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