Buffalo Gospel with Nickel and Rose, Anodyne Coffee 12/22/17

photo courtesy of Gigshotz by Stephen Bloch

Buffalo Gospel shows at Anodyne Coffee have become a thing of legend and lore in this city.  Just as you can count on Lexus trying to get you to buy a new car with a red bow around it this time of year, you can count on Ryan Necci and the boys to always bring their A+ game whenever they play.

photo courtesy of Gigshotz by Stephen Bloch

Their recent show at Anodyne was no exception, and showcased how 2018 will undoubtedly be a huge year for the band.  Heartfelt.  Earnest.  Powerful.  Soulful.  These are words that come to mind when thinking about Milwaukee Americana outfit, Buffalo Gospel.  The audience knew that they were in for a treat with Necci starting the show solo on stage performing the classic Buffalo Gospel track "Mule" from 2013's We Can Be Horses.  From there each member of the band came on stage to join Necci as the song built to a climax with most of the room hanging on every word as Necci belted out the refrain, "you never know when a little love is all you need when a little love is all you've got."  Necci's vocals are incredibly powerful and his range and performance remains a cornerstone of Buffalo Gospel's unique sound.  

photo courtesy of Gigshotz by Stephen Bloch

The quintet, which features the phenomenal Nick Lang on percussion, Kevin Rowe on upright bass and vocals,  Michael Rossetto on guitar and banjo and newest member Andrew Koenig on electric and acoustic guitar were rock solid as the band played a healthy mix of older material as well as tracks from the band's forthcoming record, On the First Bell, set to be released this coming May.    The group was noticeably more guitar heavy which made the honky tonk "Hard Labor Side of Gettin' On," come to life live.  Newer numbers like "Homeless" and "When Lonesome Comes Calling," were especially well received, as well as reworkings of classic cuts, "Hill Outside My Home" and "If I Was the Last Man."

However, what was perhaps the most memorable part of the evening was the encore, an unplugged stripped down rendition of "The Northern," and "Letters To Georgia" with Necci and company performing in the middle of the crowd with fans circled around them.  This was a goose bump inducing moment that left the crowd leaving Anodyne happy and yearning for more music.  We expect big things in 2018 from Buffalo Gospel.

Opening for Buffalo Gospel was the duo Nickel and Rose, who performed with the exceptional Ernest Brusabardis IV on fiddle.  Nickel and Rose's sound had a deep jazzy and bluesy feel which provided for a unique take on songs performed by guitarist Carl Nichols and upright bass player Johanna Rose. Performing a set that featured a heavy amount of material from their stellar 2017 release Oh My Sweet Love, Nickel and Rose did a great job of engaging the crowd before Buffalo Gospel took the stage.

Setlist (courtesy of Ryan Necci)

Mule
18 Wheeler
High Time to Hang Fire
Hard Labor Side of Gettin' On
Homeless
When Lonesome Comes Calling
Old I Do of Mine
Hill Outside My Home
Hoarse as a Crow
If I Was the Last Man
Guitars, Cadillacs*
The Western (the Devil is Me)
Lonestar
Son of a Gun

The Northern
Letters to Georgia