[ATTENDED: November 8, 2018] Wynchester
Initially we thought that we might not be able to go to this show–S.’s schedule seemed like it would conflict most unjustly. Then we thought that we might miss Wynchester but still manage to see Tenacious D. But it all worked out and we got a decent location not too far from the very packed stage.
I had never heard of Wynchester, and I was surprised to see them described as a country band (very much unlike Tenacious D). But it all made sense when I read that Wynchester was fronted by Kyle Gass Band vocalist Mike Bray and Tenacious D electric guitarist John Konesky. Knowing that it was Konesky playing lead explains some of the really impressive soloing and riffage on these songs.
Wynchester came out and played some fun alt-country/country rock songs. The songs were funny but not comedy songs. “The Gospel of Good Times” was a good, fun opener about, well, spreading the gospel of good times.
“Two Man Job” sounds like if Tenacious D made a country song. I felt like the song was dirty and full of double entendre, but it may not have been. I can’t find the lyrics online, but it’s funny to hear “unless we’re hanging up some drywall or cruising in the carpool lane” regardless of what the message is.
“Ridge Runner” had some really fast riffage, but it was so country that the audience was getting a little restless.
So it was probably wise that they switched gears and played a song that they wanted to make better for Lionel Ritchie–it was a really fun cover of “Easy.” That won the crowd over. But what won us over even more was their rocking cover (dedicated to the D of course) of Dio’s “Rainbow in the Dark.” I had never heard it sound like that before. It was pretty fantastic.
They ended their set with some more mirth and a rocking song called High Desert Rambler.
Bray (right) has a satisfying voice–powerful and perfectly suited to this kind of music. And they both have a good sense of humor.
Any more would have been too much, but hey were a really fun opening act.
- The Gospel of Good Times
- Two Man Job
- Ridge Runner
- Easy
- Rainbow in the Dark
- High Desert Rambler
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