Why the Hell Not?; Foreigner with Night Ranger @ the MO State Fair 8/16 Concert Review

I had no intentions of going to this concert and had only been to the state fair once before a good 20+ years ago. But the perfect blend of events, led to a spur-of-the-moment decision to go.
Not having been sleeping well, I was in a cranky and tired mood, having been up earlier than normal. Then going into to work to find out that, we're only going to be there a few minutes to clean up. So, driving 30 minutes for about 30 minutes worth of work, didn't really help with that tired crankiness. (I could have stayed, but just wasn't in the mood). Then contemplating whether to go on a CoMo run or to go home, a co-worker brought up Foreigner playing that night at the State Fair. I thought, "what the hell, maybe a little music will cheer me up?"

Whether it was the adrenaline and excitedness of the spur-of-the-moment decision or the caffeine, by the time we hit I-70 my mood changed considerably.

We arrived with a little bit of time, but most of that was spent waiting in line for getting tickets. In the rush, I wasn't thinking I should have ordered on my phone. But we still managed to get in with time to spare. And got decent seats on the track.

Night Ranger hit the stage first playing 11 songs over 70 minutes or so. They were more enjoyable than I thought. I'm not big on 1980s music and hair metal types even more so. But they were fun, played fast and I guess it helped they played a smattering of cover songs of guys various members had worked with.

After a half-hour set-change, Foreigner came on and blasted away with hit after hit. It was pretty cool that they played a near perfect almost no-frills set list. Opening with Double Vision, they hit almost everything you'd want. (Of course my dad would have been pissed with them not playing Blue Morning Blue Day ). Nothing spectacular, but well worth what you paid in seeing these two acts. They played around 90 minutes with 12 songs. The only real filler was the keyboard and drum solos, but both were entertaining.

With only Mick Jones, as the sole original member, and he didn't enter until the fourth or fifth song, it almost feels like a grand Foreigner tribute band. But still fun nonetheless. It wound up being a pretty good day from the early day pissiness.

Another neat aside, during the set change I noticed former MU Men's Basketball coach and Sedalia native Kim Anderson was in attendance. In fact he was sitting in the same row, in the next section over from us.

Night Ranger Set List

Somehow, Someway
Four in the Morning
Sing Me Away
School's Out
Crazy Train
The Secret of My Success
Night Ranger

High Enough
When You Close Your Eyes
Don't Tell Me You Love Me
Sister Christian 
(You Can Still) Rock in America

Foreigner Set List

Double Vision
Head Games
Cold As Ice
Waiting for a Girl Like You
Dirty White Boy
Feels Like the First Time
Urgent
Keyboard and Drum Solos
Juke Box Hero
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Long, Long Way From Home
I Want to Know What Love Is
Hot Blooded 

Country? Honky Tonk? Ameripolitan? Great Music; Dale Watson @ Rose Park Columbia MO 5/16 Concert Review

I've definitely gravitated away from music in general over the past few years. And live shows are no exception. I've seen most acts I've wanted to and many legends have left us. There are a few like, Neil Young, Shooter Jennings, that I'll always turn up for. But lately, it's gotta be somebody different or somebody that breaks from the mold.

My dad has always talked about wanting to see Dale Watson and there was an announcement for a CoMo concert at Rose Music Hall, and not at the crowded Roots 'N Blues Festival, it was a must. Alas my dad was in the fields, but I had my brother lined up to go in his place. And it wasn't like we wouldn't have been able to get tickets when we got there. With nice hot weather, they moved the show outdoors to Rose Park next door and also gives them the ability to see more tickets.

We got there with time to spare and finding a parking space easily. We noticed most brought their lawn chairs, and sat behind a dirt area in front of the stage. Me and my brother sit for a while and moved back behind the people in their lawn chairs, not sure of the protocol and not wanting to be the only ones standing around looking like dorks up front.

A little after 7:30 Dale Watson and his Lone Stars hit the stage. No dreaded opening act!  About a third of the way through the show, I made my way up front after a some people had filtered down front and my brother joined me bit later, after a beer run.

I'm not super familiar with many of Watson's songs and I didn't brush up like I should have before, but I love the sound, attitude and spirit Watson brings to his music. And it carries to his shows. He doesn't make a set list out beforehand, or so he says, and kind of wings it to audience or what they shout out. (I told my dad later, he should have went and he could have gotten the songs he wanted to hear)

Not being familiar and no comparable set lists, I can only piece together some songs he played. He played around 25-26, including a four song encore, over and an hour and 45 minutes,while also throwing in several hilarious jingles/ads for Lonestar Beer. There was a nice mix of his more well-known songs, covers and everything. He also brought his girlfriend, Celine Lee, to duet on several songs, which gave a nice change of pace and added something different.

The only minor complaint was while the three piece band and Watson were tight and knew their stuff, with the same format; electric guitar, stand-up bass, pedal steel and drums, throughout there was sort of sameness feeling. But even then Watson, runs the gamut, from country, honky-tonk, western swing, truly his vision of Ameripolitan music.

And the crowd was very low-key. Maybe being outside, slightly older and having enough room made for the experience. And not having douchey college kids or "cool country" kids there was a plus.

After the show was over, Watson positioned himself at the exit, and took selfies, and shook hands. The most hilarious thing, was Watson himself figuring out how to work a man's camera to take a picture, after the owner was having trouble doing so. I shook his hand and thanked him for a great show. I would have stuck around for an autograph, but they took our tickets when we entered.

