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| photo by Melissa Miller Music Photography |
Sturgill Simpson is an artist who has exploded upon the scene, often heralded as the "new voice" in traditional country music. His most recent release, Metamodern Sounds of Country Music has drawn significant critical praise in all sorts of music circles, and has also earned him a Grammy nomination for best Americana record. I went to Turner Hall to check out this songwriter and guitarist and see what all the buzz was about. I left with my expectations well-exceeded. Simpson, at one point in the set, commented on how, "last year when he played Turner Hall there were maybe 150 people there, and now everyone seems like they've brought six more of their friends." This is an artist who is growing in popularity quickly and I have a feeling will be playing much larger venues in the future.
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| photo by Melissa Miller Music Photography |
Simpson, as a songwriter, tells personal tales with an outlaw country edge, much in the tradition of the iconic troubadours who have proceeded him. His music invokes a spirit of Wayland Jennings or Willie Nelson in the 70's.
Simpson's ninety minute set blended elements of traditional country, Americana and jam band. While Simpson was a stand out performer and guitarist on his own, his band carried the set, driven by the exceptional brush drumming of Miles Miller, and the slide guitar genius of Laur Joamets, who invoked the spirit of Duane Allman on some of his jams and riffs.
The crowd who came out to see Sturgill Simpson was pretty diverse, while mostly male. You had hipsters standing alongside folks in Wranglers and cowboy hats, equally taking in the ambiance and music of a singer-songwriter clearly on the rise.
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| photo by Melissa Miller Music Photography |
For an opening act, Lucette, provided some beautiful country-tinged singer-songwriter music. Her cover of Ryan Adams's classic, "Oh Sweet Carolina," was delivered with passion and poise with just Lucette and her keyboard. Despite the loud crowd, Lucette's keyboard and cello-based tunes were well-received.
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