The Cadillac Three / Zack Logan @ Delmar Hall, St. Louis, MO

Words and photos by Duane Clawson
When the audience member next to you looks over and says, “do you party?”, before the opening act, you know it’s gonna be one of those nights!

As show opener, Zack Logan put it, “I’m just buckling you all in, The Cadillac Three is gonna drive you over the cliff.” This statement would ring true throughout Logan’s limited, Americana-tinged set. Nod’s to fellow songwriters, John Prine and Robert Earl Keen can be found in Logan’s own songs. Logan has an album due out this summer titled, Raised by Wolves. The single from the album, “Analee”, was a shining star in this troubadour’s repertoire. Not to be overlooked, Logan adeptly covers Hayes Carll’s “Drunken Poets Dream” and Van Morrison’s “Into the Mystic”. If you’re into singer’s and songwriters, Zack Logan should be on your list of artists to give a listen!

I’m not gonna lie, the thing that drew me in with The Cadillac Three, are the songs I’ve heard on the radio. The thing I was about to find out was, their live show rivals some of the best rock concerts I’ve been to!

On a night when the competition for your entertainment dollar was stiff, with The Mavericks playing right next door, The Cadillac Three managed to darn near fill Delmar Hall! Not only did the Three sound like rock stars, they looked the part as well. Singer-guitarist Jaren Johnston, drummer Neil Mason and lap-steel player Kelby Ray take the stage with a swagger that was definitely rock starish. And the first power chord from Johnston’s guitar reaffirms this ain’t your average country band!

Not to be discounted in any way, Mason pounds his drum kit with sledge hammer force. And Ray takes his lap steel playing level to new heights, soloing in a style that’s comparable to Robert Randolph! For as hard as the band rocked they looked just a bit tired but this in no way affected their sound, that was pure, country-fried gold. Johnston gave Delmar Hall a glimpse into the band’s heavy touring schedule, telling those in attendance, that the band was slated to play a 10:30am gig the next day at CMA Fest. Big cheers were in store when Johnston asked this rowdy crowd if they wanted to hop on the bus and come with them. A big round of boos followed Johnston stating the Three does not get much airplay on country radio.  What a shame, they don’t know what they’re missing!

In true rockstar fashion, jamming right up until 11:00pm, the band paid little mind to the five-hour journey to Nashville that lie ahead of them. In fact, the volume continued to rise, as The Cadillac Three raised a ruckus, with a fantastic live version of “White Lightning”!  Closing out the night Johnston and company played an extended version of “The South”, with a little jam at the end dedicated to Cardinal’s baseball hero, Ozzie Smith. A standing ovation sent the band to their bus and on to their next adventure. My suspicions of The Cadillac Three not being your normal country rockers were confirmed, as they filed offstage to Rage Against the Machine’s, “The Ghost of Tom Joad”! Thanks to The Cadillac Three for allowing MTC MAG to be in the house, and Delmar Hall for their hospitality.

Photos of the show are below:

Zack Logan
The Cadillac Three
Contributed by Duane Clawson
The Cadillac Three / Zack Logan @ Delmar Hall, St. Louis, MO The Cadillac Three / Zack Logan @ Delmar Hall, St. Louis, MO Reviewed by Scott Rowe, Editor on June 13, 2018 Rating: 5
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