Americana West Music Festival 2024, Day 2 Concert Review

Last night was the second, and final, night of the Americana West Music Festival, held at the Hotel Café. As on the first night, I started my evening in the main room. I also had parked my car in the exact same spot on the street and ordered the same beer, because I was ready for the night to be just as good as the previous night, and was doing my part to help it along. Or maybe it’s just because Guinness was the only really good beer available at the venue. That might have been it. Anyway, the lineup was excellent, and the evening needed no help from me. It was going to be spectacular no matter what I did or didn’t do, and no matter which stage I chose to visit at any particular time.

Ben Reddell

Ben Reddell was scheduled to go on at 7 p.m., and right at 7 he was on the stage, and at 7:03 was ready to go. He played acoustic guitar, and was joined by Brian Whelan on electric guitar. He opened his set with “Tumbleweed,” a song from his 2021 EP ¡LA Baby! and a sweet choice to begin the show. He then picked up the pace with “If You Love Her And You Need Her,” a fun country number that was also included on that EP, where it had something of a Cajun flavor. This delightful tune had a cha-cha-cha ending. Ben then told the crowd that it was good to be back in Hollywood, that he’s been spending his time on the east side. It’s interesting to me how folks can end up sticking to one area or neighborhood of a city, but I suppose we all do that to varying degrees. He did a short set, only four songs, but all four were excellent, and the final song he played was beautiful. It was a great start to the night. And while I would have liked to hear more from Ben Reddell, his playing a short set meant that I was able to catch a good chunk of Grey DeLisle’s set on the second stage. She was accompanied by Eddie Clendening, of the Blue Ribbon Boys, on guitar. Her song “I Missed You,” had folks (including me) laughing out loud. She said she wrote that song instead of running her husband over with the car. Probably a good choice. Her set also included “Don’t Let Go Of My Hand,” a sweet song that had me nearly in tears. It was written about her grandmother, who had raised her. She and Eddie ended the set with a good cover of “Jackson.” Grey DeLisle’s set ended at 7:40 p.m.

Zoe Sky Jordan

Zoe Sky Jordan was up next on the second stage, where I was going to spend most of the evening. She opened her set with “Just Fine,” playing solo electric guitar to a recorded beat. She then dispensed with the beat for her second song, which had a more intimate feel. Liam Russell joined her acoustic guitar, and the two delivered a nice rendition of “If I Were A Carpenter.” Michaela Slinger then joined her on backing vocals for “Selfish,” the title track to her album. Michaela also sang on “Never Baby.” Zoe Sky Jordan’s set ended at 8:12 p.m. She was followed by The Morning Yells, who immediately impressed me with their vocal work. The second song of their set, “Hummingbird,” was particularly pretty. These guys didn’t bother with stage banter, and instead were all about the music. Which was fine, particularly as the music was so good. Probably my favorite song of their set was “Coma State,” its first surprising me, “I was hoping to lose you.” They wrapped up their set with “Our Garden,” which featured beautiful harmonies. “No nothing grows here anymore/At least we tried.” Their set ended at 8:43 p.m. Breezers followed, with only five of the six musicians being able to fit on the small stage. From their first song, their music had a wonderful, soothing and friendly vibe. The second number was more energetic, and with a cheerful sound. My favorite song of the set was “Cemetery,” but the whole set was enjoyable and featured some catchy rhythms. They finished at 9:18 p.m.

Miranda Lee Richards

Miranda Lee Richards is someone I had seen in concert before, and whom I was excited to see again. Clearly others were too, for she drew an enthusiastic crowd to that second room. She opened at 9:29 p.m. with “Blood On My Hands,” which had a great vibe.  “This next one is called ‘Tried To Run Away,’ but don’t try to run away now,” she joked. That song featured some nice work on electric guitar. Elements of that song, including the vocal rhythm at times, reminded me a bit of CSNY’s “Ohio,” and the song featured a passionate vocal performance. She followed that with “Worth,” a song she apparently has never released officially on an album. It’s such a good song, it’s a wonder why it hasn’t been included on a CD. “Desert Queen” featured some nice harmonies. Her set ended at 9:55 p.m. She was followed by Rah Rah Rabbit, with Gilbert Louie Ray on bass. This group was one of my favorites of the night. They opened with “Doin’ Time,” a totally delightful number. There was a great sense of joy to the music, and in the delivery. Vocalist Laura Anne Lacy then ripped into the second song, a wild and fun number. The set also included “When You Get It,” “Game You’re Playing” and “Checkered And Blue.” Before their final number, “Wolves,” Laura Anne Lacy joked, “We’ve been Rah Rah Rabbit, and we still are.” This is a band I’m going to keep an eye out for. The set concluded at 10:29 p.m.

Lee Gallagher

I headed back to the main room, and caught the last portion of Emily Rose And The Rounders’ set. Fun music featuring some good work on pedal steel. She closed her set with “Wild Fire.” And then Lee Gallagher And The Hallelujah took the stage. Of the night’s entire lineup, which was outstanding from beginning to end, this was the group I was most excited about. Lee Gallagher opened with “Planes,” the lead track from The Falcon Ate The Flower. His voice is really something; it has electricity when he belts out a line. And the band was jamming almost immediately. It was a fantastic start.  He followed that with “Half Lit (The Future’s Ours).” And it got me wondering, How is this guy not already a rock star playing at large arenas? He certainly has that power, and also volume. It was loud in that room. At the end of that song, he delivered some great stuff on harmonica. Justin Smith, who played with Miranda Lee Richards, was on drums for Lee Gallagher’s set too. The whole band delivered some energetic music, and the set was over all too soon.

Wyman And The Wolves

I then finished off the night in the second stage room. I caught the very end of Deb Morrison’s set. She finished up with a song titled “Blackbird,” a very cool tune. The band then led the crowd in wishing happy birthday to a band member’s girlfriend, who was in the audience. While Wyman And The Wolves were setting up, I heard some folks talking about how they’d been enjoying Lee Gallagher’s set, but that it had been just too loud. I get it, but I hope that didn’t turn away too many people. I saw Wyman And The Wolves at a special concert last summer celebrating Mick Jagger’s 80th birthday. At that show, they did a really good rendition of “Paint It Black.” They opened their set last night at 12:15 a.m. with “Throwin’ Shade,” which featured some nice stuff on guitar. Their song about rolling blackouts contained elements of funk and disco, and was fun. They wrapped up the set, and the festival, with “Deep Dark Blue.” “We’re going to end with a weird one, ‘cause that’s what we do,” they announced before starting the song. A nice way to close out the show, send us back out into the Hollywood night with a little weirdness.

Here are a few photos from the night:

Grey DeLisle

The Morning Yells

Breezers

 

Rah Rah Rabbit

Emily Rose

Deb Morrison