Front-Row Look
Sturgill Simpson blows away Austin City Limits crowd with magical performance
Apr 2, 2015 | 2:27 pm
Photo by Chad Wadsworth
It's hard not to slip into hyperbole when writing about Sturgill Simpson's Austin City Limits taping on Wednesday. It was truly something special.
Simpson's brand of outlaw country is not simply defined, as proven by his cover of When in Rome’s hit single, "The Promise." His rendition of it Wednesday night was one of the show’s highlights. What was defined was the soaring power of his vocals and the tight performance by his band, punctuated by the outstanding Estonian guitarist Laur Joamets.
The crowd responded with several standing ovations and lingered long after the show, buzzing about what they had just witnessed. Luckily, those that missed the live show can see the magic when it airs on PBS later this year.
In what is becoming known as "Sturgill Fest," the 36-year-old from Kentucky will play two more Austin shows this week. He'll be at Stubb’s Thursday and Sunday. Both shows are sold out, but it is highly advisable to procure a ticket by any means necessary.