Live Review: Trick Pony in Clio, Mich.
CLIO, Mich.--During its Thursday (8/15) performance at Michigan’s Clio Area Amphitheatre, the country trio Trick Pony proved why it was worthy of the Academy of Country Music’s award for top new vocal group.
CLIO, Mich.--During its Thursday (8/15) performance at Michigan’s Clio Area Amphitheatre, the country trio Trick Pony proved why it was worthy of the Academy of Country Music’s award for top new vocal group.
Heidi Newfield showed strong vocal chops, tackling the vocally challenging “Pour Me” and “Party for One” without straying off key. Her rendition of Southern gospel-flavored “Every Other Memory” was, well, memorable.
The 90-minute performance was an expanded version of the set Trick Pony played on the Brooks and Dunn tour earlier this summer. Bassist Ira Dean ran on stage first to meet his trademark chrome upright bass (complete with headlights), followed by Newfield and guitarist Keith Burns. “Are you ready to get it on?” Newfield yelled, eliciting catcalls from the hefty crowd.
Dean was the showman of the group, earning standing ovations for swinging his green sparkling bass around his neck. During “Pour Me,” the concert’s opening song, he rode his bass like a horse. He and Burns crossed paths doing a Chuck Berry duck walk across the stage.
But a few of Dean’s tricks didn’t go over so well. When he encouraged the crowd to scream “Hell yeah,” there was nary a response.
Dean wore loud, black-velvet-like checkered pants, a blue-and-white striped button-down shirt with the sleeves cut off, a black tank top, John Lennon sunglasses and a black fedora. In contrast, his bandmates’ were clad conservatively: Burns’ opted for jeans and a T-shirt; Newfield’s wore low-riding brown pants and a white shirt with flowing sleeves.
Trick Pony debuted a handful of new songs, including “Love Be Still,” from its forthcoming album, due to hit stores in October. The album will be the follow-up to the group’s self-titled 2001 gold album.
“We were talking about how happy this year has been and what a great start it has been for the Trick Pony crew,” Newfield said at one point during the show. “Even though this year is almost half over, I think this year keeps on getting better and better.”
Newcomers Emerson Drive opened the show with a 45-minute set that wrapped up with the hit “I Should Be Sleeping.” With its energetic performance and the rabid response from the crowd, it’s clear their year will be getting better as well.
Next entry: Jewel begins a round of solo-acoustic dates
Previous entry: Filter, "The Amalgamut" (Reprise)