Canada’s kick stomping bluegrass band, The Dead South, shook the Franklin to its core Friday night. The sold-out show was part of their latest tour in support of their 4th studio album, Chains & Stakes released earlier this month on Six Shooter Records.
The stage resembled what you would envision as a small mining town in the old west complete with store fronts and a crumbling church at its epicenter with striking references to their latest album’s cover art. And just like the tension in the waning moments before a gunfighter’s duel, the crowd anticipation grew waiting for the show to begin.
Nate Hilts (lead vocals, guitar, mandolin), Scott Pringle (guitar, mandolin, vocals), Colton Crawford (banjo), and Danny Kenyon (cello, vocals) started the show with “Blood on the Mind”, “Yours to Keep”, and “The Recap”. And from start to finish the boys from Saskatchewan put on a masterful show. The music was particularly enhanced by the visual effects of the lighting and the magnificent stage setup.
What can be lost in the spectacle of their live performances, right down to the suspenders, bolos, flat-brimmed hats, and cowboy boots, is the fact that they are tremendously talented. It is unmistakable that their musical influences and inspirations are vast. From traditional folk, bluegrass, and outlaw country to the edgier sounds of punk and metal, they have injected these essences into their eclectic sound.
As the self-proclaimed “evil twins of Mumford and Sons” the grittiness they bring to their music brings a fresh perspective to the perceptions of vintage acoustic ensembles. They blend soulful cello and mandolin melodies with kick stomping drums, raspy vocals, aggressive guitar playing, and banjo solos in a way that shouts that this is not your parent’s farmers market bluegrass band.
Just before the encore break the band played fan favorites “In Hell I’ll be in Good Company” and “Honey You”, and true to form the live versions were just as tight and powerful as the recorded session. The band made its way back to the stage for an encore of “Broken Cowboy” from the Sugar and Joy album and “Banjo Odessey” from the Good Company album. As the fans slowly made their way out of the Franklin Music Hall there was a profound sense of satisfaction on the faces of the crowd The night will definitely go down as one of the best performances of the tour.
Set List:
Blood on the Mind
Yours to Keep
The Recap
Traveling Man
Boots
Black Lung
A Little Devil
Time For Crawlin’
Diamond Ring
20 Mile Jump
Clemency
Completely, Sweetly
Tiny Wooden Box
That Bastard Son
In Hell I’ll be in Good Company
Honey You
Encore:
Broken Cowboy
Banjo Odessey
Next Stops on The Dead South’s Tour
FEB 17 SAT The NorVa, Norfolk, VA
FEB 18 SUN The Fillmore, Charlotte, NC
FEB 19 MON The Eastern, Atlanta, GA
FEB 21 WED Austin City Limits Live at The Moody Theater, Austin, TX
FEB 22 THU The Factory in Deep Ellum, Dallas, TX
Review and Photography by: Craig Eidell