For those of us that unfortunately have to deal with the effects of Daylight Savings time that first Monday morning of “spring forward” can be a complete drag, but for those of us that were at the Voodoo Lounge at Harrah’s Kansas City we had an excuse. On Sunday March 12th Aaron Lewis brought his Sinner tour to town and let me tell you, it was a party. Opening for Aaron Lewis was Travis Marvin. To start the set Travis told us all how two years prior to that show, he was standing on the same stage opening for Aaron Lewis and a simple sound check was the reason he was standing there that evening. You should let him tell you the story it is pretty remarkable. Another thing that caught my ear was when he said his home town was none other than Ottawa, KS. I perked up and was like did he say Iola, KS, that’s cool, but I was soon corrected from my Facebook feed from my Ottawa friends telling me to say hello for them. Reason being I grew up 10 miles west of there out in the sticks. Now let me tell you for one man and his guitar Travis can sing, country is not my cup of tea but talent is talent and that he has.
As Travis Marvin left the stage there was not much to change over as like I said Travis was just a man and his guitar. The crowd hooted and hollered as Aaron Lewis took to the stage. This was no ordinary crowd either I would say that is was a diverse audience of about 75% country and the other 25% being Staind Fans. That start of Aaron Lewis’s set was a new one for me, sure I have been to a couple of shows where DJ Ashba had opened with the Star Spangled Banner, but never had I heard anyone recite the Pledge of Allegiance , and that is just what he did. I will say again country music is not my thing and especially this bullshit that are trying to pull off now days. Give me some old school Waylon and Willie and hell even some George Straight and I am down. I kind of got the feeling Aaron Lewis has the same thoughts, as his style of country was more of the old school story telling lyrics with a good back bone of guitar and drums. I mean one of his songs is called “That Ain’t Country” he tells you straight up he will keep listing to the old songs. Now never fear Staind fans he did do three songs from his old days as a rock star, they were Mudshovel, Just Go, and…. Ok, no not really but that would have been pretty fucking bad ass. He graced the rockers with “It’s Been Awhile”, “Right Here Waiting” and of course closed the show with “Outside”. I said it once, it was a party and I will say it again, it was one hell of a party. Weather you are a fan of country or not it is still Aaron Lewis, one of the best vocalist of the past couple decades. Open your mind and go see a kick ass show.
