Concert Review - American Aquarium

This is the fourth in my series of reviews of concerts that I've recently attended.  Please check out my previous reviews of the George Strait concert at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Turnpike Troubadours in Chesterfield, MO and Randy Rogers Band in Chesterfield, MO

Next up...American Aquarium

Headliner: American Aquarium
Opening Act(s): Mike McClure

Date: September 18, 2022

Venue: Delmar Hall (St. Louis, MO)

Set List:

• Chicamacomico
• All I Needed
• The Long Haul
• Casualties
• Saint Mary's
• Just Close Enough
• Lonely Ain't Easy
• Wildfire
• Losing Side of Twenty-Five
• Wolves
• Harmless Sparks
• Before the Dogwood Blooms
• A Better South
• Six Years Come September
• Southern Sadness
• The Luckier You Get
• Wichita Falls
• I Hope He Breaks Your Heart
• Burn. Flicker. Die.
• The First Year
• When We Were Younger Men
• Katherine Belle

Review: This was my first time seeing this band from Raleigh, NC and I was very impressed.  Lead singer and primary songwriter BJ Barham is absolutely one of the most energetic performers I have ever seen.  He was bouncing all over the stage and seemed to pour every ounce of his energy into his performance and his singing, to the point where he was drenched in sweat by the end of the show.  What he may lack in vocal range he absolutely makes up for in the passion he pours into his music.  The band's setlist list spanned from songs from their newest album Chicamacomico all the way back to 2008's Bones.  While Barham didn't say much during the majority of the set, he spoke for quite a while before playing a solo, acoustic version of "The First Year" and he proved himself an engaging, funny and self-deprecating storyteller.  The background he provided for that song (written about the first year after his mother's death) made the song that much more powerful and poignant.  It was definitely a highlight of the show.

Oklahoma and Red Dirt music legend Mike McClure opened the show.  McClure has had a two decade career writing and performing, as well producing songs for Oklahoma music royalty like Cross Canadian Ragweed and Turnpike Troubadours.  For his 30 minute set, however, it was just him and an acoustic guitar, with occasional vocal accompaniment from his wife.  It was easy to see why he is so respected in music circles.  One interesting highlight of his performance was an alternate version of the Turnpike Troubadours song "The Funeral," which he wrote with Turnpike front man Evan Felker.  

Highlights:  Besides the aforementioned "The First Year," other highlights of the performance were their stellar offerings of "All I Needed", "The Long Haul," "Before the Dogwood Blooms," "A Better South" and "Burn. Flicker. Die."

Lowlights:  It's a very minor quibble, but I was hoping to hear "The World is On Fire." Besides that, it was a terrific show.

Overall TGR Grade:  A

Concert Review - Randy Rogers Band

This is the third in my series of reviews of concerts that I've recently attended.  Please check out my previous reviews of the George Strait concert at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City and Turnpike Troubadours in Chesterfield, MO.

Next up...Randy Rogers Band

Headliner: Randy Rogers Band
Opening Act(s): Wade Bowen

Date: September 2, 2022

Venue: Chesterfield Amphitheater (Chesterfield, MO)

Set List:

• Better Off Wrong
• Buy Myself A Chance
• Tonight's Not The Night (For Goodbye)
• I'll Never Get Over You
• One More Goodbye
• Drinking Money
• Nothing But Love Songs
• One Woman
• Fuzzy
• Chupacabra
• Steal You Away
• This Time Around
• Down and Out
• Lonely Too Long
• Speak of the Devil
• Picture Frames
• You, Me and a Bottle
• Interstate
• San Antone
• Last Last Chance
• Too Late for Goodbye
• In My Arms Again
• Kiss Me in the Dark
• Just Stay Here and Drink (Merle Haggard cover with Wade Bowen)

Review: It was a night of Texas Country in the Gateway City, as Texans and good buddies Randy Rogers and Wade Bowen shared the bill on a rainy night in the St. Louis area.  While Randy's trademark raspy voice was a little more so than normal on a few songs, the band cranked out a great, long set of songs.  They did a good job of playing songs from across their lengthy discography, including two new songs - "Nothing But Love Songs" and "Pictures Frames" from their forthcoming Homecoming album.  Rollercoaster is still my favorite album of theirs and I was happy to hear three songs from that record.  Rogers didn't say a whole lot as the front man and fiddler Brady Black almost stole the show with his high energy performance.  One interesting (and somewhat disappointing note) was that there were no duets by Rogers and Bowen (besides the encore cover of a Merle Haggard), despite the fact that they've recorded two full records together.  I would have loved to have heard them team up for "Standards" or "In The Next Life," but alas it didn't happen.  Besides that, the band churned out a lengthy, straightforward set that kept the crowd happy, despite the rain that got progressively harder during their set.

Wade Bowen opened and was very impressive.  He sounds live just like he does on record.  While I'm only familiar with a handful of his songs, he sounded great.  Interestingly, he did play one of the songs from his first duet album with Randy Rogers, albeit sans Rogers.  Bowen played a couple of his songs off his recently released album and those were good enough that I subsequently downloaded a few of them.

Highlights:  The opening trio of songs were a great kickoff to the show, while the back-to-back songs from Rollercoaster ("This Time Around" and "Down and Out") were standouts as well, with the former featuring Black's blistering fiddle solo.

Lowlights:  Besides the weather, which kept people hunkered under umbrellas for most of the show, the omission of any duets between Rogers and Bowen was disappointing.  When two artists have collaborated on two albums and they are touring together, you expect to hear at least a few duets on the setlist.

Overall TGR Grade:  A-