River Shook’s Ambitous Double Shift Show
Sarah Shook And the Disarmers
W/Mightmare
Saturday, January 21
Will’s Pub, Orlando, FL
Lots of musicians perform in more than one band. For any number of reasons. Very few have the gumption to take both projects on the road together, and perform back to back. River Shook has the temerity to bring her dark, alternative rock project Mightmare on the road to open for their more well established outsider country act, Sarah Shook and the Disarmers. And mind you, River is at the helm of both acts, leaving no room to be lazy.
With a new release, ‘Cruel Liars,’ to accompany the new project, River led this four piece through an set of numbers written, recorded, and engineered on their own, during lock down. The band delivered on the new music, which is by turns airy and subtle, pop tinged, and looking inward. Hope abounds in the new material,“Easy” and “Make it Work,” in stark contrast to the harsh testimonies of the songs with The Disarmers.
Sarah Shook and The Disarmers had an updated line-up since their last run of live dates in Florida. The new band was whip smart and assertive. Blake Tallent on guitar and keyboards was the only musician, aside from River, to do double duty. The crowd was full of true fans singing along with each song. “Nothin’ Feels Right But Doin’ Wrong;” “The Nail,” and “Damned if I Do, Damned if I Don’t,” were performed with energy and precision. Songs with lyrics so blunt and direct they wouldn’t be out of place being yelled on stage just before the chairs start flying on an episode of Jerry Springer.
River led two bands through 2 and ½ hours of personal journey with hopes and loss given equal measure. For me, the most revelatory moment of the night came as The Disarmers finished their final number, a turbulent, roiling instrumental. When the song reached it’s conclusion, River Shook, removed their guitar, set it against the amp, and sighed in relief. Now freed from the responsibility of performing, River had left everything on the stage. The way great artists do.
