On one hot and sultry night in Maryland three bands put on a
show that would live in the memory for a long time. Racing through the genres
of country, rock, bluegrass and old time roots, each band cemented an
individual footprint on the evening ahead of intermittently collaborating prior
to a storming finale. To witness Dawes, Old Crow Medicine Show and Brandi
Carlile on a single evening line up was a privilege and proved the perfect
climax to a three week trip inevitably focussing on what music could be
savoured while away. For three hours this amphitheatre was awash with superb
sounds comprising of outstanding original material and sensational covers designed
to set the pulse racing. These were three artists that matter, execute great
skill in their craft and showcase American roots music in its grandest form.
This Brandi Carlile and Old Crow Medicine Show tour has been
ripping it up across the States all summer, but you would have struggled to
find a better third guest act than Dawes, who were the invited ones for this
show in Columbia Maryland, just outside the city of Baltimore. The Merriweather
Post Pavilion was far from full to its 19000 capacity when Dawes took to the
stage at 6:30. Those present were split between the sun drenched lawn and the
shade haven covered section, but both in the listening vicinity of one of the
most accomplished bands around.
After catching Dawes twice in the English Midlands towards
the end of last summer, this Stateside show lent heavily on similar material starting
with ‘Most People’ and ending forty
five minutes later with the captivating singalong ‘All Your Favourite Bands’. So pleased to hook up with Dawes for
this show, Brandi complimented them later by hailing the line ‘may your brother’s
El Camino run for ever’ and invited them back on stage to join in on the finale
version of Dylan’s ‘Rainy Day Woman 12
& 35’. Apart from their last song, the prime moment was once again ‘Somewhere Along the Way’ with Duane
Betts stepping up the guitar input alongside front man Taylor Goldsmith. There
were actually people present who mainly came to see Dawes and they would not
have been disappointed with their favourite’s performance. However the night
was just warming up – literally and figuratively.
‘Wagon Wheel’ has
become a modern classic with its multitude of cover versions, but listening to
Old Crow Medicine Show play their ultimate creation and watching the audience
reaction could have easily been the highlight of what rolled out to be an
exceptional evening. Just like Dawes earlier, Ketch and the boys kept the chat
to a minimum and made sure their set of just over an hour was jam packed with
rucks of great music. Classics such as ‘Alabama
High Test’, ‘Doc’s Day’ and ‘Sweet
Amarillo’ were delivered in full glory and ‘8 Dogs 8 Banjos’ is the fitting send off. In fact it is hard
pressed to hear a bad tune when Old Crow are in full flow with all the lead instrument
and vocal exchanges. Their David Rawlings co-write ‘I Hear Them All’ does find real emotion and intrinsically weaves in
a sample of ‘This Land is Your Land’
to a song for the people by the people.
Mid way through the set Ketch invited Brandi Carlile on
stage and they appropriately sang a version of the vastly covered and much
loved ‘Streets of Baltimore’. Once
teamed up Ketch wasn’t going to let her off the hook and in this covers segment
Brandi helped out on ‘Spirit in the Sky’
and ‘CC Rider’. Old Crow Medicine
Show left the stage to a thunderous standing ovation and it wasn’t too difficult
to feel that we may see them again later in the evening.
Flanked by the ever faithful and highly talented Hanseroth
twins (Tim and Phil), Brandi Carlile strode onto the stage for the headline
spot determined to show why she is in the form of her life. On the back of the incredible
Grammy nominated album THE FIREWATCHER’S DAUGHTER and a series of other personal
highs, a lengthy search would be needed to find a more sincere, proud and gutsy
artist as Brandi Carlile. Possessing a wonderfully cracked vocal acumen that
splits the fault line of country and rock is just the beginning of her talent.
Song after song is written with great emotion whether emanating from just her
pen or in collaboration. Also a fabulous band is present to deliver the precise
soundtrack to each number whether subtly required or in full on rock mode.
The new material nestled neatly alongside the older songs
with Brandi enthusing about her eventual attempt at three part harmony with the
beautifully intensive offering ‘The Eye’.
This was the highlight when seeing Brandi play a festival a week earlier, but
in this amphitheatre setting it was the faster tempo numbers such as ‘Wherever is My Heart’ and ‘The Things I Regret’ which set the tone.
Obviously the older pieces are well received including the signature track ‘The Story’ which exposes the rawness of
Brandi wrapping her vocals around a rock ballad. One quote attributed to Brandi is that whatever style she
sings there will always be a touch of ‘country and western in her voice.’ This
was in evident when delivering two songs from the BEAR CREEK record in ‘Hard Way Home’ and the sentimental
classic ‘Keep Your Heart Young’. The
diversity of Brandi Carlile in 2016 is when she piles into ‘Mainstream Kid’, a raucous sound that
she has recently perfected.
No feature on Brandi Carlile is complete without the
audience rapport and connectivity that runs deep. The challenge is to keep the
eyes dry in the run up to ‘The Mother’
and full absorption of the sentiment will make you believe in Brandi as an
artist, a person and a human being.
You knew the reciprocal invite for Old Crow Medicine Show to
return to the stage was imminent and to join Brandi for a version of ‘Peaceful Easy Feeling’ was the
opportune moment. Not just once did we see Ketch and the boys as they also
helped out on a popular covers encore led off by the country classics – ‘Jolene’ (introduced by Brandi as a country
punk song) and ‘Folsom Prison Blues’.
It was fitting then for Dawes to make the stage crowded and complete for the
Dylan finale.
Words and pictures are just a meagre part of this wonderful show.
Experience and memories are everything. Setting, line up and perfect weather
played their part alongside an exalted slice of Americana that fuelled an evening
which if repeated would be more than welcome. Brandi Carlile, Old Crow Medicine
Show and Dawes in Columbia Maryland was absolutely a gig for this and all ages.
