Photos by Kevin Martinico
On a particularly windy evening, I arrived at Folsom Field in Boulder with anticipation and a little concern. The gusts were strong enough to make you question the schedule of the evening’s concert, but after a quick visit to the production room, it was confirmed that the storm was trending north. No delays were expected, so we made our way to the field. Unfortunately, we missed most of Laid Back Country Picker’s set, but we caught the tail end, which was an absolute blast. The drummer, dressed in a pink robe with curlers in her hair, was a sight to behold and added a quirky charm to the set.
By 7:30 p.m., the wind had died down, giving way to a warm, calm night as Shakey Graves took the stage. Known for his captivating live performances, Shakey didn’t disappoint. His set was peppered with stories of past mistakes, ex-girlfriends, and life on the road, each anecdote adding depth to his music. However, the undeniable highlight of his performance was when Sierra Ferrell joined him on stage for “Ready or Not.” Having just played a show at Mission Ballroom the night before, her appearance drew raucous applause and excited screams from the crowd. The chemistry between the two artists was palpable, and it was a moment that resonated with everyone in attendance.
At 8:30 p.m., the main event began as Tyler Childers took the stage, which was elaborately decorated like a 1970s living room. This was my first time seeing Tyler live, and the detailed stage setup took me aback. Tyler is known for his powerful voice rather than a flashy stage presence, so the intricate decor was unexpected. At different points in the night, the atmosphere shifted—from the intimate vibe of the Ryman to the raucous energy of a honky tonk and even the laid-back feel of a Dead & Co. show. Through it all, Tyler stood at the mic in his denim jacket, sipping water from a mason jar and letting his voice soar over Boulder like a hillbilly angel who fell to Earth.
Despite being clean and sober these days, Tyler didn’t shy away from performing his songs about drinkin’ and druggin’. The night kicked off with “Whitehouse Road” and included favorites like “I Swear (to God),” “Honky Tonk Flame,” and “Lady May.” It wasn’t until midway through the set that we heard anything from his latest album, Rustin’ in the Rain. After a power performance of the title track, Tyler mused, “Some people consider it a love song, but it’s not. It’s too randy for a love song. This next one, though, would appropriately be called a love song.”
The next song was “All Your’n,” my favorite track of his. Even though it’s my favorite, it was just another fantastic song in a night full of them. Tyler was joined by a seven-piece band for most of the night, but he also treated us to a solo acoustic set. Sitting by a digital fire, he got emotional as he reflected on “how awesome it is to be here with you guys right now.” I believe he even shed a tear or two.
He started the acoustic set with “Lady May” and then addressed the crowd with a poignant message about unity, even in the diverse mix of fans present. “Take a look around you. You might not have anything in common except that you both ended up at the same place to watch some hillbillies play some music, but you’re all here together, so you don’t want to be the heathen, the most unlikeable person at the show.” I’m not sure if he was referring to anyone in particular, but he could have easily been referencing the guy who decided to take a piss in the second row right before the set started.
His acoustic rendition of “Nose on the Grindstone” was followed by “Follow You to Virgie” before the band returned to the stage. The night continued with a mix of energetic and heartfelt songs, culminating in a series of barnburners with the crowd dancing until the end.
As the night drew to a close, Tyler announced, “We have a few more songs for you, and then we’re gonna unceremoniously fuck off elsewhere.” Those last few tracks—“Way of the Triune God,” “House Fire,” “Universal Sound,” and “Heart You’ve Been Tending”—were the perfect sendoff. When the house lights came on, Tyler and his band exited the stage and fucked off elsewhere while the crowd made their way onto the streets of Boulder, some to the hill, some to the bars, some to sit in their cars waiting for the traffic to clear out, but all with the sounds of Tyler ringing in their ears.
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