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Last Saturday, a band made their way to town in a troubled truck.  Troubled enough that The Only Sons weren’t even sure if they could make back home to Murfreesboro, TN.  I arrived to White Water expecting Mat Mahar to be kicking things off for the night, but was sorely disappointed that they weren’t playing.

I missed The Only Sons' first song or two, but no more than that.  I had been communicating with at least one of the members prior to the show, and he was kind enough to send me the link to their latest release, Steel Hearts.  This was at least two weeks before they made it to Little Rock, and I listened to it multiple times with each time making me grow fonder of them as a band.  I liked their sound directly off the bat, but more time with their material made me clamor to go out and see them.

Upon first listen, I picked up on the subtle undertones of Glossary, Lucero, and bands of that type.  I wasn’t aware of the fact beforehand that Joey Kneiser had done vocals on at least one of their songs, so I guess I was spot on with describing them. They played a great mix of newer material and older material, which I was not familiar with, much to my delight.  I’m going to have to get my hands on a copy of Young Lungs some time in the near future so I can further acquaint myself with it.  They’ve got the playful quality of their music like Glossary, the less gravelly than Ben Nichols’ voice in Kent Goolsby’s vocals, and a rock aspect to tie everything together.  However, they don’t have the typical rock star attitude that some might expect.  I met four seemingly very grounded men, good old boys if you have it, whom I could tell genuinely loved what they do.

In their performance, along with their new record, these men come across as true musicians who are doing what they want and are happy with that decision.  It was an atypical Saturday night at White Water, with no more than 40 total people there, which should have been packed.  However, that didn’t bother TOS.  They actually went on to say, “Fuck Memphis!  Only five people came out to our show there.”  Well, I had a great time standing up front supporting them, and I can only hope the next show brings more people out to see them because they’re good.  If you want to see true musicians doing their thing on stage, despite the downfall of a small crowd, a sick truck, or some other random, negative reason, catch them the next time they stop through Little Rock because they put on a great set.

--L

Here’s a link to their Myspace if you’re interested.

(Photo by: J. Anne Photography)

What I thought would turn out to be a great night quickly went down as one of the worst I’ve ever had at White Water.  I went out to see Ben Nichols (pictured) & Christopher Denny.  I knew Nichols was playing solo, and I was under the impression that Denny’s band would be in tow, but they were nowhere to be seen.  Instead, the packed bar was greeted to one of the more interesting round robin shows I’ve seen. 

Nichols would play a song, and Denny would follow quickly with one of his own.  I’ll be the first to admit I’m not the biggest Denny fan out there, but I give him credit where credit is due.  The one thing I’d forgotten about a show with Nichols headlining was the rabid amount of douchebags he brings out of the woodwork.  I felt like I was a real life part of that one website that chronicles douchebags & the women they date.  For reference it’s here.  It was eerily similar to some of the people on that website.  I know it’s not Nichols’ fault, but man those types are not fun to be around in a small bar considering my friends & I are nothing like them.  However, to each their own.

I saw very quickly that they weren’t there for Denny.  Most everyone just paid attention when Nichols sang Lucero’s bigger hits, Sweet Little Thing, Nights Like These, etc.  Then they would turn around and basically bitch about the fact he was playing his new solo stuff, and that they didn’t really like it.  What’s the point of going to a Nichols show if you aren’t there to hear his solo material?  I mean really. 

I kicked myself out of the bar at around 11:30.  I knew if I didn’t leave the night might end very poorly for me and some unsuspecting person.  I wish I’d stuck around to catch more of the show, but it was just one of the worst, most tension fueled atmospheres I’ve ever been in.  I love White Water, but I just wasn’t feeling it that night.  I hope the next show proves to be less off kilter. 

--L

Sometimes, Tuesday pitcher night at White Water Tavern is a real gamble when it comes to the musical acts featured. One week you get the excellence that is Red Collar, and the next week you get some knock off southern rock wannabe. But the beer is cheap, and the company’s good so it’s a chance I’m usually willing to take.

Now, I’d heard the name Kristy Kruger floating around Little Rock for a while. A WWT frequenter, Kruger stopped in this past Tuesday and sweetly serenaded the auspicious Tuesday night crowd.

Having taken the stage a little bit late, because she was changing clothes and applying make-up in the bathroom, I noticed Kruger doing mic checks on two different microphones. I’m not going to pretend I knew the difference between the two microphones, but one was markedly older and when she sang into it she sounded like a vinyl record version of herself.

When she started to sing, I was taken aback by her mysterious and almost ghostly voice. She wasn’t demanding or over the top, not callous or in your face, but just delicate.

Don’t get me wrong, I love the loud stuff, but after a few weeks of loud and energetic acts, (Red Collar, American Aquarium, Drunken Angels, Frown Pow’r) it was nice to listen to Kruger, sip my beer and be able to converse without fear of busting someone else’s eardrum. 

Kruger has a downright pretty voice, and demeanor as well. In a world of boring solo acoustic female acts, Kruger stands out with her 1920s-esque voice. It almost sounds like she should be broadcasted on a low frequency radio somewhere in the Ozark Mountains.

Her voice reminded me of major label songstress and Grammy nominee Adele, who is out of the U.K. Kruger’s voice has girth and fearlessness that seems to come so naturally, and is very accessible to the audience.  

Kruger’s performance was consistent, intimate and thoughtful; it was a nice easy summertime show.

Go by her Web site and pick up an album or two. “Songs from a Dead Man’s Couch” is her latest full-length release, and I highly recommend it.

http://www.kristykruger.com/

-Liz S.