Local boys Cumberland Gap opened the show with a tight set that brought some high lonesome sounds to the Loop. Along with great originals like "212 Degrees" which showcased some fiery mandolin and banjo licks, the band played a rootsy version of The Stones' "Connection," and veered into honky tonk territory with a cover of George Jones' "An Empty Bottle And A Broken Heart."
Frontier Ruckus, from the Detroit area, brought a decidedly alt-country horse to the race, showcasing interesting instrumentation and poetic lyrics in originals like "Rosemont." The atmospheric set was punctuated with interesting time changes, and multi-instrumentalist Zachary Nichols' turns on a variety of unconventional axes, including a harmonium and a singing saw, lent a dense, evocative counterpoint to singer/guitarist Matthew Milia's plaintive vocals. Nichols' trumpet also brought more than a touch of Mexacali to the mix. The band (mostly) unplugged and left the stage and finished their set among audience.
North Carolina's Chatham County Line hunkered around a single microphone old-timey style and ripped through a set that saw them navigate through bluegrass, country and singer/songwriter territory. An audience member's request -- and a shot of whiskey sent to singer/guitarist Dave Wilson -- brought a soaring version of the band's "Chip of a Star." Despite a backed-up drain that leaked into the audience and cleared out the crowd at the front of the stage, the band played on, mixing in covers of The Traveling Willbury's "Handle Me With Care" and John Hartford's "Tear Down The Grand Ole Opry."
By the time headliners Robbie Fulks and Nora O'Connor took the stage, the staff was still busy cleaning up the aftermath of the mini-flood, and the efforts would inspire Fulks to improvise a couple of odes to the sound of wet vacs during the set, and commend the audience for its commitment to country music "by standing in shit all night." Fulks and his band opened the set and O'Connor took the stage after two songs to join in for "Parallel Bars." Fulks and O'Connor have worked together before, and the way their voices perfectly intertwined on "Georgia Hard" and a cover of the Everly Brothers classic "Love Hurts" left fans hoping that this collaboration becomes a more permanent partnership.
Fulks and O'Connor finished the set with a rip-roaring "Let's Kill Saturday Night," came back out once for an equally vicious take on "She Took A Bunch Of Pills and Died," then took the stage one more time for "Tears Only Run One Way" before the house lights went up.
The fans filed out into the night, the remnants of one storm splashing underfoot, and the remains of another ringing in their ears.
Photo by Tom Lampe.
