by Tina Berard
On a warm fall evening in Austin, Texas, two bands with Denver ties and friendships graced the stage of the Moody Center. Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats, the headliner, and Gregory Alan Isakov, the opener. Folks came donning their western wear ready to dance and sing into the evening. They, along with their casual t-shirt and jean-wearing friends, got what they came for – a real good time!
The opener Gregory Alan Isakov took the stage to set a dreamy mood. Gregory’s voice is the most incredible instrument in the band, followed closely by the fiddle, cello, keyboard, guitar, banjo, harmonica and drums. So many quintessential sounds that rattle your soul when the right combination of notes are hit. As they are known to, they ended their set around one old fashioned mic. It was mesmerizing to see the band sway in and out like a boat on the sea as they played their parts in the final song. This would not be the last we saw of Gregory as he later joined Nathaniel for the song “Flowers” that they finished together during the pandemic.
The warmed up crowd was eager to welcome Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats to the stage. They came out swinging with “Look it Here,” smiling, dancing, and jamming to the beat. Nathaniel’s presence was glowing and vibrant! Beyond his strong and classic sound, his commitment to putting on a good show was felt throughout the night. During his second song, “You Worry Me,” he conveys this message. His lyrics, “I’m gonna leave it all out there,” tell us just that. By his third song, “I’m on your side,” we were thrilled to get a glimpse of his fancy footwork and dance moves. From this point onward the dance party never really ended.
The Night Sweats, Joseph Pope III (bass), Patrick Meese (drums), Luke Mossman (guitar), Mark Shusterman (keys), Andy Wild (saxophone), Scott Frock (trumpet) and Jeff Dazey (saxophone) shined and the horns belted through the harmonies. This 8 piece band makes magic on the stage and especially at the Moody Center where the acoustics are spot on. Nathaniel took his turn at the upright piano and towards the end of the show they covered “Dancin’ in the Dark.”
The set list is long, but the evening flew by as we were wrapped up in Nathaniel’s world. “S.O.B.” was the first song of the encore, and the place erupted. It seemed as though everyone in the building was singing along. This energy continued as fans exited the building still singing S.O.B. in unison. We were entertained and left delighted!
Check out all the great photos from the concert on Austin 101 Magazine and our socials.
The setlist for Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats in Austin, TX on 10/26/24 includes:
Look it Here
You Worry Me
I’m On Your Side
Survivor
Intro
Need Never
Little Honey
Call Me
Wasting
Heartless
Facedown
Get Used to the Night
South of Here
Slow Pace of Time
And it’s Still Alright
Flowers
Hey Mama
Cars in the Desert
I’ll Be Damned
Dancin’ in the Dark
Trying
Encore
S.O.B.
Love Don’t
