MWA Live: Republican Hair and The Cadillac Three at Joe's on Weed Street - 4/5

Republican Hair took the stage with bombast and enthusiasm, pumping up the crowd from the word “go.” I must admit, I was a little baffled why the pithy, balls-to-the-walls rock band would be paired up with The Cadillac Three. Republican Hair would need to give the country music audience a reason to like them.

So, after opening with their bouncy fun tune, “Be Careful Chloe,” Luke Dick introduced himself and explained that he makes his living as a songwriter, penning tunes for and with a litany of country artists like Eric Church, Miranda Lambert, and our headliners, The Cadillac Three. Then, they played several of them. The people around me said things like, “He wrote that, too?! These guys are alright!” When they switched back to Republican Hair tunes, they managed to carry the audience along with them. The switch in genre changed the band’s performances, and they really let loose for us.

The rhythm guitarist sang along, was plugged into the lyrics and gave us all the fun we could possibly ask for. The keyboardist let loose with broad gestures every chance he got, while the bassist saved his smiles for those truly sweet moments. I loved when lead guitarist showed his inner ham. They were fun and tight. Lead singer, Luke, moved around the stage with serious swagger. He had the presentation of a rock star that any audience must surely fall for. And, they did. They ate up the fun and irreverent lyrics, too. Who could resist smiling when listening to “Birthday Suit”? By the end of their set, they had the audience cheering and raising their drinks, the ultimate country audience salute.

It became clear very quickly how The Cadillac Three incite passion and devotion from their fans. They had a blast-your-face-off stage presence, as if they were projecting to a stadium audience, not a 300 (or so) capacity bar. Kelby Ray burned it up on the lap-steel guitar. When he took a solo, the crowd went into fits–and he encouraged it. Both he and the drummer were out of their seats over and over waving and clapping and demanding more from the audience. Speaking of the drummer, Neil Mason was pure rock ‘n’ roll. He attacked the kit.

While their attitudes were classic rock, Jaren Johnson’s vocals and the Ray’s slide guitar defined the music as country. Johnson had a showman’s stance at the microphone. His movements were controlled, muscular, like a practiced athlete putting his whole body into playing his guitar, or should I say guitars? He changed almost every single song. I lost track. I asked the crew afterwards. Fourteen guitars. Fourteen! I wish I had a pic of all of them for you. Their guitar tech/monitor engineer/roadie/probably other things I couldn’t observe or guess, Brandon, surely is an important part of the crew, if not practically in the band.

<a href="http://thecadillacthree.bandcamp.com/album/bury-me-in-my-boots">Bury Me In My Boots by The Cadillac Three</a>

At the end of every song and at the recognition of the next one, the audience would raise their glasses, shout appreciation. The Cadillac Three shouted back, raising their hands and glasses, toasting all of us for coming out–several times, at least. Everyone in the crowd was ecstatic.

I realized the energy felt much like the crowd at a punk show. At the Mezingers show I was at last year, someone told me, “We’re all family at a punk show.” I’m guessing The Cadillac Three fans would say something similar; they certainly welcomed me into their fold. They had arms around people they had just met and sang along with devotion. I can see why they come back again and again.

And my new friends had. I heard everything from 9 to 59 times. It sounded crazy at first, but after seeing The Cadillac Three perform, it was confirmed. They are top notch Nashville performers, and from one concert junkie to another, I get it. The buzzing feeling of everyone experiencing that together… It’s definitely a kind of community feeling you can’t get from listening to the album at home.