Old Dominion

Catch this band on their way up, they are about to catch fire! Seeing Old Dominion on the small stage, just by themselves at the MN State Fair was a huge treat! The Leinie bandstand was packed for both shows. This was our 3rd Old Dominion show in MN this year, so it was nice to have this personal glimpse of the band. A new album by the band is pending, and so looking forward to their new music, which they played several during their concerts at the State Fair. Also they have written for so many other artists and they covered their own songs, which is fun to see. I am still waiting to hear them cover the song they wrote with Sam Hunt "Make You Miss Me". Old Dominion writes their own lyrics and music, and they are a full band with such great depth of talent, between Matthew, Trevor and Brad who are the writers, singers and guitarists, Brad leading the guitar talent, and Trevor also on the keyboard. Matthew, the lead has such a rich voice with a full range of emotion packed into it. Whit on the drums and Geoff on bass complete the band. The humor the band shows in many of their songs comes through when on stage. Go see them!

“Carlene” is the huge up-tempo song performed by Phil Vassar from the vantage point of this huge stage this evening. He is backed by his fantastic band complete with all of the country components that make it “country and western” such as a violin played in the style of a fiddle with plenty of slides and glissandos. There is also a Hammond organ adding to this sound too, washing over the top of this music. This song “Carlene” has everyone in what feels like the biggest backyard party I’ve ever been to, dancing and singing, with lots of women on top of burly dudes shoulders shaking it. “That’s When I Love You” is the mid tempo track that everyone knows all of the words to, just singing it at the top of their lungs. He climbs on top of his grand piano where it looks as though there is dry ice coming out from under the lid. Watch out Phil!