Scene - Blogs - CONCERT REVIEW Jamey Johnson at Cains Ballroom

CONCERT REVIEW: Jamey Johnson at Cain's Ballroom
Published: 9/30/2011 12:14 PM
Last Modified: 9/30/2011 4:11 PM

All photos by Kevin Pyle/for the Tulsa World

Jamey Johnson-logo camo koozies hugged hoisted beers as his set began on Thursday night at Cain's Ballroom.

Straw hats, felt hats, leather hats, starched Wranglers filled the venue, along with cowgirl boots and miniskirts. There also were the biker types with bearded faces and "line dancing sucks" tees, and the college kids hip to swing dance and two-stepping.

Johnson warmed into his two-plus hour set that held more than 20 songs, including a string of timeless covers including the Hank Cochran classic "He's Got You," made famous by singers Patsy Cline to Jimmy Buffett; the chill-inducing Appalachian folk song "In the Pines/Black Girl/Where Did You Sleep Last Night," performed by everyone from Nirvana to Lead Belly to Dolly Parton; the Metallica-inspired version of the Bob Seger classic "Turn the Page," he also performed the ever-timeless Danny Flowers tune "Tulsa Time," made famous by Don Williams.

It's odd to lead a music review with a list of covers, but his version of Floyd Tillman's "I Love You So Much It Hurts" nearly brought the audience to tears.

His originals undoubtedly won hearts and cheers too, especially "In Color," which evoked the most emotion from Johnson, as well. He backed away from the mic as the crowd took over singing the verses. He repeated, "Thank you, thank you," with a huge grin on his face. It was one of the few emotive moments of the night for Johnson. There was little banter. His song segues included random guitar strums and not much else from his 6-piece backing band.

Johnson in snug tee, gray-swathed beard and shoulder-length hair. Played to a packed house, walked into his set without a word of greeting, his beat-to-death acoustic guitar slung around his chest, ready to play.

His show was a seamless tapestry of storytelling.

He often "thanked" his crowd by lifting a red plastic cup, which his fans mirrored in action and cheered. An hour in, he seemed to fully relax into his element.

Crowd responded most enthusiastically to his originals, dancing and singing and cheering. Especially "That Lonesome Song," "High Cost of Living," "Can't Cash My Checks," "Mowin' Down the Roses" and others.

His show crescendoed with a rousing tribute to Waylon, "Are You Sure Hank Done it This Way." Couples danced and twirled and scooted. Hats flew off in the revelry.

Johnson also eschewed the "sham" of encores, using the valuable set time to give fans more music instead. His finale, "I Saw the Light," had the crowd lifting its hands toward the heavens. It was as country-fied as any country song has ever been.

Johnson is a true musician's musician, a songwriter and lover of storytelling.

To sound like a teen, last night's show was epic.

Reader Comments

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Dr. Strangelove (last year)

Wow- I can't believe I missed this- he's amazing.

225446 (last year)

I wanted to go, but couldn't get off work. I saw him twice last year, at the BOK, at the Tulsa State Fair, and at Eufaula this summer. Quite simply the best singer/songwriter to come down the pike since Merle Haggard. If only country music radio would play more of his songs.

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Barrelhouse Beat

Barrelhouse: A colloquialism describing the low saloons at the turn of the century (19th) that served whiskey straight out of the barrel. It's also a reference to the type of music played in those venues. Ex: Barrelhouse music.

Beat: The time or timing. Ex: The band played with a solid beat. Also used as a term describing a reporters specific area of expertise. Ex: The music beat.

About me: I'm Okie born and raised, and have lived all over the state: Oklahoma City, Enid, Moore, Norman, Edmond and Tulsa. I am a music geek, writer, graphic designer and amateur photographer and videographer who's followed the Tulsa and regional music scene since I moved to Green Country more than 10 years ago. I've been enmeshed in Tulsa's varied and vibrant musical night life, what some of us affectionately call a modernized throwback to the Barrelhouse scene, since that time. I fell in love with it. I fell hard.

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Past Articles By Jennifer Chancellor

2/17/2013		Tulsan Johnny Polygon a rapper who delights in hometown crowd
2/15/2013		The Who brings nostalgia, ingenuity to BOK Center
2/15/2013		Lady Gaga tour is canceled
2/15/2013		Audio Adrenaline concert moves to April 7
2/14/2013		The Who brings 'other' rock opera to Tulsa's BOK Center
2/14/2013		Okies nominated for several top ACM awards
2/14/2013		Epic moments of rock 'n' roll history in Tulsa
2/14/2013		The Who talks about 'Quadrophenia' rock opera ahead of BOK show Thursday
2/14/2013		Shawnee songstress Samantha Crain to play Tulsa CD release show Friday
2/14/2013		Rick Springfield to play River Spirit Event Center on Saturday
2/14/2013		Local music roundup: Vaudvillian sideshows? Nerd nights? Live music? Parties? Yes, yes, yes and yes.
2/14/2013		Eli Young band coming to Brady Theater for first time

Jennifer Chancellor's Blog Archive:

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8/2012	7/2012	6/2012	5/2012	4/2012	3/2012
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Jennifer Chancellor
BarrelhouseBeat

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