Black Stone Cherry at The Bourbon Theatre in Lincoln, Nebraska on November 14th, 2023.
Photos and Review by The Pit Magazine Contributor, Bob DeHart Photography
Black Stone Cherry doesn’t so much take the stage as they do attack it. It’s an all-out assault on the eyes and ears once the show begins. I challenge you to find any other performer that expends as much
energy on stage as guitarist Ben Wells does. This is my third time covering them, first time in 2016 touring in support of the Kentucky album and the second time was in 2018 touring in support of the
Family Tree album. Even going back nearly 7 years ago the energy given by Ben and the rest of the band is unmatched.
These guys are made for the stage. From Chris Robinson’s southern fried vocals to John Fred Young’s drumming, these guys are a sight to behold. As a drummer, Young can hold your attention with his dynamic drum stick twirling and throwing. He is fun to watch. Throw in new bassist, Steve Jewell, who nearly matches Wells stage flying antics. These guys are musicians and entertainers, something you don’t always get with a band.
As for the music, Black Stone Cherry has amassed quite the catalog of albums over the past several years. Recently adding to with their newest release, “Screaming at the Sky”. Which is another solid release of great rock and roll songs that have a southern twist. The set list on this night was a great mix of old and new, kicking off with “Me and Mary Jane”, a song that is nearly 10 years old now. That got the crowd going from the start, followed by a new song “Out of Pocket”.
Of course they played some of the fan favorites “White Trash Millionaire”, “Blame it on the Boom Boom”, and “Blind Man”. Closing the set with the now classic from the first release “Lonely Train”. A highlight for me was when they played the Tracy Chapman hit “Give Me One Reason”. They released it as a single a couple of years ago. It was a great surprise to get to hear them play it live. It sounds amazing!
Black Stone Cherry will always be one of my favorites. They have great songs and know how to get a crowd up and moving. I had to wait 5 years in-between shows that I got to see with them. Thanks in part to COVID…I hope I don’t have to wait five years to see them again.
Photos by The Pit Magazine photographer, Bob DeHart Photography in York, Nebraska. ©2023.
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