Opening the evening was Texas musician, Vincent Neil Emerson, who just recently signed on to the Red 11 Music roster. Red 11 boasts an impressive array of artists which includes Shooter Jennings, Ray Wylie Hubbard and the Turnpike Troubadours. This was my first time to hear Emerson live and afterwards it was clear to me why he was added to Red 11’s immensely talented group of artists. His East-Texas drawl is endearing and easy on the ears, both in his stage banter and in his songs. Emerson’s songwriting is reminiscent of those from earlier years of country music, which makes sense when he cites his music influences to be the likes of Townes Van Zandt and John Prine. Emerson started his set off with “Fried Chicken and Evil Women” a rollicking song with a honky-tonk vibe. “Letters on a Marquee”, “Willie Nelson’s Wall”, “ 7 Come 11″ and cover of “Randall Collins” were also part of the set. Very few of the songs in the set were from Emerson’s 2016 debut album, East Texas Blues. Many songs were new material that Emerson mentioned would be on his upcoming album, set to release within the next year. Ending the set with a Jerry Jeff Walker cover, “ Gettin’ By”, Emerson’s tattooed fingers danced over the guitar strings and earned him loud cheers from the packed house.

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