Nikki Lane, Johnny Fritz, Hugh Bob and the Hustle- Cactus Club 2/13/15

photo courtesy of Gigshots by Stephen Bloch

You know a show was really special when almost a month after the fact, you still recall it like it was last night.  Lane is a white hot self-described, "outlaw country" singer out of Nashville who performed to race reviews last year at the Appleton Mile of Music festival, and performed on a chilly February night to a shoulder-to-shoulder capacity crowd at the Cactus Club.  While not touring, Lane runs a vintage clothing shop in Nashville, and this almost epitomizes her style with one foot in traditional country and the other taking a very contemporary approach to songwriting.  Lane is a storyteller and her songs run the gamet of love, lust, and travel.  Her back up band was both loose and precise at the same time, allowing Lane to perform a nearly 90 minute set without a set list.  Most of her material came from her latest album, 2014's Dan Auerbach produced  All or Nothing, and 2011's Walk of Shame.  Opening act and local star, Hugh Masterson took Auerbach's place sharing vocals on "Love's on Fire,"  The set also contained several well-placed covers including a rousing version of Bob Dylan's "You Ain't Going Nowhere" to close the concert.  Lane's personable nature was evident as she gladly posed for pictures with fans and even shared a cookie with buddy.  This is a star on the rise and I can't wait to check her out again opening for Jenny Lewis later this spring,

Opening for Nikki Lane were two unique acts, Jonny Fritz Hugh Bob and the Hustle.  Fritz is a unique act in that his songs, while often sounding similar, have an aura of comedy about them, often taking cues from mundane human living and penning them into ditties.  He reminded me a lot of the act The Bottle Rockets, who had a similar sense of humor in their compositions.  Fritz was a solid entertainer, and he engaged the crowd with songs like, "Shaved Like a Razor," "Chevy Beretta," and  "Trash Day."

The first act of the night was arguably the most popular with the Cactus Club crowd.  Hugh Masterson reunited with his former band, "The Hustle," as a surprise, for a riveting set of country-rock, with tracks like "North Country," "This Bar is a Prison," and "Milwaukee Man."  Hugh's vocals and band were spot on and we learned that he is now renting his apartment from Nikki Lane.  Not a bad gig if you ask me.

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Nikki Lane shares a Valentine's Day cookie with Stephen Bloch

Hugh Bob duets with Nikki Lane; photo courtesy of Gigshots by Stephen Bloch