDonald said he and the rest of the Frontmen will be focused to put on a high-energy show filled with something for everyone.
“We obviously came from three different band and we left somewhat of a legacy in those groups,” McDonald said. “As for The Frontmen, it’s a salute to 90s country. And what a great era for music. The Frontmen is a collective group that I feel like we’ve created our own, unique sound.
“We’re honoring bands and frontmen of all the bands out there.”
More so, they’re giving back to the very people who helped each of them have fun each night as they live their dreams.
“The fans are the reason we do these shows,” McDonald said. “When you have crowds that are sold out and know the words to every song that you’re singing, that’s what makes it worthwhile to us.”
WHAT TO KNOW
What: The Frontmen
When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 16
Where: Cactus Theater, 1812 Buddy Holly Ave.
Are ticket available?: Still available and range from $97 to $75.
Where can I get tickets?: Can purchase at https://www.cactustheater.com
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Lubbock’s Richie McDonald, The Frontmen headline Cactus Theater concert
Reporting by Carlos Silva Jr., Lubbock Avalanche-Journal / Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
