I have two confessions to make: 1) I have never been to a country music concert in New York and 2) I had to be reminded that Darius Rucker is Hootie, as in, Hootie and the Blowfish.
Rucker, the self described “aging pop star,” has shifted his focus during the last 10 years from pop music to country songs, and his label from New York to Nashville. The result of those transitions is that Rucker is now an established country staple with a slew of devoted fans who know every single word to every single song.
And I am not one of them.
So, naturally, my head fills with questions as I head to the Apollo on Thursday October 29th to see Darius Rucker play here in New York.
Am I doing this right?
Can I wear a leather jacket to this show?
Where do you even buy cowboy boots in New York?
Will people notice if I’m not singing along?
Will Rucker sing any Hootie songs?
Is there a curfew at the Apollo?
Will Rucker find out that I don’t know the lyrics?
Does this event remind people of “The City Mouse and The Country Mouse?”
And, what does it mean to be a country star at the Apollo?
Let’s address the elephant in the room first: Country music is not the usual genre at the Apollo and the audience it attracts is not the typical audience at the Apollo. It’s likely that during Rucker’s set, more slide guitar reverberated off the walls at the Apollo than ever before. And as Rucker noted, we may have “set the record for the number of white people in the Apollo.” But playing the Apollo was a dream of Rucker’s, and, who are we to deny that opportunity.
One of Rucker’s first songs had lyrics that were sung directly to me: When was the last time you did something for the first time?
Well, this night, apparently. And here’s what I learned by going to both my first country show (in New York) and my first show at the Apollo:
- Almost all songs sound better with slide guitar.
- Want to elevate your songs? Add a few more instruments, specifically, the slide guitar. Rucker’s band, The Carolina Grey Boys, are insanely talented and their contributions did not go unnoticed.
- Rucker’s got moves!
- And he’s not afraid to show them off!
- Country music has relatable lyrics.
- If you have consumed sweet tea, grew up in the south, rode in a truck, or have a casual style, Rucker’s probably written a few lyrics about it.
- Darius’s new album came out 90 minutes after the end of the show.
- Rucker’s new effort, “When Was The Last Time,” came out at midnight from Friday October 20th, about 90 minutes after his show concluded at the Apollo.
- End your main set with your best song and start your encore with your expected song.
- About four songs in, Hootie and his crew (I’m sorry: Darius and his crew) launched into a country inspired version of “I Only Wanna Be With You.” In one word, it was amazing. How do you follow that up? I don’t think you can, but Rucker had a whole set to finish after that energy high. During the encore, as fans clamored to hear Wagon Wheel, a song Rucker released in 2013, Rucker started with a country ballad. The energy in the room, at an understandable high for the encore, dropped quickly, and so did people, right back into their seats.
- Some covers are great. Too many covers feels like karaoke.
- Rucker surprised the crowd with a number of covers. One of them was a country and a karaoke staple: Friends in Low Places. The immediate positive response was quickly followed by the realization that somewhere, 100 blocks from here, someone was singing this song in a karaoke bar. The standout cover? An unexpected rendition of “No Diggity.” Record that immediately.
- Assuming everyone in the crowd knows a song might backfire.
- Rucker preceded a song with the following claim: “If you went to college in the South, you know this song!” The result? No one knew the tune.
- Rucker has found a new recording home and it loves him back.
- During the show, Rucker shared his love of his label, Universal Music Group Nashville. It’s the first time I’d ever heard a musician talk about his label while on stage at a show.
- Everyone needs to know who Robert Randolph is.
- His name needs to be as synonymous with any famous guitar god and goddess you know. Randolph, a pedal steel guitarist, is downright astonishing and he was dressed in a bow tie to boot. He stole the show.
- I really want me some cowboy boots.
- I’m a city mouse gone country mouse and I wouldn’t mind some boots.
