Red Wanting Blue makes me want more
It was this kind of happiness that I found at the Kent State Tuscarawas Performing Arts Center (PAC), Thursday, Sept. 7, as the PAC kicked off its 2012 fall season with a good old-fashioned rock concert.
But before you think that it was all banging on the drums, screeching guitars and shouting vocalists, you would be wrong. I had never seen Red Wanting Blue (RWB) but after listening to a few songs on YouTube, I knew I should see them live.
The band hails from Columbus and has not received the golden ticket like the American Idol or The Voice rockers do. These five guys have been paying the music dues the hard way—one gig at a time. They have toured the U.S. for over a decade and typically play smaller venues, like clubs, bars and county fairs. However, they have been getting some major national attention. In July, they were the musical guests on the Late Show with David Letterman. Not too shabby!
With outdoor color lights strung behind the band on the PAC stage, the Great Seal of the State of Ohio on the bass drum, bohemian style rugs on the floor and "soap box" in front of the leader singer's mic, RWB took the stage.
"I've always dreamed of playing in a theater like this," Scott Terry told the audience at the PAC. Terry is the lead vocalist, songwriter and RWB front man. "But you guys are so quiet. We're not used to that," he quipped.
That was all it took to get the RWB faithful out of their theater seats and standing along the stage for the remainder of the show. It wasn't a mosh pit just hardcore fans who traveled many miles to hear their band and new fans, like me.
While the RWB website refers to the band as "America's local band," I was reminded of Nickelback's Chad Kroeger's voice and R.E.M.'s Michael Stipe (with more hair—on his head and face) performing. Ok, that may be a stretch but RWB has the raspy rock sound that cuts right to my soul, while Scott Terry gyrates around the stage holding his hat to his chest while singing. For those of you who attended the show, you can attest that RWB doesn't just sing, they feel the lyrics, which resonates straight to my heart.
Want to hear for yourself? Check this video out. It's one of my favorite RWB songs, "Audition."
Published: September 7, 2012
