Concert Reviews

The Felice Brothers shake off the "rust"

December 28, 2025 - Near the end of the 75-minute show, James Felice of The Felice Brothers noted how this was the very first headlining show of 2025 and one of only a handful of shows for the entire year. Now, with the year having only a few days left to go, that's quite surprising - to think that this veteran band ...

Couch shows you can go home again

November 22, 2025 - Couch made it overwhelmingly clear that, yes, you can go home again. In fact, for the septet that mines a jazzy, sometimes pop and a bit funky sound, was back on home turf for their biggest show ever. The group did not disappoint from beginning to end of the lively, nearly 105-minute show before a ...

Shoulders champions tradition

November 9, 2025 - Nick Shoulders was all happy to hitting the Boston area for the second time. The word must have gotten out because the Arkansas traditional country singer drew a healthy crowd of maybe 300 even without any sort of hit to his name. So maybe the fans provided a modicum of motivation for the mustachioed, friendly singer. ...

Barber stays authentic

November 8, 2025 - Sam Barber has come far in a short time. Not too many years ago – four - the 22-year-old Missouri native first started playing. Tik Tok soon served him well, but seeing how his career and this evening in particular progressed, Barber is more than a viral artist. Barber's singer/songwriter ...

Waldon stands on her own

November 6, 2025 - It would be enough for people take notice of Kelsey Waldon "merely" because she is on Oh Boy Records, the label started by the late, great John Prine. Could that have led to a nearly full house? Hey whatever works. The reality is that Prine's support could only go so far. ...

Opposites attract for Late Night Thoughts

October 30, 2025 - On the face of it, the duo known as Late Night Thoughts appeared to be complete opposites. There's Brian Rauch, who handles the bulk of the lead vocals, dressed simply with gray pants and t-shirt, a close cropped beard, short hair and a slight appearance. And then there's his compadre, ...

Emmanuel really is a Certified Guitar Player

October 28, 2025 - A guitarist need not plug in to be a shredder. Veteran acoustic guitarist Tommy Emmanuel was living proof of that in a show that showed different sides of the Australian native. The potpourri of music ranged from lightning fast songs to ballads to The Beatles to Chet Atkins and more. ...

Batson's fans go along for the ride

October 26, 2025 - There was a modicum of irony when right before 15-year-old singer Maddox Batson hit the stage, the speakers were filled by Shaboozey's massive hit "A Bar Song (Tipsy)." If wondering why, that was a result of the crowd that the teen drew – hundreds of young 10-year-old or so girls ...

Clay Street Unit has an up night

October 23, 2025 - This has been a year of ups and downs for Denver-based country band Clay Street Unit. They started the year off by signing with Monument Records – once the home of Roy Orbison and Dolly Parton - out of Nashville. About three months later, Monument was shuttered, leaving Clay Street Unit once again on its own. ...

Diaz basks in sad songs

October 20, 2025 - An older pair of fans near the stage apparently caught the eye of Madi Diaz. The singer asked them if they were a couple. In fact, yes. They were a married couple. Diaz congratulated them for their ability to hear an evening's worth of songs that did not paint bright, sunny pictures of love and relationships. ...

Life isn't easy, but Kelly evolves

October 19, 2025 - Over time, Ruston Kelly has evolved as an artist. When he first started, he was in the country realm with a lot of pedal steel guitar courtesy of his dad, TK, who would tour with him. That's no longer the case as Kelly is far less country and more rock with a roots bent. As for pedal steel, ...

It's easy to feel love for Tweedy

October 18, 2025 - Jeff Tweedy may not be accused of doing the tried and true. After all, how many artists are putting out triple albums these days? Tweedy released "Twilight Override" in late September with 30 songs, an album that took two years to make amidst trying times around the world. ...

With her "Whirlwind" life, Wilson makes "Country Cool Again"

October 11, 2025 - Lainey Wilson is riding quite high these days. No wonder her latest release is called "Whirlwind." After trying to make a go of it in Nashville for nearly a decade, Wilson's career has been soaring especially the last three years. Now, she's winning awards, scoring hit singles and ...

Flatland Cavalry extends a warm welcome

October 2, 2025 - When it comes to starting off a concert ultra cool without resorting to smoke and mirrors, Flatland Cavalry has got to be right up there. With an exquisite "welcome to our living room" set with a picture of a smiling Willie Nelson on the wall, books, LPs and lamps, guitarist Reid Dillon with ...

Like a "Country Squire," Childers lives the dream

September 25, 2025 - Tyler Childers let you know where he's coming from (maybe) from the get to, starting with the snarling "Eatin' Big Time." Just what it is about isn't totally clear, but it seems to be about Childers having made it musically and dealing with the haves of the music business. ...

No matter the style, there's a lot to like about Van Cleaf

September 21, 2025 - Jack Van Cleaf has seen his profile rise in recent months, gaining some traction on the Americana end of the music spectrum. It sure helped when Zach Bryan approached Van Cleaf to cut a new version of "Rattlesnake" with Bryan helping out. (Van Cleaf said "yes." Smart move). ...