...After buying my brother's ticket for the Jamey Johnson concert last night, see review below. He bought six bottles and a pitcher of beer and said he couldn't remember much from the later part of the concert. Glad I wasted my money, so he could waste a bunch of his...
Or I just need to stop taking him places where he can afford alcohol...
Sunday, May 6, 2012
A Man of Few Words; 5/4 Jamey Johnson Concert Review
Jamey Johnson is the man. The Blue Note announced this show about a month ago and I found the show to use the gift certificate, I got at work during our Secret Santa gift exchange. I had also been weighing whether I wanted to go see the Ozark Mountain Daredevils with Big Smith, at the Missouri Theater, which was happening the same night. I'd already seen Mr. Johnson at this very same venue in the Fall of 2009 and it was probably the best show I've ever been to. That night he played over three hours and about 39 songs.
The doors opened at 7:30 and the show was supposed to start at Eight. By the time me and Zane got there, the line was halfway through the alley. We wound up with a spot roughly three or four bodies or "rows" back from the stage on the right side. My biggest fear was that it was going to be sweltering with the huge crowd and having to stand for two plus hours. But they had some air circulating in which made it cooler than the balcony. Plus I was right in front of the house speakers which put out more air. Of course I still can't hardly hear anything the next night...
Crowd wise, there seemed to be more older folks than last time and maybe being up near the front away from people, a lot tamer rednecks. Of course $35 tickets this time, might have kept some away...
And my brother downed the beer. He drank six bottles and a pitcher there, plus the two tall boys he had on the way there and he bought a six pack on the way home. And he didn't remember much about the later part of the concert. So he's a drunk concert idiot, I can't stand. The type that pays for(though I did here) a ticket, yet spend more money on that in beer and can't remember shit. Stay fucking home...
At 8:15, my biggest fears were confirmed; an opening act. It was a three piece outfit called Indian Rodeo. The singer, sporting a Cardinals shirt, proudly claimed being from St. Louis before moving to Arkansas. He also mentioned he used to be in a metal band, which image wise makes sense, but now he's a country rocker. The group played seven songs for thirty minutes, including a cover of Mama's Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up(To Be Cowboys). The singer had a high squeak pitch, higher than Eric Church's. Overall they weren't spectacular, but were entertaining for half an hour.
By 9:10, the Kent Hardly Playboys were already set up and the main attraction and his six man band, took the stage, with the High Cost of Living, which the crowd was signing along the whole way. Jamey was smiling by the end and for his whole act of tough rugged outlaw, there were countless times throughout the night he was trying to hold back smiles.
The songs I was most looking forward to were the ones off of The Guitar Song, which he hadn't released when I saw him in 2009. And he played a couple of my favorites including the title track, one that I'm always playing. And By the Seat of Your Pants after listening to the album a lot last week, became one that I liked a lot more.
And once again, he played a bunch of covers, tributes to the artists who inspired him. We got three Waylon songs, Waymore's Blues, The Freedom to Stay and Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way?, my favorite Waylon song. And Jamey did it justice, picking up the intensity in the vocals and music as the verses went on. Probably my favorite song of the night. Set 'em Up Joe was another hit with the crowd and song I've grown to love as well.
Here's the Set List from the best of my memory. I know he played 25 songs, though some are in the wrong order. I'm just not sure of one song. I could have swore he opened with four of his songs before Long Black Veil, I'm just not sure which though. And I'm not sure of the song I have in the 4 spot being played at all. It might have a cover song somewhere or a song of his I wasn't familiar with. For whatever reason my mind says it was songs 8 and 11, that I didn't know. And looking at lyrics, I found one was Haggard's My Favorite Memory...
1. High Cost of Living
2. Place Out on the Ocean
3. That Lonesome Song
?????4. Good Morning Sunrise????
5. Long Black Veil
6. Waymore's Blues
7. Thankful for the Rain
8. My Favorite Memory
9. The Guitar Song
10. Mowin' Down the Roses
11. Can't Cash My Checks
12. Ain't Misbehavin'
13. Playing the Part
14. The Last Cowboy
15. Where Did You Sleep Last Night?
16. The Freedom to Stay
17. Still Doing Time
18. Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way?
19. That's the Way Love Goes
20. By the Seat of Your Pants
21. In Color
22. Set 'Em Up Joe
23. Macon
24. Give It Away
25. I Saw the Light
I tried not to have super high expectations, as the last concert was epic. In all he played slightly under two hours, which seemed slightly short. And Jamey didn't address the crowd, except to say thank you at the very end of the show.
The only lyrics changes I noticed was a reference to smoking up all of Willie's weed in Mowin' Down the Roses and in Set 'em up Joe, he changed the line to, "...my Missouri neighbors like what I play..."
By the last five songs, the crowd was signing along with every one, including his most known hit In Color. He sang my personal favorite, made famous by George Strait, Give It Away. I loved seeing him sing it again, though he didn't seem as pissed off this time. And for the finale, we got a hard rocking version of I Saw the Light, which was very neat. After that he left and the lights stayed down, like he was coming back, but the roadies were tearing things down. We stuck around a few minutes, before heading out while 75% of the crowd was still hanging around.
And that's another reason to love Jamey Johnson, for not doing the fake encore bit. He plays what he had planned or wanted to and left. If you want a real encore you gotta deserve it as fans.
