Holy cow, what was that? This is the question I asked myself when the show was over. I don't normally start a review of a show off with a question but in this case, and given the name of the act, I couldn't resist. Bomshel is a fitting name. After these two girls and their incredibly tight band are finished, it does feel like surviving some kind of explosion. What kind of explosion you ask? These girls blasted talent all over the floor of the Dusty Armadillo on Friday night and left the crowd wondering where Bomshel had been all their concert going life. I had seen them perform in Nashville two years ago during CRS. A four song set at one of the lunches I attended left me wanting to see lots more. When the announcement came that they were appearing at my favorite local dance hall, The Dusty Armadillo, I jumped at the chance to see them again.
Buffy Lawson with her power house vocals, and Kristy O. the red hot fiddle player make up Bomshel. These two ladies blew onto the scene at the Dusty, having had nothing more than a three song sampler released in November by Curb Records. Buffy did tell us their new CD was due to be released this summer sometime. They had actually just finished recording and had just handed it over to the record label. The house was packed and at sharply 10:30 PM, Bomshel took the stage.
Beginning their set with "Oh Baby," an up-tempo, in your face, this is how your gonna love me song, the girls got the attention of the crowd right off the bat. Next up was one of my favorites, but,... let me rest my fingers a second, "It Was An Absolutely, Finger Lickin, Grits And Chicken, Country Music Love Song." With a title like that, you know the song is gonna be fast and happy and the crowd seemed to love it.
The girls were especially excited tonight. Buffy shared with us that this was their first show with their new touring bus. It was parked outback, I had noticed it myself when I pulled into the parking lot earlier. You can't miss it if you see it. Brand spanking new and it has Bomshel all over it.
As the night went on we heard one incredible, energy packed song after another. We heard, "Ain't My Day To Care," "Whiskey," "I Am Pretty," "Calling All Angels," and an incredibly haunting tear jerker ballad, "The One That Got Away." The girls also treated us to a medley of old favorites, "I Can't Help It If I'm Still In Love With You," "Honky Tonk Angels," and an old Loretta Lynn favorite, "Don't Come Home a Drinkin'." With some smokin' fiddle playing and some very tight harmonies these girls were on fire!
Just when you thought things couldn't get any better, The girls broke loose with "The Bomshel Stomp." This song is one that you just have to hear in person. Although the studio version is great, it just cant do it the justice of hearing it live. The dance floor was filled to begin with but everyone parted way for the line dancers to strut their stuff to a song that has it's own dance. Three quarters of the very packed dance floor lined up to do The Bomshel Stomp along with the Gals performing the song. I couldn't believe my eyes when so many participated. What a great ending this song would have been but Bomshel just laid the trip wire for us. After blowing us away with that song, the girls went into a version of "The Devil Went Down To Georgia" that would have made Charlie Daniels proud. At one point Kristy had hopped on the shoulders of a man and without missing a note, took her and her fiddle all through the crowd. What an encore!
I can't really express to you in words how great these gals are live. All during their entire set, they so much, include the audience. They were constantly making direct eye contact with anyone they could smile at. Kristy gave a very beautiful diamond bracelet to a lady standing at the stage and then later took a camera from a fan and took a picture for her.
Normally I don't take anyone with me to the shows I review but this time I had taken a group of co-workers. Chattie, Sarah, (our country music concert virgin,) Tiffany, Chris, and Melissa had all been hankerin' for a girls night out so I invited them to share the night with me knowing what a great act they were gonna see. I was a little nervous cause most of them really aren't into much country, but by the end of the night, I think they all had just as much fun as I did. "These Bomshel girls are the bomb," according to Sarah and Chattie was especially happy afterwards. Bomshel signed autographs and took pictures with the fans and Chattie had mentioned how pretty Buffy's earrings were. Buffy told her she had noticed her dancing and singing along all night and she wanted Chattie to have one. Buffy actually took one of her earrings off and handed it to Chattie. What an incredible keepsake from the show.
When the show was over, Chattie and I asked a few people how they liked the show. Chris and Amanda, a Deerfield, Ohio couple there to celebrate Amanda's 21st birthday, said they enjoyed them so much because in addition to all the incredible energy they have, unlike most female singers, when these two perform, they aren't whiney and bitchy. It's in your face country and it's all good!
Set List:
- Oh Baby
- It Was An Absolutely, Finger Lickin', Grits And Chicken, Country Music Love Song
- Be Yourself
- Ain't My Day To Care
- Whiskey
- I Am Pretty
- Calling All Angels
- Shake Your Booty?
- Power Of One
- The One That Got Away
- Medley - I Can't Help It If I'm Still In Love With You, Honky Tonk Angels, Don't Come Home A Drinkin'
- The Box
- Survivor ?
- The Bomshel Stomp
- The Devil Went Down To Georgia
