The Imaginaries–Maggie McClure and Shane Henry–kicked off their Wheels on the Pavement Tour as they opened Songwriters Night at the Historic Rock Castle in Hendersonville. The family-friendly summer event drew a crowd with food trucks and inflatables to supplement the music on the outdoor stage.
The husband-and-wife duo, on electric guitar and keyboards, played the set with a full band. They opened with songs from their 2021 self-titled album recorded in Muscle Shoals: “Enough of You,” “Geronimo,” “Walking on a Wire, ” and “Thinking ‘bout You.”
They reported that driving in from Oklahoma, they were met with the drone of cicadas. The ubiquitous insects continued to accompany the duo on harmony through the show, buzzing the stage.
They debuted a new song “Fever,” recorded at the historic FAME Studio, a song about life on the road. McClure noted that this was their first time to perform the song with the band. The pair traded lead vocals and showcased their tight harmonies, with Henry singing lead on “Things Are Gonna Be Alright,” a song they wrote in response to the universal mood after the pandemic.
They introduced another new song, “Whole Lotta Living” which they had played earlier on WSM’s 7:30 radio show. The single, with Vince Gill guest starring, will be released in July.
Through the set, The Imaginaries shared some of their musical exploits–including the movie Cowgirl’s Song (Netflix) in which they co-starred and wrote and produced the soundtrack. They will also appear in the upcoming Dennis Quaid film Reagan, cast as the featured band at the Inaugural Ball.
They closed with a lively cover of “Stop Dragging My Heart Around,” released as a single in 2023 and finished with their powerful single “Revival” that opened their debut album.
After a show at Nashville’s Vinyl Lounge, The Imaginaries played a show at Champy’s in Muscle Shoals before continuing to crisscross the country.