One other cool thing, was the lead singer for Indian Rodeo was sitting in the back on stage just watching Jamey like us. He also looked pretty stoned too...And it looked like over the last few numbers, one who I'd assume to be the bus driver, was clapping along having a good time, especially on the rocking I Saw the Light.
The show was great, not as good as last time, but great. I was disappointed he didn't play California Riots, another track off of The Guitar Song, that's one of my faves. But the good covers, and others songs of his made up for it. I'll definitely see this man again, even if it's a couple months from now. Though I would rather get a Shooter fix....
The doors opened at 7:30 and the show was supposed to start at Eight. By the time me and Zane got there, the line was halfway through the alley. We wound up with a spot roughly three or four bodies or "rows" back from the stage on the right side. My biggest fear was that it was going to be sweltering with the huge crowd and having to stand for two plus hours. But they had some air circulating in which made it cooler than the balcony. Plus I was right in front of the house speakers which put out more air. Of course I still can't hardly hear anything the next night...
Crowd wise, there seemed to be more older folks than last time and maybe being up near the front away from people, a lot tamer rednecks. Of course $35 tickets this time, might have kept some away...
And my brother downed the beer. He drank six bottles and a pitcher there, plus the two tall boys he had on the way there and he bought a six pack on the way home. And he didn't remember much about the later part of the concert. So he's a drunk concert idiot, I can't stand. The type that pays for(though I did here) a ticket, yet spend more money on that in beer and can't remember shit. Stay fucking home...
At 8:15, my biggest fears were confirmed; an opening act. It was a three piece outfit called Indian Rodeo. The singer, sporting a Cardinals shirt, proudly claimed being from St. Louis before moving to Arkansas. He also mentioned he used to be in a metal band, which image wise makes sense, but now he's a country rocker. The group played seven songs for thirty minutes, including a cover of Mama's Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up(To Be Cowboys). The singer had a high squeak pitch, higher than Eric Church's. Overall they weren't spectacular, but were entertaining for half an hour.
By 9:10, the Kent Hardly Playboys were already set up and the main attraction and his six man band, took the stage, with the High Cost of Living, which the crowd was signing along the whole way. Jamey was smiling by the end and for his whole act of tough rugged outlaw, there were countless times throughout the night he was trying to hold back smiles.
The songs I was most looking forward to were the ones off of The Guitar Song, which he hadn't released when I saw him in 2009. And he played a couple of my favorites including the title track, one that I'm always playing. And By the Seat of Your Pants after listening to the album a lot last week, became one that I liked a lot more.
And once again, he played a bunch of covers, tributes to the artists who inspired him. We got three Waylon songs, Waymore's Blues, The Freedom to Stay and Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way?, my favorite Waylon song. And Jamey did it justice, picking up the intensity in the vocals and music as the verses went on. Probably my favorite song of the night. Set 'em Up Joe was another hit with the crowd and song I've grown to love as well.
Here's the Set List from the best of my memory. I know he played 25 songs, though some are in the wrong order. I'm just not sure of one song. I could have swore he opened with four of his songs before Long Black Veil, I'm just not sure which though. And I'm not sure of the song I have in the 4 spot being played at all. It might have a cover song somewhere or a song of his I wasn't familiar with. For whatever reason my mind says it was songs 8 and 11, that I didn't know. And looking at lyrics, I found one was Haggard's My Favorite Memory...
1. High Cost of Living
2. Place Out on the Ocean
3. That Lonesome Song
?????4. Good Morning Sunrise????
5. Long Black Veil
6. Waymore's Blues
7. Thankful for the Rain
8. My Favorite Memory
9. The Guitar Song
10. Mowin' Down the Roses
11. Can't Cash My Checks
12. Ain't Misbehavin'
13. Playing the Part
14. The Last Cowboy
15. Where Did You Sleep Last Night?
16. The Freedom to Stay
17. Still Doing Time
18. Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way?
19. That's the Way Love Goes
20. By the Seat of Your Pants
21. In Color
22. Set 'Em Up Joe
23. Macon
24. Give It Away
25. I Saw the Light
I tried not to have super high expectations, as the last concert was epic. In all he played slightly under two hours, which seemed slightly short. And Jamey didn't address the crowd, except to say thank you at the very end of the show.
The only lyrics changes I noticed was a reference to smoking up all of Willie's weed in Mowin' Down the Roses and in Set 'em up Joe, he changed the line to, "...my Missouri neighbors like what I play..."
By the last five songs, the crowd was signing along with every one, including his most known hit In Color. He sang my personal favorite, made famous by George Strait, Give It Away. I loved seeing him sing it again, though he didn't seem as pissed off this time. And for the finale, we got a hard rocking version of I Saw the Light, which was very neat. After that he left and the lights stayed down, like he was coming back, but the roadies were tearing things down. We stuck around a few minutes, before heading out while 75% of the crowd was still hanging around.
And that's another reason to love Jamey Johnson, for not doing the fake encore bit. He plays what he had planned or wanted to and left. If you want a real encore you gotta deserve it as fans.
One other cool thing, was the lead singer for Indian Rodeo was sitting in the back on stage just watching Jamey like us. He also looked pretty stoned too...And it looked like over the last few numbers, one who I'd assume to be the bus driver, was clapping along having a good time, especially on the rocking I Saw the Light.
The show was great, not as good as last time, but great. I was disappointed he didn't play California Riots, another track off of The Guitar Song, that's one of my faves. But the good covers, and others songs of his made up for it. I'll definitely see this man again, even if it's a couple months from now. Though I would rather get a Shooter fix....
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