Photos and Review by James Pappaconstantine
The Band Perry photos HERE
Scotty McCreery photos HERE
Most people would look at me and think, that guy is a metal head, and although it’s true I do like a lot in the heavy metal genre, (especially 80’s metal) I like everything. At age 52, I’ve heard and seen it all. I grew up with The Beatles, The Stones, Elvis Presley then found Alice Cooper, Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, KISS etc… but in-between all that there was country. Back in the early 70’s country music was a mainstay in my house and local radio. Stuff like Charlie Rich, Loretta Lynn, Hank Williams Jr. and the late great George Jones. So along with the metal, rock and blues bands I cover, I love to cover good country bands. For this reason, I was excited to shoot The Band Perry.
Opening the show was American Idol winner Scotty McCreery. I must admit coming into the show I didn’t know who he was, even though he has hits on the radio, I just wasn’t familiar with his body of work. That said, I left a fan. Scotty has that deep baritone voice not unlike Johnny Cash or  Waylon Jennings. His songs had that old country feel yet they still had the hooks that get caught in your ear and keep you singing his stuff all day long. Scotty’s band was solid, made up of guitars, bass, drums, keyboards and my favorite lap steel. Highlites for me were his cover of Johnny Cash’s Folsom Prison Blues and a song called, Write My Number, a song in which young girls swarmed the stage as he signed their hands, and photos. Apparently Scotty has quite the following in the young lady department.
I was a little more familiar with The Band Perry’s catalog. Songs like, If I Die Young, Better Dig Two and Done, all from their latest release Pioneer get a lot of airplay, and for good reason. The songs are all very catchy and very well written. Sung by Kimberly Perry, and backed by her brothers Reid and Neil on guitar and bass the trio has a great future ahead of them. Kimberly is a great front woman, talking to the fans as if they were part of the family themselves, and really connecting with each and everyone of them. The band was a lot of fun to shoot (photograph) and watch as they ran around their huge set, up and down the platforms, and out on the catwalk, but they didn’t do it alone, along side of them were two guitar players, a drummer and a violinist all who contributed greatly to the live sound. Guitar players Andy Davis and Matt Reviere and Violinist Jason Fitz were even allowed to join the Perry’s out on the catwalk a few times throughout the night. An act that goes to show how down to earth the trio are. (There are many bands out there new and old, who’s ego’s are too big to allow the “gun’s for  hire” to share in the spotlight.) You could tell that these guys are considered part of the family. There is just something so genuine about the Perry’s, you can tell they were brought up right, with good morals and taught love, not hate. If there was ever a doubt in their generosity, one only has to look at their offer to pay for the funerals of a Kentucky family who lost their parents in a terrible car crash. Strangers to the band but a family in need, the Perry’s reached out their hand to help in any way they could. Listening to Kimberly talk with the crowd, it occurred to me just how honest tis band was, and without throwing a blanket over all of country music, I feel the majority of country musicians are. Country music was born here in America and it is something those in the country industry have not forgotten.
The Band Perry even took time to recognize America by raising a flag, center stage and as it took the spot light the band turned to it and sang, The Battle Hymn of the Republic/America the Beautiful before going into the title track of Pioneer. After the encore the band took time signing autographs and shaking hands with their fans. Parting words: The Band Perry are truly a class act. I would love to shoot (photograph) them again.

The Band Perry

Scotty McCreery

 The Band Perry setlist

DONE.

Night Gone Wasted

You Lie

All Your Life

I’m A Keeper

Forever Mine Nevermind

Hip to My Heart / Postcard from Paris

Star Spangled Banner (Instrumental)

Pioneer

Amazing Grace

(John Newton cover)

Timber

(Pitbull feat. Ke$ha cover)

Chainsaw

Fat Bottomed Girls

(Queen cover)

Double Heart

Don’t Let Me Be Lonely

Encore:

If I Die Young

Better Dig Two

Scotty McCreery’s setlist 

 Now

Water Town Town

Love U This Big

Papa Loved Mama

Write My Number

Trouble With Girls

Oldies Medley

Like it, Love it

Walk in the Country

Buzzin’

C U 2 Nite

Feelin’ it