Nikki Lane and Old 97s bring the twang to the Showbox (Photo Slideshow)

Old 97s Live at The Showbox (Photo by John Lill)

By John Lill

Monday could have easily been mistaken for a Friday as the faithful packed into the Showbox to welcome Nashville’s self-proclaimed first lady of outlaw country, Nikki Lane, and alternative country pioneers, the Old 97s.

On tour promoting her recently released All or Nothin’ produced by Dan Aurebach of the Black Keys, Lane is primed to be the next big thing in country music. She drew our attention as soon as she walked out on stage, her look a combination of Zooey Deschanel-esque indie sweetheart, and tough-ass hippie. When the music starts she emerges with a sweet country/folk sound and some killer harmonies.  Lane’s voice is quite strong, commanding and full of beauty and power.  Her songs sound sweet but with a tough lyrical edge; all gorgeous harmonies and a “screw that lying asshole” vibe.  Her show was a lot of fun.

After a quick break, Old 97’s take the stage to a roaring crowd of loving and semi-intoxicated fans. Celebrating their 20 years in music and their latest album Most Messed Up, the four-person band play rock ‘n’ roll, Texas-style.  The best way to experience Old 97’s is live. Their shows are so energized that they literally leave a part of themselves on the stage; and the first few rows – which I call “The Rhett-Sweat Zone” – sweat, spit and rock ‘n’ roll.  They play train songs, drinking songs, love and heartbreak songs; songs about girls with big brown eyes, roller-skate skinny and stick-legged girls; lyin’, cheatin’ and murderin’ songs; even one song about a wayward cat.

Now in their 40s and early 50s, the band members tear up the stage with as much athletic fury as they showed back in the early 1990s.  Guitarist Ken Bethea leaps through the air, and bassist Murry Hammond plays like Jimmy Cagney firing a Tommy gun. Philip Peeples attempts to bash the skins right off his drum kit, and lead singer Rhett Miller is a karate-kicking, rump-waggling, hair-whipping dervish.

The song selection was great. I, along with many others in the crowd, couldn’t leave completely satisfied if the band didn’t perform “Big Brown Eyes,” and one of the best love songs ever written, “Question.” I can say with confidence that the audience and myself left that night thoroughly satisfied.