Elizabeth Cook, Chris Shiflett (Foo Fighters) & Kendell Marvel at The Grey Eagle

Elizabeth Cook at The Grey Eagle in Asheville North Carolina

By: Michael Bragg (Photo Gallery & Review) of MJBragg Photography

ASHEVILLE, NC (March 1st, 2019) – It may have been a cold and rainy evening in the river arts district of Asheville, NC but that didn’t stop fans from showing up early for this evenings sold out show. With the crowd growing inside The Grey Eagle lobby for tonights event featuring Elizabeth Cook along with Chris Shiflett and Kendell Marvel the music hall opened and people took there seats. As 9pm neared the playlist of classic country and honky tonk tunes faded….it’s showtime.

If you‘re like me you may have never heard of Kendell Marvel but if you listen to country radio I’m sure you‘ve been singing his songs for awhile. Prior to the show I did a little research and found that Marvel has written hits songs for artists like Jake Owen (Startin’ With Me), George Strait (Twang), Gary Allan (Right Where I Need To Be) and others.

Taking the stage, Kendell picked up his well worn acoustic guitar and began to play “Untangle My Mind.” His vocals filling the room, immediately grabbing and demanding your attention. Followed up with “Heartache Off My Back,“ an upbeat, toe-tapping song Marvell filled his set with several songs from his debut “Lowdown and Lonesome“ album. Marvell took a moment to make mention of his this album stating that he released it at age 46 after years of being in Nashville writing for others. He also spoke of his new album that‘s in the works which features some songwriting collaboration with Dan Auerbach as he played a few of the currently unreleased tracks.

Mid-set Marvell spoke of a song he wrote many years back that was originally released by LeeAnn Womack in 2008. You could sense the shock factor in the room as everyone sat silent taking in a powerful performance of “Either Way,” a song many now know from Chris Stapleton. With a haunting chill and conviction of powerful vocals over a finger picked arrangement that dynamically built Kendell captivated the audience with one fan yelling, “play it again.” Playing more songs from the debut album, “Trying Not To Love You” and “Gypsy Woman” the set ended with the title track “Lowdown and Lonesome” as the crowd gave a standing ovation.

Next up was former member of punk rock band No Use For A Name and current member of the Foo Fighters….Chris Shiflet. With a twang in his voice the show kicked off with ”Sticks and Stones“ and “Blow Out The Candles.” Shiflett would go on to play a set full of songs from his “West Coast Town” album. Chris spoke about it being his first time coming to Asheville, NC stating how he liked the town and didn’t know what took so long to get here.

With other songs like “Good Night Little Rock,“ “Room 102,” and “I’m Still Drunk” the crowd stayed drawn into a performance fool of real country sounding songs with some fancy guitar picking mixed in as Shiflett joked about not having Marshall half stack on stage while vocally and comically mimicking a guitar solo.

Through out the set were some new songs mixed in from the upcoming album “Hard Lessons” to be released in June. Telling stories about some of these songs like “Fools Gold“ (a comical take on a breakup) and “Welcome To Your First Heartache“ (about sons first girlfriend) Chris had the crowd in full on laughter.

Today was also the release day for the first single off of the new album, “This Old World.” A song about the current situation this world is in that Shiflett stated he had written after our last election. Another new song called “Liars Word“ was prefaced with Chris telling the crowd they could all be members of the band tonight as he taught those in attendance the chorus for a great sing along as claps filled the room keeping beat.

Chris closed out his set with the song “West Coast Town” to a warm welcoming round of applause and standing ovation.

With a brief break the lights dimmed back down and out came a big “HEY YA’LL.” If you haven’t seen Elizabeth Cook let me tell you she‘s like a little stick of dynamite. With some decorative boots to adorn her full body blue suit covered in white stars and the added touch of fringe down the sleeves Cook lit up the room with her boisterous personality. Wasting no time opening with “These Days“ Cook quickly showcased her vocals and the ability to draw you in with smooth, soaring notes. Immediately changing pace with “Sometimes It Takes Balls To Be A Woman“ Elizabeth showed off her edgy, yet quirky sense of humor.

Filling the night with stories using some twisted but hilarious analogies about growing up in florida with two parents in a band, dad getting busted for moonshine, being the black sheep in the family, to how rumors spread Cook played an array of new songs she has written on those subjects. Some of those songs being “Big Georgia Woman,“ ”Stanley By-God Terry,” and “Half Hanged Mary.”

Elizabeth also played through some songs: “Heroin Addict Sister,” “Yes To Booty” and a tune about a car that creeps her out called “El Camino” from her popular “Welder” album. A record that was recorded by famed producer Don Was and included guest appearances by other notable artists such as Dwight Yoakam, Rodney Crowell and Bette Midler.

A favorite part of mine for the night was the moment Cook told the comical yet sentimental story of Christmas gifts from her parents as a child. She told of how she would always try to make a list of things she thought would be in the budget from Wal-Mart but her parents always seemed to buy her some kind of jewelry from the store each year. Speaking of their passing Cook said she went back to the store herself and purchased a necklace that allows her to keep ashes from them around her neck….something that hits home with me as I’ve done the same with a necklace for my Dad. This story is expressed in her song she played titled “I Wear Your Bones Around My Neck.”

Elizabeth finished her set with a new song, “Mary, The Submissive Years” which she describes as an answer song to the John Prine tune “Jesus, The Missing Years.” With the third standing ovation of the night All three entertainers returned to the stage for an encore performance of Merle Haggard’s “Today I Started Loving You Again”

The trio moves on to Maryville, TN tomorrow before closing out the tour on Sunday in Nashville.

Do not altar photos

Copyright – Michael Bragg/MJBragg Photography

Elizabeth Cook

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