Jess’s Note: Our friends Karl and Sarge of The Dive Poets were kind enough to go “on assignment” for IWTAS last evening at Old Rock House. They were treated to a high-energy, sold-out show at the hands of Ryan Bingham and the Dead Horses. What follows are Sarge’s words and Karl’s photos (see the entire Flickr set here):

Last night, the Old Rock House was transformed into the Old Road House as West Texas-troubadour Ryan Bingham rode into town accompanied by his backing band, the Dead Horses.  Bingham’s recent visits to St. Louis (July 2009) were nothing more than a quaint gathering at Blueberry Hill’s Duck Room and then a brief appearance at Farm Aid (October 2009), but last night’s throng of fans proved that Ryan Bingham’s newly found Oscar-winning stardom propelled him into a higher echelon of alternative country greatness – a greatness once easily recognized by the Lost Highway label and now through a quickly growing fan base that helped support a string of packed and sold out shows.

The raucous, plaid-wearin’ crowd was receptive to the Rustlanders, Bingham and the Dead Horses opening act. The Rustlanders have successfully carved a niche for themselves in the genre with catchy hooks and solid harmonies. The crowd’s reaction to the Rustlanders made it apparent even early in the evening that genuine country music is alive and well here in St. Louis and surrounding areas (some attendees came from as far as Bonne Terre and Wayne County, Missouri).

Following the Rustlanders eight-song set, Ryan Bingham took the stage with his typical shy-guy-staring-at-my-shoes demeanor. However, that façade quickly faded when Ryan’s calloused tenor voice ripped through the room over his crunchy Les Paul. For such a young man, his voice seems to have a long history of its own: half-singing, half-speaking as if it was the commissioned voice of all  broken down, dirty, and lost souls of the American West. Furthermore, his lyrics are simple narratives that conjure images of suffering, loneliness, confusion, and heartache – all of which are eloquently executed for a guy just under thirty years old.

Ryan began the evening with some of the more upbeat staples of his repertoire like “Dylan’s Hard Rain” that left the hairs on your arm standing on end. It made me think that Bingham is hard following on the heels of Dylan himself. Unfortunately (or fortunately), it was difficult to discern his voice from the fans’ voices mingling with his while they sang along; things went along this way for a handful of songs until Ryan slackened the pace with the more stripped down acoustic ballad “Junky Star,” which is the title track off his third LP. If ever one questioned Ryan’s ability as a songwriter, he might not look any farther than this poetic and sweet tune. The lightly strummed chords, mixed with a wilting harmonica and lyrics that speak the unspeakable in a confessional narrative, highlight the raw, strung-out beauty of Ryan’s work.

Other highlights of the evening included songs “Hallelujah” and “Southside of Heaven” which were both received with seemingly endless shouts from the crowd. Of particular interest to me was how calm and collected Ryan remained throughout – not only as an artist or even an Oscar winner, but as a human being. He never appeared proud or pompous, but rather quiet and reflective, entranced in his music. On stage, he barely broke a sweat or wrinkled his shirt. This was in great contrast to the Dead Horses; they tore off outer layers of clothing drenched and were head-to-toe in sweat, aided by Coronas and red wine. In interviews, Bingham has been relatively unassuming about songwriting and guitar playing, but it’s evident his skills are beyond adequate. To put things plainly, he’s a former rodeo circuit rider who has molded himself into damn good musician.

What draws me in most about Ryan Bingham and the alt. country empire he has built for himself is his ability to tell a story, and to do so genuinely. His oral voice is as distinct as his written voice, and that clearly delineates him as a master of this genre which, at times, seems over-saturated. In many ways, he has already surpassed Ryan Adams, his great Lost Highway predecessor, who flirted with the same stardom for over a decade but who has since withdrawn from center stage. Perhaps Adams is simply making room for the new generation of songwriter; one that clearly takes country music back to its roots – one that simply makes us happy to be fans.

Extras from other pals:

— Roy Kasten took notes for KDHX, and at one point used the phrase “lobotomized Marah”…
— RFT’s Tom Finkel reviewed and setlisted the show, too.
— Kate McDaniel of KDHX shot the concert. Her work can be found on the KDHX blog or on her Flickr.