Concert Preview: Son Volt

I don't get to go to music concerts as much as I used to.  Diverting funds from the 'entertainment' kitty over to things like diaper cream is one reason.  Another is a true lack of good bands coming through the Greenville, SC marketplace.  It used to be, we'd get at least half a dozen decent acts through our small territory every year.  Now?  I've got to travel to Asheville, Atlanta, Charlotte, or Columbia to see something in my musical wheelhouse.  It's not that my tastes have changed from what's hip, either.  If anything, I'm cooler musically than I have ever been.  My city, on the other hand, has gone the other direction. 

The main venue in town is The Handlebar, a small dive of a place that has an impressive cast of previous acts, but has taken it's business model away from what got them there, and followed that tried and true method of packing douchebags in to see a cover band.

Tonight, all that is forgiven, as Son Volt comes to town.  This will be the third time I've seen Son Volt, with both previous times coming also at The Handlebar.  The first time was 2005, in support of Okemah and the Melody of Riot.  I flew solo for that show, which was a mid-week affair that I couldn't convince Kate to tag along with.  That show was amazing, and cemented them in my lexicon of great artists of our generation, and convinced me that I should see them every opportunity.

I saw them a second time in support of The Search, which I thought was a little less of an overall album, but still pretty damned solid.  That show was maybe a step down from their peak in 2005, but it was well worth the admission price.  Farrar crafts his folk inspired country/rock just to my liking, and did so on that night, leaving my ears ringing and happy.

I have been slack in checking out the newest material, which came out in July.  I believe it was a little more stripped down/folky than the last couple, so we could get a more intimate performance.  This would be awesome for old school Son Volt songs, like 'Windfall', but I need to have my face melted with some 'Jet Pilot' or 'Drown'.

For at least one night, my lame little music town plays with the big boys.  Sure, they aren't the biggest rock band in the world, as their severed half Wilco could possibly claim to be, but they own a nice sized slice in the Awesome Pie that we all like to dine on.  Post show review to come, including a recap of beer quantity consumed, puffy bangs spotted, and whether or not challenges of 'Freebird' were accepted.