By Krystal Coates-Porter
As the 1990s begin turning thirty, countless bands from that era are reinhabiting tour buses and crossing the country, resurrecting old hits for parents and empty nesters out past bedtime.
Some of them are doing so successfully, such as Blink 182, which amassed some of our nation’s highest grossing ticket sales, and they continue selling out stadiums around the world.
Other bands barely garner a crowd at The Ector, and probably should have skipped the reunion tour altogether, leaving us with more favorable memories than a group of washed-up old dudes past their prime.
One band you won’t find in that category, or on the massive stadium tour, thankfully, are The Wallflowers, who are coming to The Ector Theatre this week.
The Jakob Dylan led alt-rock band carried 6 Grammy’s out of the 90s with hits “One Headlight” and “Sixth Avenue Heartache,” from their sophomore shuttle to success, “Bringing Down the Horse.”
At the turn of the millennium came the album, “Breach,” the frontman getting more personal in his poetic lyrics — while still squinting in the spotlight and simultaneously dodging the shadows of famous father folk singer, Bob Dylan, the musical conscience of the 1960s and beyond.
Always aiming to be his own man in spite of being a mirror image, the youngest Dylan son’s individualism is gleaming right now as they perform in smaller venues. Especially as past Wallflowers have at times been anything but, stealing the show, and the smile that’s a more common fixture on the now highly interactive singer.
A couple of years ago, I had the pleasure of celebrating Jakob Dylan’s 54th birthday at a concert in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. The band surprised the always in charge singer with a cake and serenade The Beatles “Birthday” mid-set. Bottom line — He is aging like a fine wine, growing more comfortable with himself, his lineage, and the live crowds he interacts with honestly and accordingly during each unique show.
Dylan isn’t afraid to confront disrespect he sees from the stage head-on, be it calling out someone watching their iPad instead of the show or flipping off someone in the crowd for being inappropriate.
Most commonly, Jakob bonds with fans, interacting with them from the stage with his dry sense of humor, handshakes and fun personality. He is especially generous and attentive when he can interact with kids!
Regardless of the crowd, the artist literally has nothing to lose each night and is purely enjoying performing and the adventures of touring. After all, I would imagine, he personally isn’t in it for the money.
The once solemn, stern-looking “nepo” artist has lyrically outperformed himself with the band’s newest album, “Exit Wounds.” Full of spite, doubts, and betrayal- this is one to enjoy all the way through! (Highly reminiscent of Bob Dylan’s “Blood on the Tracks,” the unofficial breakup album of the Wallflowers frontman’s parents in the mid to late-70s.)
Despite the revolving door of musicians that have come and gone through the years and The Wallflowers sporadic seven albums, the current touring band is tight.
Ben Peeler, a founding member of country music group, The Mavericks, has single-handedly legitimized the musical talent of The Wallflowers. The multi-instrumentalist travels with a holy grail like, treasure trove of stringed instruments ranging from mandolin, and lap steel, to a beautiful Spanish acoustic guitar that looks as if it belongs in a museum opposed to stage after stage. Master of them all, Peeler is diversely talented, thickening the air of Americana that flows freely through Jakob Dylan’s solo albums “Seeing Things” and “Woman + Country,” while not missing a rock n roll note to the Wallflowers hits and deep cuts.
Peeler also performs with songstress Shelby Lynne, who joins Jakob Dylan for multiple duets on “Exit Wounds.”
Aaron Embry on the keys emits an ethereal vibe, opposed to a somewhat circus from players in the past. When he’s not periodically touring internationally support indie rock goddess, Cat Power while she is “Singing Dylan (Royal Albert Hall – 1966),” he has been a welcome mainstay with his vintage Hammond organ and piano.
Lead guitar has always been the musical backbone of this band and the last couple of tours the role rotates between Stanton Edward, who has true Mike Campbell-level (Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers) talent and Chris Masterson who is a Duke of Steve Earle and The Dukes. Either way, the band rolls on without missing lick or phenomenal guitar solo! I’m really looking forward to seeing Masterson and experiencing his stage presence in-person, if that is the case, as I couldn’t get confirmation.
Rounding out the talented backing band: Mark Stepro holds steady on drums, and Whynot Jansveld keeps the bass thumping and backup vocals coming, even when the lead singer forgets a line or two occasionally, which is also fun and interactive.
One of my favorite parts of The Wallflowers show is when they resurrect revered artists who have passed away, through thoughtfully timed cover songs. There is something about hearing your favorite songs performed live again, particularly by those who had close relationships with those singers, that feels as if they are returning from the grave.
When the band covered Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers song, “American Girl,” during their Odessa performance at The Ector Theatre in 2022, tears poured down both sides of my face, as I remembered the time I stood at the stage when the Heartbreaker leader himself performed the song live with Stevie Nicks.
Both were emotional musical experiences I will treasure forever, as this was the theme song, from the soundtrack of my own life; the first music video I made in theater class; my hope in high school of escaping a 2A town.
As The Wallflowers performed my song from the stage in Odessa that night, Jakob noticed my tears streaming and made a smiling gesture with his hand at his mouth, just making matters worse for my already emotional self.
I am grateful I can continue to relive moments like this at each Wallflowers concert. Now after seven shows to myself, I am looking forward to taking my kids along too, although I know they won’t experience the nostalgia of the music as I do.
That is because, there is truly nothing like music to take you back in time, good or bad. For me, in 1997, I was at one of the lowest parts of my life- addicted, evicted, suicidal – when I was listening to “Bringing Down the Horse.” Even now, nearing thirty years later, when I hear “Sixth Avenue Heartache” at the grocery store, I can still feel the melancholiness reemerge in my heart and soul as soon as I hear the Mike Campbell composed guitar solo it begins with.
To balance this out, the encouragement the lyrics “One Headlight,” has given me, truly allows me to truly appreciate how far I have been blessed to come in life and continues to inspire me to dream bigger each step of the way.
“Come on, try a little
Nothing is forever
There’s got to be something better than in the middle!
But me and Cinderella,
We put it altogether
We can drive it home
With one headlight.”
— The Wallflowers, “One Headlight” 1996
I hope to see you at the Odessa show!
Friday, September 27, 8-10:30 p.m. at The Ector Theatre
