Article & Photos by: Michael W. Bright

Louisville, KY- Shane Smith and the Saints ambled out onto a dark stage and the red dirt began to gather. As the lights rose, the red dirt music began to roll out onto the fans crowded up against the stage, spreading slowly at first, accompanied by a mournful fiddle gently marking the opening of “Adeline.”  The opening song moves into a rumble, then the band rips into “Book of Joe.” Listening to their March 2024 album, Norther, you might argue that those two songs should have been swapped because the evolving energy works so well on that album. Regardless, the energy in the Mercury Ballroom fired hot and electric.

The heart of their music seamlessly fuses traditional, Texas-flavored country elements with a raw, energetic rock sound. Waylon and Willy are part of that history but Shane Smith and the Saints offer a more distinctive and captivating style that appeals to a wider range of listeners. On the whole the crowd didn’t seem to be a country music audience. Instead they appeared to reflect the band’s distinctive appeal.

Rich storytelling and heartfelt lyrics found their way into this night’s performance with “The Greys Between,” explores the loss of love and passion in a relationship. The setlist included included, “Hummingbird,” “All the Way,” and “Fire in the Ocean,”  from 2024’s Norther.

The powerful and popular encore was a huge payoff. “All I See Is You,” from 2015’s album Geronimo, speaks of unwavering love, and a depth of this affection so strong that it obscures everything else. The song was featured in the season 5 premiere of the TV show “Yellowstone.”  Shane Smith & the Saints performed it live during a party scene at John Dutton’s (Kevin Costner) ranch.

The tour schedule and information about the band can be found at their official website: https://www.shanesmithmusic.com/