Hot acts beat the cold

Despite cold and clouds, a crowd of determined thousands flocked to First Tee of Augusta Tuesday to make themselves at home on the range.

For the fifth year in a row, the driving range at First Tee was transformed into a concert venue for the annual Drive for Show, Rock Fore! Dough benefit concert. This year's concert featured performances by Augusta act 48Volt, singer-songwriter Shawn Mullins, the Zac Brown Band and Hootie and the Blowfish. Although temperatures had dipped into the 40s by sunset, fans were undeterred.

"Zac Brown is a Georgia boy, and we wanted to support him," said Dennis McDaniel, of Martinez. "And for the last few years my 13-year-old daughter has been coming to this. It's an annual event for her."

For McNeill Upchurch and Kasi Otto, the concert was particularly meaningful. Before the Zac Brown set, Mr. Upchurch brought Miss Otto onstage and proposed to her. He said he felt that his proposal had to be big.

"We're about to ship off to basic training," he explained. "I just couldn't do it someplace like the supermarket."

Miss Otto, who said yes, said that it was a fitting time and place.

"We love some Chicken Fried," she said, referring to the Zac Brown Band's hit single.

Hootie and the Blowfish have played Rock Fore! Dough four of the past five years. But it was the Zac Brown Band's first time playing the concert, which benefits First Tee. Mr. Brown said what surprised him was not the unusual venue, but the level of professionalism that went into producing the concert.

"The first thing I noticed was the great production, the great sound and the great interest," he said. "But we've played so many places that this doesn't seem that weird."

The evening concluded with a set by Hootie and the Blowfish. The band was joined at one point by professional golfer John Daly, who performed a version of Knocking on Heaven's Door.

Emily Stevenson of Gluestick, the Augusta-based promoter of the concert, said that while the cold had caused some worry she considers Rock Fore! Dough a success.

"We're thrilled," she said. "It's cold, and there are still roughly 7,000 people out there. The sun has come out, and people are having a great time."

Reach Steven Uhles at (706) 823-3626 or steven.uhles@augustachronicle.com.