The Revivalists: ACL Taping: April 9, 2019

I scored the hookup from one of my best friends to get two seats at the ACL taping for the Revivalists last night - his brother-in-law is in the band.  Which is still kind of insane to me.  I remember when he used to talk up this band that his brother-in-law was playing in, and it seemed like some little thing that would just toil in obscurity in New Orleans or fade into oblivion after a few albums.  Now they're selling out two successive nights at Stubb's, playing Red Rocks, scoring big slots on major festival posters - they're killing it.  And little Ed has grown into a hunk of a man sliding his fingers around on a steel guitar.  Life is weird.

Anyway, this show was freaking great.  The second song was when I realized that I was seeing something other than a one hit wonder coasting on that accomplishment - their rendition of "Oh No," with two drummers hammering the shit out of their kits, Ed slaying on the steel, and the whole band just grooving in sync was freaking fantastic.  I had never really even noticed that song on the new album, but now its a highlight of the disc for me.  Of course they did good versions of  "All My Friends," "Change," and "Wish I Knew You," but they also jammed out on "Criminal" and the encore "Soulfight."

Personally, I find "Got Love" and "Celebration" to be a little cheesy, so I could have done without those two coming back to back in the show - the lyrics are just a little clunky, too much repetition and na na na/ love love love sections that seem placed in there just to get the crowd to participate even when they don't know the songs.  "Got Love"-style songs are the reason that I don't much enjoy Robert Randolph.

The vast majority of the show was taken from the new album - and I get that they are pimping the new album on tour right now, but being that they were making a taping for ACL, I kind of wish they had broken out more of their older, well-known, well-loved songs.  "All In The Family" is a jam that would have been good to see them tear into.  "Monster" is another good one from that last album.

Those two nitpicks aside, the show was super high energy fun.  The band has a trumpet-playing organist who sings backup, a dancing saxophonist, a top notch steel player, a regular lead guitar who can jam, two drummers (who not only kick ass, but also look like they are having a really fun time up there), a goofy bassist (keep your tongue in your mouth, man), and a charismatic lead singer who brings it all together.  They brought the thunder for the show.  Anyway, highly recommend (and not just because the tickets were free).

Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats - Moody Theatre - November 22, 2015

Hot damn, man, this was a fun ass show.  ACL taping for their 41st Season.  I had read a short blurb about this cat in Rolling Stone a few weeks ago, saying that his musical career fronting an alt rock band was cratering out and his solo work had been unsuccessful, to the point where he thought of hanging it up.  And then he formed this band with some friends from Denver, paying homage to Sam Cooke, Otis Redding, and doo-wop, and they've gotten some attention.

It is a big band - two saxes, a trumpet, bass, two guitars, organ, and the sweaty, ebullient, strong-voiced front man blowing it out in front.  They stepped to the stage with "I Need Never Get Old," and it was amazing.  I got goosebumps and just had to laugh - felt like we were seeing something really special.  People physically needed to get up and dance.

Crazy high energy - just hammering the audience.  So great.  In fact, the first three tunes (I don't know his music well enough to know what the next two tunes were) kept that excitement high and didn't let up.  He slowed down a bit in the middle to play "Shake" and the song that, in my mind, I was calling the "doot-doot-doot-doooo-doooo" song until just hunting for it and finding it is called "Mellow Out."  He made the lady next to me cry when he brought up his mom (apparently in the audience) and then played "Thank You."  But then they capped off the show with a strong rendition of their current radio hit, "S.O.B.," that had the crowd on their feet and singing along.

I just got goosebumps again watching the video.  The whole crowd was clapping and singing the "wooahh-oo-woah!" part like we were at a soccer stadium, and even kept it going when they left the stage.  So awesome.

And it is hard to understate the awesomeness of the trumpet player, Wesley Watkins.  The guy was JAMMING up there, even when he wasn't playing, he was pulling some dance moves out or shaking a little shaker thing with all the gusto he could manage.  The rest of the band wasn't as over the top, but they all looked like they were truly having a great time, enjoying the music, loving the crowd, doing their thing.  Freaking great show.  Watch it whenever it airs on PBS and you'll be a believer.