Dale Watson is a definitely an act you should see if you like country music. Well real music that is, not the fluffy pop stuff of Maren Morris and bro-country. Definitely an artist I'd have no problem seeing again.

Songs Played (That I Can Remember) In Random Order

Call Me Lucky
Tupelo, Mississippi & a '57 Ford Fairlane
I Lie When I Drink
A Real Country Song
Blessed or Damned
Flowers In Your Hair
The Dumb Song
David Buxkemper
Mama's Smile
That's How I'd Miss You
Truck Stop in La Grange
South of Round Rock, Texas
Give Me More Kisses
Jonesin' For Jones
I Hate These Songs
Mama's Don't Let Your Cowboys Grow Up to Be Babies
Exit 109
38-21-34 ? 
Johnny & June
Long Legged Guitar Picking Man
Jackson
You're the Reason Our Kids are Ugly
Silver Wings
Bubbles in My Beer

Now That's Country! And Rock and Roll! And Bluegrass! Marty Stuart @The Blue Note 1/25 Concert Review

My brother messaged me a few weeks ago, wanting to know if I'd go see Marty Stuart at the Blue Note on January 25th. I'd previously seen him and the Fabulous Superlatives, six years ago opening for Merle Haggard. And it was a slow time at work, I didn't think I'd have to waste a vacation day(I wound up having to) and he said he was buying. So I was in. My mom and dad wanted to go, so he sprung for everyone's.

We arrived to wait in line about 30 minutes before doors opening and got to bare the cold wind. Thankfully the average age of people waiting in line before us was up there, which meant me and my brother didn't really have to worry about rushing towards the front, as like my parents they had seats. We wound up against the rail.

The show started at 8:30, with local act the Brad Cunningham Band, which actually consisted of him and a guitar player. He played ten songs around 40 minutes, with an obligatory rock and roll cover, which was You Don't Mess Around With Jim. He was alright. He had a decent humorous song, Willie for President, kinda derivative of Eric Church. Another decent one he played, Long Way Home, Country 96 plays as part of their red dirt showcases according to my brother.

After a quick 30 minute set change, Marty and the Superlatives hit the stage, with a pretty packed building, with the first of a couple instrumental jams spread out through the evening, before still rocking away into a solid salvo of Tear the Woodpile Down, and early hits ("My radio songs...When I still had black hair!"), The Whiskey Ain't Working and Tempted.

From there it was a blend of rock, country, gospel, bluegrass, rockabilly, blues, surf music, covers and great musicianship for ninety minutes. Each of the Superlatives were given a couple of numbers, to showcase their singing. And each one brought something unique. Guitarist "Cousin" Kenny Vaughan's Country Music Got a Hold of Me was a definite highlight, along with his masterful guitar playing. But so was "Handsome" Harry Stinson's singing. Throw in country music legacy of Chris Scruggs, covering Johnny Horton too. Overall one of the tightest and most talented groups I've seen.

Throughout the night Marty commented on his heroes and his past, mentioning he played Columbia other times, when he was Lester Flatt and when he was with Johnny Cash ("He was my father-in-law for about 15 minutes."). He's played the Roots 'N Blues Fest several times in the last few years, so I would venture to guess it's part of his standard stage banter. It was evidenced by his many cover songs. The greatest country music riff with Mama Tried's opening, you can never go wrong with.
But he is a true professional that seems to enjoy playing live. The biggest thing I marveled at, was how when jumping and dancing around, the fact that he doesn't trip in guitar wires behind him. I also love the fact that the instrument switching was pretty organized and kept to minimum. Basically if they did switch, it was for a group of songs. The late Tom Petty was horrible about the guitar dance.

After he "left" the stage before the encore, he pointed to my brother, because I think he noticed his signing along the words to Rock Island Line and my brother pointed back. The last song of the encore was a gospel number ("If there's any group that needs one, it's this group! which erupted cheers) again showcasing harmony vocal talents.

Overall a great time, with front row view of killer playing. It was definitely a little more on the rocking side. Even his newer songs I wasn't familiar with, were very catchy and made you want to bop around. My dad noted on the ride home, another older guy sitting beside him, expected more "country" style than the rocking honky tonk.

Again with the variety of styles, it's pure Americana. It's no wonder, he was brought, along with his B-Bender that once belonged to Clarence White, on the Sweetheart of the Rodeo 50th Anniversary Tour.

Set List

1. Graveyard (Instrumental)
2. Tear the Woodpile Down
3. The Whiskey Ain't Working
4. Tempted
5. You Don't Miss Your Water
6. Mama Tried
7. Mojave
8. Old Mexico
9. Old Old House
10. Country Music Got a Hold of Me (Kenny Vaughan)
11. Hot Like That (Kenny Vaughan)
12. Walls of a Prison
13. Rock Island Line
14. Got the Bull by the Horn (Chris Scruggs)
15. ? (Chris Scruggs song?)
16. Pretty Boy Floyd (Harry Stinson)
17. Slow Train (Harry Stinson)
18. Orange Blossom Special
19. Country Boy Rock and Roll
20. Time Don't Wait

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21. Air Mail Special
22. Hillbilly Rock
23. Angels Rock Me To Sleep