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From the moment that Jesse Welles took The Rooftop at Pier 17 stage in New York City on Friday night — with the Big Apple’s skyline as a backdrop — it was clear that fans were in for something different and more thought-provoking than the usual dose of weekend entertainment.
The shirtless, long-haired singer-songwriter quickly rattled off more than a half-dozen songs alone on his acoustic guitar — scathing indictments of politicians, big business and health care with titles such as “Slaves,” “Cancer,” “United Health” and “The Poor.”
And when his top-shelf band joined him to turn the show into a full-fledged, rock ‘n’ roll affair (including covers of Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs,” Nirvana’s “Come As You Are” and The Beatles’ “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds”), the caustic commentary turned to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement with “Join ICE” that also featured a searing electric guitar jam.
The cleverly brash and intrepid artist is more than just a refreshing voice amid a music scene that often seems fraught with vacuous pop and nostalgic repetition. He’s a modern-day troubadour cut from the cloth of legendary game-changers such as Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan (not to mention John Prine and The Beatles) but with his own flair.
On ‘The Red Tour’: Welles (Photo/John Sinkevics)
It’s also more than refreshing that Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park has booked this outspoken lyricist: Musically, he’s the most political and unabashedly liberal artist ever to grace the amphitheater since it opened in 2003.
And just as refreshing? Monday’s concert is sold out.
Word has spread quickly about this 33-year-old Arkansas native who was nominated for four Grammy Awards earlier this year. Dive into his fast-expanding catalog and it’s not hard to see why: The intensity, powerful lyrical twists and just plain stunning songcraft abounds throughout, ranging from folk to alt-country to punk-fueled Americana.
His touring band — Adam Meisterhans (guitars), Joel Parks (bass), Connor Streeter (drums) and Bobby Steinfeld (keyboards) — adds a rock punch and sonic weight to his sharp and witty lyrics (which also grace fetching ballads and fun ditties such as “Good Morning America” and “Bugs”).
Not surprisingly, his biting protest songs have become the signature works in his arsenal, with titles such as “War Isn’t Murder,” “The Ballad of Big Balls,” “No Kings” and “If Trump Was Born in the Trailer Park.”
“War isn’t murder, good men don’t die, children don’t starve, and all women survive; war isn’t murder, that’s what they say; when you’re fighting the devil, murder’s OK,” he sings, tongue firmly in cheek on “War Isn’t Murder” (which has closed out his shows on “The Red Tour”).
“I love him,” said fan Matthew Strait who traveled three hours from Binghamton to see Welles in New York City. “He reminds me of Bob Dylan. He upsets people just like Bob Dylan.”
Added Janet Holden, who accompanied Strait: “He’s the best.”
He’s also unlike any other artist concertgoers are likely to see amid the flood of summer tours crisscrossing the country, from classic rock dinosaurs to rappers to pop stars to jam-band icons.
Musically speaking, Welles is liable to set Meijer Gardens ablaze on Monday night. And if you’re lucky enough to have a ticket, you don’t want to miss that.
PHOTO GALLERY: Jesse Welles at The Rooftop at Pier 17
Photos by John Sinkevics
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