A guitar and a cup full of whiskey. That was all Colter Wall needed to keep a sold-out crowd entertained at the Back Room at Colectivo two weeks ago. Wall, a solo country artist from Canada, played for well over an hour, mixing old songs with new songs and even covering a few throughout his set as well.
Wall’s music is a nod to country legends of past. He writes age-old ballads about drinking, loneliness, cowboys and love. Wall, only 22 years old, has one of the deepest country western voices you might ever hear, so it’s no surprise that the Back Room, usually filled with handlebar mustaches and beanies, was replaced with cowboy hats and boots.
Wall walked out onto the stage to cheers, and went right into playing the first track off his 2017 Self – Titled album, “Thirteen Silver Dollars,” a track that he describes is about “drinking too much.” He then played a few songs from his 2015 critically acclaimed debut album “Imaginary Appalachia,” including the crowd favorite “The Devil Wears a Suit and Tie,” a song that slowly builds momentum as it goes on.
Wall then played, “Me and Big Dave,” much to the delight of many at the show. “I learned a lot about Big Dave,” said Wall. “I learned he’s a man of many talents, chief among them drinking whiskey. I learned that the hard way because I was trying to keep up with him, and I guess I got a song out of it.”
The biggest reaction Wall received throughout his set was when he played “You Look to Yours.” Much of the crowd sang along, some of them even stomping their boots during the chorus, as Wall sang, “So go about your earthly mission, don’t trust no politicians, you look to yours and I will look to mine.”
The crowd quieted down very quickly, however, as Wall performed “Kate McCannon,” a love ballad that will leave anyone with a heart in tears. “I wrote this song around 4 a.m. when I couldn’t sleep,” said Wall. “This song, kind of like that other song, seemed to write itself.” Wall ended his set playing an unnamed cover song with the opening band, The Local Honey’s; two girls with a guitar and a violin.
Wall’s demeanor on stage was simple. A country artist through and through, Wall sounded as if he was transported from the early days of country western singers such as Johnny Cash, Townes Van Zandt or even Willie Nelson. Wall played his songs as they sounded on the album as the sold-out crowd remained captivated throughout his entire performance.