Live Review: The Cadillac Three – Exit/In – Nashville, TN – January 24, 2013

11 years ago Liv Carter Comments Off on Live Review: The Cadillac Three – Exit/In – Nashville, TN – January 24, 2013
The Cadillac Black live in Nashville
The Cadillac Black on stage at Exit/In in Nashville, TN.
(Photo: Liv Carter/UCN)

If I had to book entertainment for a venue and I needed to guarantee a rocking good time, I wouldn’t even hesitate. I would book The Cadillac Black Three.

The trio of Nashville born-and-raised musicians, Jaren Johnston (vocals and guitar), Kelby Ray (steel), and Neil Mason (drums), has been touring extensively since the release of their self-titled debut album, and it shows. The organized chaos of the earlier shows has made way for a fast and furious tight set built around their unique brand of southern rock. Johnston writes songs at that happy intersection where song quality and hit quality collide. It results in extraordinarily strong lyrical content, yet wrapped in super-catchy melodies that leave their audience with the irrepressible urge to dance. Their unique guitar/lap steel/drums arrangement makes this, while undeniably southern rock, something totally new.

With the Exit/In crowd already impressed by the musicianship of Natalie Stovall, and the Texas rock with groovy guitar jams of Whiskey Myers, The Cadillac Three would have to step it up several notches if they wanted to get the crowd partying even more than they already were. And they did. Flying onto the stage with the anthem ‘I’m Southern,’ the tempo went up, as did the beer consumption!

The set had odes to life in the south with ‘The Sticks,’ ‘Tennessee Mojo,’ and the summertime fun in ‘Days of Gold,’ added a few cracks to the foundation of the building with ‘I’m Rockin’,’ and had, as far as I could see, every single person dancing to ‘Back it Up’ and ‘Turn it On.’ On ‘Whiskey-soaked Redemption,’ the only quieter moment in the show, the musicianship of Kelby Ray especially was highlighted. By the time the band stormed into their debut radio single, ‘Get Your Buzz On,’ the crowd had already taken its message well and truly on board.

To stay informed of future tour dates, please visit thecadillacblack.com.

Check out videos of the performance below. With the Exit/In being one of those venues where they can never really seem to find the light switch, you’ll have to excuse the image quality.

‘Back it Up’

 

‘Turn it On’

 

You can find more videos on our YouTube channel.

 

Liv Carter

Liv Carter

Liv is a career coach for creatives, and the people who work with them.
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.
Liv Carter

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