Friday at ACM Party for a Cause: Daytime lines and nighttime delays

Two hours after the nighttime portion of Friday's ACM Party for a Cause event was scheduled to begin, rain was still coming down and folks were sitting in their Globe Life Park seats in ponchos. But organizers assured the crowd that they'd get to see the special "ACM Superstar Duets" show being taped for a CBS special to air in May.

Sure enough, the performances started to take place on the wet stage - we got one about every 20 minutes. Brantley Gilbert warmed up the shivering crowd; later Sam Hunt joined Dwight Yoakam for a so-so rendition of "Fast as You."

Superstars Reba McEntire, Luke Bryan and Dierks Bentley were among the acts scheduled to take the stage later Friday night.

Compared to the weather delay, the earlier daytime slate of entertainment just outside the ballpark went relatively smoothly, even if it was dotted with long lines and questionable musical moments.

Early arrivers were treated to a brief but well executed set from redhead troubadour Eric Paslay, a native of Abilene who was raised in Waco. He's got a hit on radio with the sad-truth ballad "She Don't Love You," and understandably the crowd at the big stage reacted to that one the most enthusiastically.

But Paslay's upbeat tunes such as "Keep on Fallin'" also showcased a penchant for easy melodies and vocal complexity. Paslay spoke briefly about how he'd come to many a game here in the past: "I always wanted to play ball, but I guess playing music here is just as cool," he said.

The Texas act that made the biggest impression during the daytime slate, though, was Lubbock's Josh Abbott Band, known most recently for its hit good-timing anthem "Hangin' Around." But the afternoon crowd of thousands seemed to know the other tunes in the band's set as well - refreshing, considering Abbott and company embrace traditional arrangements that include, gasp, fiddles.

Traditional country didn't get too many shining moments on the main outdoor stage, which became increasingly crowded and unnavigable throughout Friday afternoon. The two most popular current acts to hit that stage were Dan & Shay, a twangless pop-rock duo, and Cole Swindell, who personified "bro country" with his songs "Chillin' It" and "Hope You Get Lonely Tonight" (whose lyrics contain the phrase "tipsy tailgate kiss.")

We preferred some of the sounds coming from the tiny stage nearer to the concourse. Curly-haired songstress Cam charmed 'em with a tune called "Country Ain't Never Been Pretty," and young traditionalist Mo Pitney shared a winning song about meeting Merle Haggard. Pitney's six piece band included a steel guitar, and we've never been happier to hear that sound.

As for the general vibe of the Party for a Cause festival, the organization and planning left much to be desired. Endless merchant booths offered everything from boots and cowboy hats to Mary Kay products, but a smaller number of food concessions caused there to be lines up to 100 hungry people deep throughout the day. A couple of folks told us they'd waited over an hour and a half for a $9 burger. If you go for the second day of festivities, you might want to grab a bite beforehand.

But perhaps some of the kinks will be worked out Saturday for the second installment of Party for a Cause. At the very least, we should all ask the universe for a dry evening.