Aaron Lewis is the Pied Piper of gloom. Although his anguished voice ceased dominating rock radio several years ago, Lewis attracted a capacity audience of about 700 loyal fans to a seated concert at VooDoo Lounge at Harrah’s casino Friday.
Possessing the viscosity of motor oil, Lewis' distinctive voice remains endlessly emotive. The audience erupted in appreciative cheers every time he dramatically extended a note. The real star of the evening, however, was multi-instrumentalist Ben Kitterman. Lewis' former bus driver, Kitterman provided immaculate flourishes on slide guitar and pedal steel. Without Kitterman's tasteful contribution, the new song "Tangled Up In You" could have been hopelessly sappy. A gorgeous bed of pedal steel playing, however, made it seem like sparkling poetry.
Kitterman's presence also signaled Lewis' intriguing flirtation with country music. Town Line, Lewis' latest release, bridges the gap between Nickelback and John Cougar Mellencamp. Lewis channeled Merle Haggard on "75," a weary unrecorded ode to life the road. Its aggrieved tone was in keeping with Lewis' hangdog persona, but his renderings of a couple mainstream contemporary country songs stunned many in the audience. A sincere cover of the romantic Blake Shelton hit "Who Are You When I'm Not Looking" was completely out of character for Lewis. He also offered a sensitive interpretation of Rascal Flatts' "What Hurts the Most." It was shockingly rewarding.
A segment of silly covers provided a break from Lewis' natural inclination to revel in misery. He goofed on songs by Prince, Madonna, Rick Springfield and the Outfield. A welcome staple of Lewis' appearances, an amusing take on "Rainbow Connection" delivered in the voice of Kermit the Frog, also provided comic relief.
"If I didn't play any covers at my shows people would be driving home and steer the wheel into abutments and trees," Lewis suggested. "I've got to lighten it up a little bit at some point."
Sporting a ball cap and full beard, Lewis looked more like unkept songwriter Steve Earle than a hard rock hero. It's unlikely, however, that Earle would consider draping the stage as Lewis did with an American flag so enormous that it might seem jingoistic even at a political campaign rally. Lewis doesn't attempt to mask his Libertarian streak.
"This next song I offer up no apologies for," Lewis said of "Country Boy," an update of Hank Williams, Jr.'s "A Country Boy Can Survive."
"I'm proud to be American and strong in my beliefs," he sang. "I've said it before but I'll say it again, 'cause I've never needed government to hold my hand."
Lewis paired "Outside" and "It's Been Awhile," Staind's two signature songs, near the end of his 100-minute performance. The hits provided the evening's sole sing-alongs and the only moments that weren't slightly marred by inappropriately rambunctious and talkative concertgoers. Unlike the fabled Pied Piper of Hamelin, Lewis didn't lure his followers into danger Friday. Instead, by giving voice to the emotional pain he shares with his audience, he guided them to a welcome refuge in which frustration was temporarily kept at bay.
Setlist: Fill Me Up; Collide (Howie Day); 75; Something To Remind You; Massachusetts; Time After Time (Cindy Lauper, partial); What Hurts the Most (Rascal Flatts); Purple Rain (Prince, partial); Crazy For You (Madonna, partial); Jessie's Girl (Rick Springfield, partial); Your Love (The Outfield, partial); American Pie (Don McLean, partial); Rainbow Connection (Kermit the Frog, partial); Excess Baggage; Blackbird (The Beatles, partial); Zoe Jane; Who Are You When I'm Not Looking (Blake Shelton); Tangled Up In You; Outside; It's Been Awhile; Country Boy; Encore: Intro.
Bill Brownlee, Special to The Star
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