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The BoDeans recently released their 7th album entitled _Resolution_ after an eigth year absence. They’ve kept busy in the in-between years with each principal member recording a solo project and collectively they’ve performed as The BoDeans at summer festivals, but it was about time for Kurt Neumann and Sam Llanas to venture forth once again into the studio to record a much anticipated new album. I’m glad they did because they make one of the best harmony vocal teams in the business. 

When they hit the stage at The Pageant in St. Louis on a recent humid Saturday night, the evening was ripe for some good old-fashioned, but never out-of-fashion, Americana roots-rock. You may remember their big hit back in 1993/94 was a song called “Closer To Free.” It was also prominently played on the “Party Of Five” television show. Well, they opened with that song much to everyone’s surprise. It got the evening off to a rousing beginning that rarely let up for two and a half hours. And while “Closer To Free” is a fine example of their sound, it’s not really the best song in their catalogue as evidenced by twenty other songs that alternately full out rocked with abandon, swung like the accordion/drum cadence/guitar fest of  “Texas Ride Song” or laid low with the balladry of “Far Far Away From My Heart.”

The audience, made up of a decidedly older crowd...lots of 30 and 40 year olds, hooted and hollered and enjoyed the evening with great delight. The band who was on the last show of their current leg were looking a bit tired as they started, but by show’s end they fed off the crowds palpable energy. It was a great and satisfying night with a surprise 2nd encore. If they tour through the fall, I definitely recommend catching this highly entertaining and talented Wisconsin based band. 

The BoDeans on tour:

Kurt Neumann - vocals and electric guitar
Sam Llanas - vocals and acoustic guitar
Bob Griffin - bass
Bukka Allen - keyboards and accordion
Kevin Leahy - drums and percussion

The setlist in rough order:

Closer To Free
Texas Ride Song
617
Still The Night
We Can Live
Marianne
Idaho
Said “Hello”
Ballad Of Jenny Rae
True Devotion
She’s A Runaway (with an intro of Del Shannon’s
“Runaway”)
Fadeaway
Sleep
Wild World
Good Work
Naked
Feed The Fire

(1st encore)

If It Makes You
Good Things

(2nd encore)

Far Far Away From My Heart
Angels