Sunday was concert night - Sister Hazel and Cowboy Mouth at Potawatamie Casino. My friend Heather had gotten some free tickets and invited me along, Jill and her husband also in attendance. I don't do alot of concerts, but his one was easily one of the best to which I've been.
Sister Hazel opened up and they were great. I like some of their music but had never seen them perform in person. When they came on stage and all through the concert you just got the feeling that these guys loved performing and that they were just all-around nice people. Somebody you'd want to hang with. There were some overly anxious concertgoers in the audience. I felt bad for the band as one in particular would hear the first riff of the song and call out the first line LOUDLY before the lead singer could do it. The guy definitely deserved a boot to the head. The crowd was wild and happy to see them, so I think that made up for it. Very enthusiastic fans for Sister Hazel.
Cowboy Mouth came on next and from my point of view they totally stole the show. They're a band that's been around for a long time, originating in Louisiana. They're three guitarists (lead/keyboards, bass, and rhythm) and a drummer/lead vocalist. All of them are truly great performers with alot of personality and energy, but the drummer Fred steals the show. His drums are front and center and the man is a hurricane on the drums. His facial expressions are crazy and the man sweats all over the place - there's a constant splash or mist as he whales away on the drums. His energy is second to none and he really gets the crowd going. Everybody stands during their concert - Fred sees to that personally by going out into the audience to rile everyone from their seats and otherwise get some close in time with the fans. The crowd is an integral part of a Cowboy Mouth show - without the wild, screaming, gyrating crowd Fred and the gang wouldn't have as much to work with and they know it. Even I was out of my seat, swaying, singing, and otherwise clapping and rocking to their tunes...and for anyone who knows me or has seen me at a concert, that's not your standard Scott fare. Fred goes out barefoot (I freaked when I realized after the fact that he'd somehow navigated past me and a broken bottle safely) into the crowd to get people revved up. Several people in the back were sitting down and he said, "I'm a big, hairy, sweaty guy and I will rub myself up against you if you don't get that ass out of that chair!" They didn't flinch. "Oh, it's a dare, huh?" and without another word he was in the audience and giving them a sopping wet hug to get them up. And on the way back he gave me a good spank on the ass to make way for him and got back to business. A very fun band - if you have the chance to see them, don't hesistate!
