Concert helps collect boxes of toys for children

The rain continued to pour outside the Bluebird Nightclub Tuesday night, but the toys kept pouring inside for the annual WTTS-FM  Toys for Tots Christmas Concert.

WTTS-FM hosts the event each year to raise both toy and monetary donations for the U.S. Marine Corps’ charity, and Amos Lee, The Delta Spirit and the Gabe Dixon Band headlined the concert.

Each artist brought a distinct performance.

The Gabe Dixon Band opened the show with a short set filled with catchy, piano-driven songs, including a rendition of Bob Marley’s “Is This Love?” featuring Dixon on the melodica, an instrument similar to the recorder.

The Delta Spirit also incorporated various instruments into its music. Throughout the performance, members of the band played the harmonica, sleigh bells, maraca, stationary snare drum and what looked like a beat-up metal trash can lid.

While opening his set, Amos Lee was practically inaudible due to the throngs of people singing along to his hit “Keep it Loose, Keep it Tight.” It was clear that his distinctive and soulful voice was a hit with the audience.

While everyone present was enjoying the music, the artists continued to remind the audience of the reason they were all there.

“Toys for Tots – tots love toys,” Matthew Vasquez, Delta Spirit lead singer, said from the stage.

“Did you bring toys?” Lee asked. “I flew out here so the kids would get toys.”

Gabe Dixon said he did not know what Toys for Tots was until he did a little research. He then realized the charity merited a special trip to Bloomington.

“(It was) worth the five-hour drive from Nashville,” Dixon said.

Toward the end of the evening, the success of WTTS-FM, The Bluebird and the artists was apparent as Corporal Lance Tyler Johnson tried to fit the last few bags of toys into the back of his car.

“We have five and a half boxes and over $100 in donations,” Johnson said.