Jason Boland and the Stragglers — Tannahils Tavern 1/27/23
The show openers went on stage at 8pm at Tannahill’s Tavern in the famous Stockyards of Fort Worth, TX. Braedon Barnhill and sidekick fiddle player, John Thomas, quickly gained the audience’s attention when the duo started playing. Talk about a little Lyle Lovett if there was ever one to exist. For a 20 year old, I could easily bet all that I own on the success of this young man’s country music career. A real solid performance left the crowd on edge and ready for more.
And they got it.
Jason Boland and his band of Stragglers took the stage around 9:15 to kick off the Fort Worth leg of their Deelectric Tour with Hell or Bust from their Somewhere in the Middle album that debuted in 2009. “A burnin’ bird across the sky, a statute made of rust. Banner flown red down to hell or bust. Down to hell or bust” was a quick sample of the deep-rooted lyrics that’s in most of Boland’s music and set the tone for the evening.
“Spend All Your Time” from the Dirty & Dark Mile album released in 2013 came next and was followed by “No Reason to Be Late.” The pace picked up and “Truckstop Diaries” was in motion, followed with “Predestined” from their Hard Times Are Relative album released in 2018 and the show was off and running.
The red dirt legend was seated center stage on a simple black chair and still maintained an impressive stage presence, commanding the audience’s attention with his recognizable voice and engaging performance. The band’s musicianship was on full display, with each member delivering tight and skilled playing throughout the night. It always amazes me when I see a musician sit one instrument down and pick up something completely different and play a song.
The setlist was well-curated, featuring a mix of the band’s biggest hits like “Pearl Snaps” and crowd-pleasers such as “Comal County Blue,” as well as some lesser-known gems that delighted the audience. Boland has a distinct voice that doesn’t seem real until you hear it come right out of his mouth. After listening to his music for over 20 years now, it was very rewarding to finally see him and his guys play live.
The crowd was fully invested in the show, singing along to the songs and dancing along to the music. There was a real sense of community in the air, as everyone came together to celebrate Boland’s music and to have a good time.
Overall, Jason Boland and the Stragglers put on a fantastic show that was full of energy, musicality, and entertainment. Fans of red dirt country music and live music in general would be hard-pressed to not have Jason Boland and The Stragglers on their list of concerts to see.
Find more information including tour dates here: https://thestragglers.com
Enjoy our previous coverage here: REVIEW: Jason Boland and the Stragglers “The Light Saw Me”
Set List
Hell or Bust
Spend All Your Time
No Reason Being Late
Truck Stop Diaries
Predestined
Pearl Snaps
Comal County Blue
Bulbs
Obsessed
Mexico or Crazy
Truest Colors
Dark and Dirty Mile
Somewhere Down in Texas
Gallo Del Cielo
Ponies
Blowing Through the Hills
False Accuser’s Lament
Place To Stay
Faux Reel
Telephone Romeo
Encore
When I’m Stoned
See You When I See You