When Lonesome Highway interviewed Texan Charley Crockett in 2020 at the height of the pandemic, his parting words were ‘They better watch out in country music, because I’m only getting started.’ More than delivering on that pledge, the intervening two years have found Crockett in dynamic form, recording five albums and selling out shows across America, Europe and the U.K.
The show at The Workman’s Club in Dublin was his first appearance in Ireland (‘my first time in Ireland y’all, but believe me, we’re coming back’) and next time around the promoters will need a much larger space to host Crockett and his well-oiled band, The Blue Drifters. Christening his core sound as Gulf and Western, Crockett draws inspiration from country, gospel, blues, rockabilly and R&B, and his performance, with an absolutely cracking band, was a masterclass for those fortunate enough to have been among the attendance in the heaving and sweltering hot venue.
Donning a leather jacket and a white Stetson that remained on his head throughout the twenty-five-song set, Crockett crooned, played acoustic guitar, switched to banjo for a few songs, and also put his instruments to one side for a hip-swinging delivery of Jerry Reed’s I Feel For You. Backed by lead guitar, upright bass, pedal steel, drums, and keyboards (keys player Kullen Fox also played trumpet and accordion), Crockett raced through a set that featured six selections from his most recent release THE MAN FROM WACO, as well as dipping into his extensive back catalogue. Despite his exhaustive war chest of songs, the animated audience was singing along to most, if not all, of his selections, with Music City USA, The Man From Waco, Odessa and Welcome To Hard Times being particularly well received.
Crockett paid tribute to his close friend and mentor James Hand, who passed away in 2020, by including three of Hand’s compositions, Baby Don’t Tell Me That, Midnight Run and Lesson In Depression. He also recalled the late Tom T. Hall with a reworking of Lonely In Person and executed a full-on honky tonk version of Tanya Tucker’s Jamestown Ferry. Announcing the closing song as his favourite, he finished off the set with the blistering rockabilly Goin’ Back To Texas. He returned to encore with the funky In The Night, capping off what was a dazzling performance by an artist at the top of his game, surrounded by a road hardened collection of players that didn’t put a foot wrong.
The hardest working artist in country music, Crockett has taken complete control of his own destiny since his debut album in 2015, recording and touring on his own terms and steadily increasing his exposure far beyond the cult following of his early career. From busking, hopping freight trains, playing on street corners, and recovering from open heart surgery in 2019, he has single-handily succeeded in establishing himself as one of, if not the most vital artist of his time in keeping authentic country music alive and kicking. By way of continuity, he can also take credit for introducing the genre, and many of the artists that inspired him, to a younger generation of listeners.
A mention is also merited for the support act, Theo Lawrence. The ideal opening act for what was to follow, the French country singer songwriter more than held the crowd’s attention with a slick set of songs that brought to mind a young Marty Robins.
As a side note and from our perspective at Lonesome Highway, it has been heartening in recent months to witness younger audiences coming out to roots and country gigs in Ireland. Both Charley Crockett and Sierra Ferrell have sold out recently, an indication that quality acts like these two and many more are getting through to a wider and younger audience. I’ve no doubt both of them will be returning to our shores given the reception they received and from word of mouth, many like-minded acts will follow.
Review and photographs by Declan Culliton