Thank daddy for Hank, thank mama for Jesus, and thank WQMX for bringing The Cadillac Three to perform at Friday night’s Listener Appreciation Concert at the Dusty Armadillo in Rootstown, Ohio. What a party the evening turned out to be!
Austin Jenckes, a former contestant on NBC’s The Voice (season 5 in 2013,) got the evening started in grand style. Jenckes is a talented singer/songwriter from the Seattle area, who Rolling Stone recently called “One of the 10 new country artists you need to know in 2018.” Together with his band, Jenckes laid down a gritty yet soulful 40-minute set that culminated with his newly released single “Ride Away” and a powerful crowd pleasing cover of “Simple Man.”
After giving Jenckes a thunderous ovation, the overflow crowd was more than ready to welcome country music’s power trio The Cadillac Three to the Dusty. With the lights down low, smoke machines cranked up, and the smell of burning incense permeating the house, TC3 took the stage to an explosive greeting by the crowd.
Expectations for their performance were high, and the band definitely delivered with a 110-minute, 22-song set that was pure energy from the very first note to the last. The band’s newest album Legacy made up a significant part of the set list this night, and the crowd roared its approval for every song, new and old.
The Cadillac Three turned in one of the most electrifying performances that I’ve ever witnessed. The stage shook. The floor shook. The walls shook. And every person who was there shook as the music commanded their attention, fueled their excitement and engaged them fully in body, mind, heart and soul. Concert-goers sang every word of every song back to the band with enthusiasm. The love each had for the other was genuine and palpable throughout the night.
If you weren’t able to attend this most extraordinary performance, you’ll have the chance to see these Nashville natives work their magic later this summer at The Country Fest in North Lawrence, Ohio on June 14.
Be there, or be square!
The Cadillac Three
Jaren Johnston: Guitar, Lead Vocals
Kelby Ray: Dobro, Acoustic, Lap Steel and Vocals
Neil Mason: Drums, Percussion and Vocals
Set List
“Tennessee”
“Slide”
“Soundtrack To A Six Pack”
“Long Hair Don’t Care”
“Hank & Jesus”
“Demolition Man”
“Peace Love And Dixie”
“Tennessee Mojo”
“Cadillacin’”
“Take Me To The Bottom”
“Graffiti”
“Runnin’ Red Lights”
“Bury Me In My Boots”
“American Slang”
“Raise ‘Em Up”
“I’m Southern”
“I’m Rockin’”
“Whiskey Soaked Redemption”
“Days of Gold”
“Party Like You”
“White Lightning”
“The South”
The Cadillac Three and Austin Jenckes at the WQMX Listener Appreciation Concert at Dusty Armadillo (3.9.18) – Photos by Gerard Hilinski
