Photos and review by: Jason Robey
CHARLOTTE, NC — As the sun was setting on a beautiful Charlotte evening, the new Ballantyne amphitheater began to fill with fans eager for the return of bluegrass revivalists Trampled By Turtles.
Indiana four-piece Houndmouth kicked off the show with an hour long set of chilled out indie rock. They set a mellow, but powerful tone with the opening tune, “Darlin’” from their 2015 album Little Neon Limelight. Their airy, ethereal style felt so in-tune with the evening breeze one not knowing any better might think the weather was a planned part of the show. The group played through a list of songs spanning their 10+ year career, also leaving time for the as yet unreleased “Heavy Eyes” and a cover of Terry Allen’s “Amarillo Highway.”
Trampled By Turtles started their show with a complete run of their five-song EP, Always Here, released two weeks ago. Vocalist/guitarist Dave Simonett simultaneously released an EP of the same five songs with his other band, Dead Man Winter for two different perspectives on the tracks. They quickly turned up the pace with a raucous take on the fan-favorite “Codeine.”
The sextet took turns in the spotlight throughout their two hours on stage, showing off their individual talents, in addition to the tight cohesiveness of the band as a whole. As bluegrass music is enjoying a renaissance with a list of artists playing to sizeable crowds across the country, Trampled By Turtles has been pleasing crowds since their inception in 2003. Driven by the thumping basslines of Tim Saxhaug, the group kept the energy high through tracks like “The Darkness and the Light” and “Annihilate.”
Their two-hour set wound down with a beautiful rendition of “Midnight On the Interstate,” before the band left the stage. They emerged for their encore with a breezy “Keep Me In Your Heart,” followed “Whiskey,” from their debut album, Songs from a Ghost Town, in celebration of the album’s 20th anniversary on this date. They ended the evening with a rowdy take on “Wait So Long,” leaving the crowd in amazement of their incredible range. Check Trampled By Turtles’ social media for upcoming tour dates to experience this band as they are meant to be – live.