With Fall in the air (though feeling more like Winter), there is nothing better than to catch a local concert midweek. Abisha Uhl has been making quite a name for herself and has been hitting solo shows hard. Abisha, previously known from Sick of Sarah, has been performing on a steady stream of shows and recently wrapped up her ‘Uhl Be Fine Tour’. With great reviews from the coast to coast chain of shows, Abisha is now ready to launch into a new string of show dates on her ‘Better Where You Are Tour’. The Cabooze played host for the tour kick-off that pulled in local bands Mötel Sixx and Strange Daze.
Mötel Sixx kicked off the evening. This five piece band, well known as a premiere Motley Crue cover band, never disappoints. Song after song, they completely nailed it. Frontman, Jason Rivers rocked the Vince Neil-sounding vocals. Though appearance-wise, he does not take on a Vince Neil look, hearing him live is another story. A quick close of the eyes and you would literally feel that Vince is standing at the mic. In addition, singer Michelle Olson offered great backing and sometimes sweet lead vocals. Her leopard pants even added that eye-catching stage presence. The band is just very likable and very comfortable on stage. From Russ Goos‘ shredding guitar, Jeff Sibell‘s thunderous bass, to Mike Crooklin‘s solid rhythm on the drums, Mötel Sixx got the crowd started off right, with many dancing and moving about.
Strange Daze took the stage next. This local four piece rock band, drives home that Pearl Jam / 3 Doors Down sound and appeal. Frontman Scott Knudson‘s strong vocals play to the overall appeal of the band and to fans in the crowd. Strange Daze filled The Cabooze with a pretty heavy sound though they did mange to pull in a few slower ballad-type songs which really highlighted the band’s full versatility. The melodic drive of Eric Moudry’s guitar, combined with Derrick Russell’s smooth bass, and Erik Williams’ solid drums, deliver a full music punch that the crowd cannot resist. As their set continued, the crowd continued to edge closer and closer to the stage.
After a quick stage change, Abisha Uhl and her four-piece band took to the stage. The last time I saw Abisha was for the kick-off of her ‘Uhl Be Fine Tour’ back in April, so I was curious to see if her performance had changed. In typical Abisha fashion, she made comments to the people still filing in the door. After covering Abisha several times, I am always pleasantly surprised to see (and hear) her unique approach to the performance. Seems like she is constantly changing things up and adding a different spin to the songs played. This show was no different. With the first note played from guitarist Kace Ayers, Abisha instantly connected with the crowd and her fans, in a way I really haven’t seen before. She seems to have such an acute awareness of her fans and knows what pressure points to hit to not only connect but also to play the songs that the fans want to hear. I believe it is that connect sensibility and entertainment drive that keeps Abisha’s fans wanting more and more. The set was mainly Abisha originals and even some Sick of Sarah titles. A few classic covers were played, with the most notable ‘I Think We’re Alone Now’ by Tiffany. Great set and fun evening with Abisha and the band on the eve of their tour start.
The ‘Better Where You Are Tour’ is hitting the road for the following dates and locations:
11-09 — Kansas City, MO
11-11 — Dallas, TX
11-12 — San Antonio, TX
11-16 — Anaheim, CA
11-17 — Upland, CA
11-18 — Los Angeles, CA
11-21 — Seattle, WA
11-22 — Boise, MO
11-24 — Denver, CO
11-25 — Sioux Falls, SD
