Miranda Lambert / Kip Moore / Brothers Osborne @ Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre, St. Louis, MO

Words and photos by Duane Clawson

Forget that it’s Friday the 13th. Forget the weatherman has forecast rain and storms for the night. And forget there is an impending full moon. Miranda Lambert is in town! So armed with crucifixes, garlic, and any other evil-spirit repellent that I could find, I made my way to the Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre, to witness the reining ACM Female Vocalist of the Year in action!

Tonight was not only the opening night for Lambert’s Keeper of the Flame tour but it was also opening night for Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre and Live Nation’s summer concert series. Let’s just say it was a great combination and it went off with no noticeable glitches. On with the show!

Opening the night’s jamboree were Maryland’s own, Brothers Osborne. The brothers are actually brothers, T.J. and John Osborne, and have topped out on the country music charts at number three with their EMI release, Pawn Shop. Mixing traditional and 90’s country music styles, the brothers sound unique but slightly familiar. T.J.’s baritone voice distinguishes the brothers from the long list of current bro country imitators. Thanks to Lambert’s team for adding these guys to the list, I’m sure you’ll be hearing much more from them in the future!

Kip Moore is slowly finding his place in country music through a sound that is more rock than country but appealing to all that listen. Moore covered songs that were past hits for him, such as, “Beer Money” and “Something ‘Bout a Truck". Tremendously energetic, Moore covers every square inch of the stage and encourages a large amount of audience interaction. One of the highlights of Moore’s set was a cover of Jimmy Eat World’s, “The Middle”. A perfect fit for the singer’s gravel-tinged voice. The song “Magic” from Moore’s 2015 album Wild Ones, closed out the singer’s 13-song set.

As if on cue, the skies darken just a little and the wind picks up, while images of some of the more powerful women in history flash across the screens at the Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre. As the images fade, Lambert makes her way to the stage opening with “Fastest Girl in Town”, further cementing the idea that this was going to be a night for the ladies. For the first couple of songs, on this opening night of her tour, Lambert seemed a bit apprehensive but soon found her stride on the third song in, “Kerosene”. Miranda became even more comfortable during the set, with 70’s classic covers of Foghat’s “Slow Ride” and Little Feat’s “Willin'”. Like flipping a switch, Lambert can tone it down and have the audience singing and swaying as she did throughout the song, “All Kinds of Kinds”. “You okay back there?”, Lambert asks of the folks seated on the lawn during a quick rain storm. She follows up the question with a reassuring, “we ain’t scared” and proceeds to blast through “Little Red Wagon” from the 2014 album, Platinum. Lambert and company close out the main set with “Gun Powder and Lead”. Before Lambert leaves the stage, the audience is already screaming for more. A beaming Lambert returns to the stage and tells St. Louis she was a little nervous about tonight but “thanks for calming me down”. She continues to say, “I thought I was supposed to come out here and like kick some ass but I’d rather leave you all with something country, if that’s ok?” The deafening applause convinces Lambert that her choice was a good one, as she finishes her time onstage with a mesmerizing, acoustic version of “Dear Diamond”. Thanks to Miranda’s management for allowing MTC MAG to be a part of this powerful, opening night! And, as always, thanks to Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre and Live Nation for your hospitality! Photos of the show are below:

Brothers Osborne