Sometimes less can bring more. I'm seeing Justin Townes Earle this week...it's a free show and he's with the Sadies so all's fine but give me him 8 years ago with just an upright bass and fiddle or even by himself. He's one where the harder he's working, the better he is.
Summer Concert Thread
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Sometimes less can bring more. I'm seeing Justin Townes Earle this week...it's a free show and he's with the Sadies so all's fine but give me him 8 years ago with just an upright bass and fiddle or even by himself. He's one where the harder he's working, the better he is.
Oh Church definitely has a little pop to his sound but shouldn't be lumped in with the likes of Luke Bryan and Florida Georgia Line *shudders, gags, pukes in mouth a little* Those guys are so terrible. Imo he makes decent music, puts on a pretty good show and seems like a pretty cool dude.
I can't even really say where to start with Sturgill because I love it all. What really kick started me getting into him was when I saw him on SNL with Stapleton. After that I just started putting his spotify playlist on while going for walks or doing stuff around the house and he kept growing on me more and more. After last night it's clear to me that you just have to see the guy live. I've been like a ******* fan girl since about halfway through his first song last night. I've seen some live shows that had an effect on me but that was something different.
Forgot to comment about Jason Isbell earlier. I've heard the name here and there over the years but never took the time to check him out. Struck up a convo with a guy wearing an Isbell shirt while walking back to my car last night and he definitely got me excited to check him out. If you're up for giving me a rundown on what to start with or anything worth knowing when it comes to his music, I would greatly appreciate it.
I loved Childers... I do have to say I enjoyed his show at Vaudville Mews better but such is a music festival when they have shorter sets.
Nathanial Rateliff was my favorite show of the night. Hadn't ever seen him before and he put on a really fun show.
Sounds like everyone loved Sturgill's set, but I wasn't a big fan. I like his old school country sound and when he turns all his songs into a rock jam sesh, it turns me away from what got me to like him. Granted, I was incredibly impressed, just not really my thing. A few songs would have been fine, but having it be the whole show was a bit of a bummer. I loved when I saw him at Hoyt and he had a 10 piece band. I do understand from an artist perspective mixing things up though.
Nathanial Rateliff was my favorite show of the night. Hadn't ever seen him before and he put on a really fun show.
Sounds like everyone loved Sturgill's set, but I wasn't a big fan. I like his old school country sound and when he turns all his songs into a rock jam sesh, it turns me away from what got me to like him. Granted, I was incredibly impressed, just not really my thing. A few songs would have been fine, but having it be the whole show was a bit of a bummer. I loved when I saw him at Hoyt and he had a 10 piece band. I do understand from an artist perspective mixing things up though.
Decoration Day was from his days with the Truckers but that's just one song. He was with them for a few years.
Solo stuff honestly I was mainly into Sirens of the Ditch and JI and the 400 Unit and lost track after that. He's grown in popularity in the last 5-6 years which is very much well deserved, but I didn't enjoy the music as much. Was definitely not bro country but just wasn't the same.
Absolutely rugged on the guitar when he wants to be. Before sobriety he'd have a bottle of whiskey up on stage with him. In both phases I've seen him directly kick people out of the show for being dipshits, so I love that about him along with a great story of getting himself together.
I am hoping Ray being blah was a one-time thing! I just bought tickets for him when he will be here are Stephens in, like, October with a group of girlfriends. I am definitely expecting it to be mellow.
Wouldn't say he was 'blah', I just think he's limited and the scream/bellow levels off after a while when about every song includes it.
Imo he's at his best in this kind of sound where the band just kind of follows him around, if that makes sense. Give me that pedal steel, loose guitar chords and whispered vocal delivery all day. Might be his best song.
Might just be me...I tend to think the John Prines of the world stick to what's basically perfect.
Southeastern was a devastating record, one of the best 5-10 records I've ever heard. He will never top that unless his life falls apart again. I'm seeing him again at the end of the month, I will go see him whenever I can for the time being. He's at the top of his game.
I saw Cody Jinks Friday night and he sounds great. Ben and Noel Haggard opened and they were really entertaining (especially Ben).
Sturgill is a contrarian and is going to keep people off balance. Like Isbell, he has earned the right to do whatever he wants in my book, but I do understand people feeling a little "wtf" with some of his shows.
Whoever has Eric Church in this conversation ... I don't know what to say.
That's about where my wife and I landed. Very impressed with his chops and ability to improvise on the fly - it wasn't clear how soon before the show he knew he just wasn't going to have a keyboardist.
Like you, the rock jam session just isn't my thing. We called it a night just shy of an hour into his set. But it's all good. I don't think musicians should be obligated to play a song exactly how it sounds on the album or even to just "play the hits".
I have listened to Nathaniel Rateliff couple of albums and was not impressed, just thought meh. But he absolutely killed it in concert. Killed it. It was my favorite act of the day until Sturgill melted my face off. Margo Price but in a hell of a show too. I'm glad the clouds hid the sun for the most of the day or it would have been a hot one.
Yeah, we've been pretty damn lucky the last couple years. Got a little dicey around 5:30; I thought a storm might be rolling in. Other than that you couldn't have asked for a better day.
One of these years I just know I'm going to be forced to pick between sitting in 105 degree heat and seeing one of my favorite musicians or staying home in the AC.
I know I'm suppose to like Sturgill, but it just didn't work for me when I saw him a year ago or so. I can't get past the fact that his voice sounds a bit toooo country for me. Certainly a great musician.
He has a bit more twang than I traditionally like. I think he's a great musician and very talented, and I really like him - but I have to be in the right mood to just sit and listen to a whole album.
Kind of interesting, I consider myself a country traditionalist and I feel that he's gotten away from some of his country roots that he showed on High Top Mountain. Guitar solos just don't really do it for me after a while, even though I know the guy is an absolutely incredible and talented musician. Sailor's Guide to Earth just was not a country album, and that's fine. He should make the music he wants to make.
That's the great thing about music, though; there's something for everyone.
Heading out to my first concert at Red Rocks to see Shakey Graves at the end of the month. Twin Peaks is opening up for him, and I am pumped to see them. Saw them at the Blue Moose in Iowa City awhile back, and even though the audio in that place is terrible, I was into them. Jose Gonzalez & The Brite Lites are also playing.
Super pumped to get out there. For people who have been out there, any recommendations?
Super pumped to get out there. For people who have been out there, any recommendations?
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Other than both being kinda outlaw country sound and not caring too much what people think. Beyond that sound-wise I compare Sturgil recording more to Waylon Jennings vocally, but the live show you can’t compare to anything....
Shakey Graves and Twin Peaks have a Simon Estes stop Labor Day too. Also saw, Anderson East is coming back around to Wooly’s as is Colter Wall. 7 Flags just announced Manchester Orchestra and The Front Bottom in Dec
I am heading to Nashville this weekend catching a Rhett Miller show at the City Winery, Cold War Kids at Live on the Green and Townes Earle at the Ryman
