Pioneers and Comeback Kids – an Evening with The Band Perry
The cowboy hats came out to play at Wolf Trap’s Filene Center on August 7, welcoming The Band Perry to Vienna, Va. The trio, comprised of siblings Kimberley, Reid, and Neil, made their debut in 2010 with their self-titled album which boasted several No. 1 hits, followed by 2013’s fiery and rock-driven Pioneer. Their energetic and eclectic live performance took their fans on a tour of musical genres and decades, a testament to The Band Perry’s musical evolution and innovation.
Opener Jordan Rager might be young, but seemed perfectly at home commanding the stage, performing his debut single “Southern Boy” as well as a handful of other tracks that would comfortably fit between the likes of Kip Moore and Jason Aldean.
Breaking into “Lose Yourself” by Eminem before returning back to his country sound, Rager’s classic country sound and southern drawl won the crowd over by the end of his set.
https://youtu.be/UwURLp1MIFY
From the opening, driving beats of “Better Dig Two,” The Band Perry – Kimberly Perry (lead vocals, guitar, piano), Reid Perry (bass guitar, background vocals), and Neil Perry (mandolin, drums, accordion, background vocals) – soared through their set, putting on a show that was nothing short of a musical tour de force. They performing a little bit of something for everyone – a little Justin Bieber here, a little Gnarls Barkley there and a version of Queen’s “Fat Bottom Girls” that got the entire audience on their feet.
Even their earlier singles “If I Die Young” and “You Lie” got an update to fuse with their newer sound, tight harmonies and synthesizers providing seamless transitions as they blended their old sound with new material. Their new album promises to be full of uplifting sentiments paired with fresh beats. “Sometimes just getting up in the morning is hard, who here knows what I’m talking about” Kimberley asked the crowd before breaking into the anthemic “Comeback Kid.”
“Keep walking toward the light, Virginia,” she encouraged the crowd, before performing “In It Together.”
Kimberley’s crystal clear high notes and warm, raspy low register paired with energetic dance moves kept the energy at an all-time high, while fog and lights provided snappy spectacle. Not content with the almost hour-long set list, the audience beat on the seats of the Filene Center to bring the Perry siblings back for an encore.
Thankfully, the band returned quickly and had the audience dancing along with a performance of “Live Forever,” Team USA’s official song for the 2016 Summer Olympics and the gutsy, no-holds-barred “Done,” a satisfying end to a polished and purposeful concert that proved country’s relevance and redefined its sound.
The Band Perry performed on Sunday, August 7, 2016 at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts – 1635 Trap Road, in Vienna, VA. To see a list of upcoming events at Wolf Trap and to purchase tickets, go to their calendar of events.
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The Band Perry with Special Guest: Lindsay Ell at Wolf Trap by Anne Tsang.
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