49 Winchester has no rust on the barrel
49 Winchester
Written by: Justine Brown
Photos by: Jim Brown
49 Winchester reloads Americana in Sacramento
When the opportunity arises to see a rising star in an intimate setting, seize it. That's exactly what MFM did when 49 Winchester, the self-proclaimed "hillbilly rock n' roll" sensation, announced their gig at Sacramento's Ace of Spades. With a capacity of around 1,000, the venue is a far cry from the 20,000-strong crowds they've been commanding at places like London's O2 Arena. How this small-town Virginian band ended up in our corner of California remained a mystery, but we weren't about to question our luck. Especially because we somehow missed them last year at the Fairwell Festival. This was redemption time.
The other nice part about a small venue in a fairly small town is that sometimes you catch a glimpse of the lead singer (Isaac Gibson, easy to spot with his long, fiery beard) walking across the street before the show and have a second to tell him you’re excited to see them play and to give him a thumbs up like a total fan nerd.
Once we entered the venue, the pre-show atmosphere buzzed with anticipation. Country music enthusiasts donned their finest country duds. I always wonder, do they buy the outfit for the event, or do they go to the event so they can wear the outfit? Either way, country music crowds are known for their enthusiasm, and this crowd was getting into it even before opener Kelsey Waldon took the stage.
Waldon kicked the show off with a nostalgic rendition of "Hello, Stranger," a great old country song I had completely forgotten about but fondly remember my parents listening to as covered by Emmylou Harris.
Once 49 Winchester took the stage they ignited the crowd. Their sound, massive and raw, threatened to blow the roof off Ace of Spades. Isaac, in dark glasses and a cowboy hat, exuded the confidence of a seasoned frontman. His high kicks and energetic performance had us worried he might pull a hammy - a testament to the passion these guys bring to every show.
The really cool part about 49 Winchester is that they’ve been playing together since high school. They worked hard for a solid ten years before they started to garner some big attention in the last few years, particularly with breakthrough album “Fortune Favors the Bold.” You can tell they know each other well by the way they are so synched up on stage.
Promoting their fifth studio album, "Leaving this Holler," 49 Winchester wove new tracks with crowd favorites like "Annabell," "Damn Darlin," “Last Call” and "Russell County Line." The night ended with an encore featuring the new track "Hillbilly Happy," a boot-stomping song that left the audience nice and sweaty. Even the typically stoic guitarist Bus Shelton couldn't resist cracking a smile.
In a time when many bands seem manufactured overnight, 49 Winchester stands as a testament to persistence, raw talent and good old-fashioned hillbilly rock. Their journey from the hollers of Russell County to the stages of Sacramento proves that sometimes, the long road is the most rewarding one. If you get lucky and then happen to swing by your town—big or small—go see them!
Music Fan Meters
Smoke Meter: Yea not a lot here. Ace of Spades is certainly dark enough and the crew seemed cool but I think too many high kicking cowboys with straw hats on stopped any open flame.
Fight Meter: Again, surprised. The girls were all buffed and polished for the show...which generally leads to some tensions between the urban cowboys, but nothing really to report here. Even more confusing because Music Fan Magazine spotted at least 1/2 dozen sets of truck nuts on the hitches of the pickups in the adjacent parking lot. Glad nothing materialized.
Sing Along Meter: We had to change this to a drink along meter. VERY high. I wish we had stock in Bullet Bourbon for just one evening. Everyone behaved and the sing along was only when 49 Winchester pointed the microphone barrel at the crowd. Good times.