It’s been a while since anyone has seen live music. That all changed last weekend at Pala Casino in Pala, CA, near San Diego when Honey County, one of Rolling Stones’ top ten country acts you need to know in 2017 took the outdoor stage and played to a socially distanced, masked, but still-there-to-have-a-good-time crowd.
Pala Casino did an excellent job ensuring the audience and the band were able to enjoy a fun night of music in a safe environment. Chairs were set up on the lawn in groups of 2 and 4, all spaced at least 8-10 feet apart. Crewmembers all wore masks and patrons were required to mask up unless they were at their seats. The bar was open but limited to one person (or small group who came together) at a time at the bar. People got up and danced at their seats and there was even a small party of four or five women line dancing in the back away from the crowd.
Honey County is a country duo made up of Dani Rose on vocals and keyboard and Sofie Lynn on vocals and rhythm guitar. The band is currently based out of Los Angeles but Rose hails from Virginia and Lynn is originally from Texas. The band has played at the CMAs and performed “Country Strong” with 150 line dancers at last year’s Stagecoach in honor of the lives lost at the Route 91 Harvest Festival. Their songs have been featured on NFL commercials, HBO’s True Blood, CW’s Roswell and three episodes of Yellowstone.
They opened the show with “High On the Radio” and the set included originals “Cigarette” and “Los Angeles” among others as well as covers like “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere (Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffett) and a beautiful cover of Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams”. They also played their hits “Cigarette” and “Los Angeles.” They closed the show to a crowd pleasing rendition of Shania Twain’s “Man I Feel Like a Woman.” It was a healing for the collective unconscious.
Opening the show was Tony Suraci as The Highwayman. Suraci and his band cover songs by Americana legends Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Kris Kistofferson, and Johnny Cash. Suraci has the unique ability of being able to mimic each of these legendary performers to a tee. If you close your eyes during “The Highwayman” you can see each of these performers onstage as Suraci easily switches from one voice to another. If you ever get a chance to catch this show I highly recommend it. You will swear you are at a reunion of the original Highwaymen.
Setlist for Honey County
High on the Radio
Sale of the Summer
Hey Bartender
Cry Wolf
Dreams
Baggage Claim
5 O Clock Somewhere
Never Knew You At All
Juice
Girl Crush
Got it From My Mama
Country Strong
Love Someone
Los Angeles
Little White Church
Cigarette
Adore You
Nobody but you
WUT
House Party
Encore: Man I feel like a Woman