Local talent shines bright at Grays Harbor County Fair

The Grays Harbor County Fair on Friday welcomed several talented musicians to its Pepsi stage. Alex Mabey, Ericka Corban and The Six kept the audience’s toes tapping and heads bobbing as they rocked the night away.

With the kind of history from a fair that includes live acts like Johnny and June Cash, the musicians must know they’ve got to be on their A-game.

Mabey, who is originally from Lake Quinault but now lives in Nashville, spoke about how her faith has helped her through the trials and tribulations in her life.

“The only way I got through is God’s fighting love,” Mabey said to the large crowd that only grew in numbers as the night went on.

Mabey talked about going through pain and no matter how bad it gets, it’s temporary. She referred to the temporary aspect as “seasons of pain.”

The former Grays Harbor musician commanded the stage with great presence, a powerful voice and her acoustic guitar.

Despite going through what sounds like terrible hardships throughout her adult life, Mabey provided a bit of good news for the crowd — she’s getting married this fall.

Mabey, who sounded as humble as could be considering she plays not for herself but to help other people, thanked the band behind her.

“What a band!” Mabey said. “I’m the lucky one.”

Mabey played with a talented cast of musicians such as Don Stone, the former owner of Rosevear’s Music in Aberdeen. Stone, equipped with an electric guitar, was the hardest working musician Friday night. He backed up Mabey, Corban and then he played his own band’s setlist to end the night. The three performances combined for at least three hours.

Mabey played an eclectic set, and she knew it. She performed fun, energetic tracks as well as slower, sadder songs that were filled with soul and emotion.

Ericka Corban, the second singer-songwriter of the evening, stood there in a flowing, summer dress and a hat as she played her acoustic guitar and sang her heart out. The Elma native who now lives in Montesano clearly loves Grays Harbor.

“What’s so cool about a small town is I know each and everyone of you guys,” Corban said as she introduced her second song, “If I could make the world a small town.”

Corban reflected on her performance days later and doubled down for her feelings about the Harbor.

“I always love playing for my hometown crowd,” Corban said. “It’s probably my favorite because I know everybody in the crowd. And just to see familiar faces and family from way back when. It’s fun to play on the big Pepsi stage and with my friends in the band.”

Similar to Mabey, Corban’s set featured a little bit of sorrow, a little bit of happiness and a lot of detailed storytelling. Her third song was dedicated to a friend who struggled with alcoholism, but who is now 10 years sober.

And then an audience member cheered “Amen!”

Corban, a mother of five, talked about how when she found out she was pregnant with her fifth child she thought it might also mean the end of her career as a working musician. But it wasn’t and the crowd sounded grateful to have her playing on stage. They applauded and listened intently to each song and there was not much side chatter. All eyes were on the stage.

Corban also had a message of positivity to share with the crowd.

“I know the best days are ahead of us,” Corban belted out to a resounding round of applause. If Corban’s claim is true, they won’t just be good days, they’ll be great.

In addition to Corban bringing Mabey and Caryn Hart on the stage to sing, Corban also invited a bunch of young children — not her own — onto the stage. She dubbed them the “Comeback Kids.”

That display was a crowd favorite.

Missy Gordon, who sat behind the “headbangers” area — as the first few rows of seats were referred to early in the night — loved how Corban got the children on stage and got them singing with her for a song.

“Definitely the song with The Comeback Kids,” Gordon said about her favorite part of Corban and Mabey’s sets.

Corban enjoyed having the children on stage. Corban said it was “fun” to have them sing with her.

Singing with Hart and Mabey was another highlight for Corban.

“It was neat to make history with my friend Caryn and my friend Alex,” Corban said. “We had been talking for years about performing together and Friday night allowed us that chance.”

Before Corban’s set was done, she asked the crowd to stay later. She warned The Six “rocks harder” than she does.

And oh, was she right.

Singer Julie Blaser-Calkins led The Six with massive rock range. She sang well-known favorites that got people dancing, such as Phil Collins’ “In the Air Tonight,” The Police’s “Every Breath You Take” and Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’.”

In a long list of tracks in the set that would have made the artists and bands proud, Blaser-Calkins nailed P!nk’s “Who Knew.” She sounded just like the pop singer and dancer and the crowd loved it.

While the band played other classic songs, they saved what could be considered their best for last — Van Halen’s “Jump.” The ‘80s classic served as the band’s closer. Stone mesmerized with his fretboard work to sound like the late-Eddie Van Halen, which is no easy task.

Rod Easton, who coordinated the show, talked about how it all went.

“I thought the show went real well,” Easton said. “The audience all loved it. That’s what matters. It’s always great to see the seats full at any show. I was told once by an artist we had here a long time ago, ‘I still get a paycheck if there is 1,000 people or only two people in the crowd. Those two people are just as important as the 998 people who were not there.’”

Corban talked about the show and how the bands all played a part in making it a great night.

“I think the evening had a nice progression to it,” Corban said days after the fair. “Alex is very acoustic and very deep thought provoking in her music. And then The Six rocks quite a bit harder than we do. Our band was kind of a transition between the acoustic and our heavier stuff. We do have some upbeat songs and fun songs.”

Corban said it was “fun” to feature local acts and people who originated here on the Harbor.

Gordon, who was taking high-quality photos with her smartphone throughout Mabey and Corban’s sets, had a great time with her friends.

“It’s nice hometown fun,” said Gordon, who’s also a Harbor native. “It’s always nice to come back to my hometown.”

Here are a few of the live events, including a couple comedy shows, according to social media and people in the know:

Friday, Aug. 11

8 to 10 p.m. — Dogger, and then Clinton “Dogger” Mullins (solo from 9 p.m.) — Gepetto’s Italian Restaurant and Sports Bar — 126 E. Pioneer Ave., in Montesano

9 p.m. — Jeremiah Hughes, Lynette Manning, and Juan Forno (stand-up comedy — 21 and over) — Messy Jessy’s Bar and Grill — 212 South I St., in Aberdeen

Saturday, Aug. 12

1 p.m. — Justin Kautzman, Dogger, Tiffany Maki, and Chad Shue — The Loading Dock — 202 E. Wishkah St., in Aberdeen

2 to 5 p.m. — Deerswerver — Ocean Pours Taproom — 759 Ocean Shores Blvd. NW, in Ocean Shores

7 p.m. (doors at 5:30 p.m.) — (Harvey’s Pop Up Comedy All-Star Show) Kabir Singh — Driftwood Theater — 120 E. 3rd St., in Aberdeen

6:30 to 8:30 p.m. — Ben Fagerstedt — Stowaway Wine Bar — 203 Market Street, in Seabrook

10 p.m. (doors at 8 p.m.) — Alan Wayne The Pradagy, with special guests Glamz, Toxic Leaf, Walter, Sauce Game, Hollow Hound — New Parkway Tavern — 417 N. Park St., in Aberdeen

Contact Reporter Matthew N. Wells at matthew.wells@thedailyworld.com.

Matthew N. Wells / The Daily World On Friday night, Ericka Corban invited this group of young children to help her sing a song on the Grays Harbor County Fair’s Pepsi stage. The moment Corban and her band shared with the “Comeback Kids,” was a crowd favorite. On Friday night, Ericka Corban invited this group of young children to help her sing a song on the Grays Harbor County Fair’s Pepsi stage. The moment Corban and her band shared with the “Comeback Kids,” was a crowd favorite. (Matthew N. Wells / The Daily World)