Concert Review – Rick Huckaby – Nashville, TN
13 years ago Liv Carter 1
There are few things more exciting to me than listening to some really good music, preferably played live in a small venue. If it’s performed by talented musicians who clearly enjoy and appreciate every moment of being on stage, I am nearing perfect happiness. All these things were present when Rick Huckaby and his three-piece band shook Nashville club 3rd and Lindsley to its foundations last night (Feb 5).
‘Broken Promiseland,’ the opening track of Rick’s most recent CD, 2009’s Hittin’ My Stride, was the bluesy, slightly restrained toe-tapper which kicked off the hour-and-a-half long set. Solid southern rock, with generous helpings of blues and soul, was served up with further forays into country and rock ‘n’ roll.
While already sounding great on the full-on rock tunes, the sound came together just that fraction better when there was a little less of a ruckus. This was especially the case on fan favorites ‘Hittin’ My Stride’ and ‘Saving Savannah,’ the confident ‘Call Me Huck,’ and the deliciously bluesy ‘Diggin’ at My Scars.’
A three-song acoustic interlude which brought the focus totally on Rick’s voice included a great version of Chris Nathan‘s ‘Sugar Cane’ and Rick’s own song ‘Muddy Water’ which was a 2008 hit for Trace Adkins. The heartbreakingly soulful rendition brought the place to a standstill. The natural breaks in the show were used by Rick, a natural storyteller, to connect with his audience.
Guitar player Todd Woolsey deserves a special mention. If you were to meet the man away from a stage, you would be forgiven for assuming he’d been the president of the chess club in high school…until he starts wailing on that guitar. Unassuming and without the need for any look-ma-no-hands showing off, Todd consistently used his guitar to correctly color each track of this multi-genre show.
It is a bit sad that in an era of reality TV insta-fame I even take notice of the used-to-be-standard CD plug “we’re gonna play one off the record now” but it is also heartening to see musicians really loving getting to do this old-school and working to build up a fan base by playing every chance they get. Rick and the band were playing to a bunch of which the majority already knew just how good they are. I would love to put him in front of a totally new crowd and watch them fall in love with his music. Because I know that would happen!
Liv Carter
She holds several certificates from Berklee College of Music, and a certificate in Positive Psychology from UC Berkeley.
Her main influences are coffee, cats, and Alexander Hamilton.
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