Sturgill Simpson at The Armory 5.6.25

The first of two sold-out nights was outstanding with an unpredictable setlist.

I've been a big fan of Sturgill's voice since the first time I heard it several years ago, but last night was my first time seeing him live. His much raved about show last September at the Roy WIlkins left many of my hard to impress music friends in awe, despite that venue's notoriously bad gymnasium like sound. As a result, this round of shows was not to be missed.

The first of his two nights at the Armory was sold out and he wasn't joking about the 8pm sharp start time. He shared/cautioned that the band had about three hours of material to play, and they did so without so much as a five minute breather. His setlist was completely unpredictable, which I always appreciate, veering from originals to the UB40 style version of "Red Red Wine" to a nearly unrecognizable version of Eddie Murphy's 1985 classic "Party All The TIme", which was of course co-written and produced by Rick James. Also played was “A Whiter Shade of Pale”, and he closed with a stirring tribute to Prince in “Purple Rain”, a song those in attendance at My Morning Jacket’s recent show at the Armory also were treated to. This kind of variety is the mark of a sophisticated and well rounded musician, in my opinion, and his band seemed happy to go along for the ride. The band consists of Simpson, another electric guitar, keys (keyboardist played sax a time or two also) drums and bass. Sturgill has remarkable control, emotion, and just the right amount of twang in his voice and I really appreciate his no nonsense attitude. His viral speech/rant/declaration that patriarchy is not cool and we're on the way to something better shortly after the ever so sad re-election of a criminal was one of the first signs of hope in this tragic new era:

“I think that this toxic patriarch energy that we are experiencing right now, this is an age coming to an end. What you are seeing is that energy clinging and clawing for survival because it knows it’s dying, and we are heading towards something very beautiful. And we just gotta go through some dark s— first to get there. Love everybody around you, don’t accept anything other than that, and f— s— up. That’s all I’ve got to say.”

You don't hear nearly enough modern country artists (although Sturgill is really more Outlaw Country/Americana) speaking up about social issues nowadays. We've got Willie and Margo Price fighting the good fight, and Jason Isbell, and now we can count on Sturgill to be another voice of reason. Nevertheless, I'd guess there were plenty of supporters of toxic patriarchy present on this evening, they were the ones standing still for three hours straight and looking bewildered anytime a song went past four minutes.

I also got a kick out of his recent lambasting of 'spoiled jam band kids' who expect to see a completely different show night to night with no repeats (it me). Even with some repeats he's been establishing his credentials as an adventurous leader of, as he said, 'a band-that-jams', if not a traditional jam band. I didn't go to the second night but it sounds like he changed up the setlist quite a bit and paid tribute to GnR, The Doors, Allman Bros, and Nirvana.

Sturgill and his band really did live up to the hype and I hope he continues along this newish path of stretching songs out and speaking out against the outdated mindset that grips too many of us.