Elvie Shane Makes A Statement At Carols Pub In Chicago!
The brisk, rainy evening in Chicago, a backdrop that wouldn’t ordinarily excite anyone, was outshined by the electrifying atmosphere in Carols Pub on the February night when Elvie Shane brought the Damascus Acoustic Stories Tour to town, with special guest Ashland Craft. The rather cozy setting created the perfect atmosphere for an up close and personal night with the vibrant Singer/Songwriters.
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The talented Ashland Craft opened the night, a much-anticipated return for the dynamic country star. She charmed the eager audience with her contagious energy and hearty voice. Playing to a loyal crowd who eagerly sang along, she started with Last Twenty Dollars, as she then showcased her deep, unfiltered connection with her fans, sharing snippets of her life experiences transformed into powerful melodies. Offering sneak peeks into her new compositions, Craft dazzled the crowd with fresh, poignant lyrics in her recently debuted track, Rough Roads, Craft primed the atmosphere perfectly for what would be an unforgettable night.
Photo By: Nashville Is His Bride
There's a certain grit to Ashland's voice, but it's tinged with a heartfelt sincerity that adds an unexpected intimacy to her new tracks. She owned the stage with her solo acoustic set, inviting us into her life story as every chord was struck. This evocative experience was her craft, carefully built up over her performances and unleashed in full force on the audience. Her raw and rugged vocals echoed around the pub as she painted vivid, lyrical pictures of her story-filled journeys and endeared herself to the captivated audience. Ashland gave a respectful homage to her recent album Travelin' Kind with the title track and then capped off her set with the evocative I Smoke Weed which the legal Chicago crowd sang right back to her, ending her set on an invigorating high note.
However, the excitement was far from over, as the spotlight pivoted to Elvie Shane, a gritty southern voice infused with earnest sentiment. Elvie showcased an acoustic array of his impending album, Damascus, masterfully creating an intimate setting despite the packed crowd. Elvie has an ability to make each song a story, an event. Carols Pub was the perfect setting, a small but lively venue, it felt incredibly intimate - a complete departure from his usual. There was also a strong feeling of community among the audience, a collective yearning to get lost in Shane's musical storytelling, and the powerful magnetism of his guitar strings was a ride we all boarded willingly.
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Tearing into his set with Outside Dog, Shane moved on to flawlessly play his thirteen-track record, Damascus, in its entirety. Sharing stories behind each song added a layer of depth and authenticity to his performance, causing fans to truly connect with his songs. Shane's vocal versatility and infectious energy served as a captivating force that made the show an unforgettable experience.
Photo By: Nashville Is His Bride
Interspersing his performance with touching anecdotes from his life, he deeply moved the audience, narrating his mother's inspiring struggles in her long factory career. His lyrical renditions echoed his strong belief in the resilience of the blue-collar ethos during his song Forgotten Man.
Photo By: Nashville Is His Bride
Perhaps the most emotional moment of the evening was Shane’s performance of Pill, a somber track detailing the reality of opioid overdoses. Elvie, who consistently uses his music to spread social awareness, managed to evoke empathy and understanding, bridging the gap between the stage and the audience. Elvie injected a stark and serious note about the rise of fentanyl overdoses. It was a heartfelt outreach that included a commendable collaboration with End Overdose to distribute free Narcan, in a direct effort to alleviate the public health issue. Having a representative from End Overdose present added to the raw realness of the situation. The power of music truly showed itself, giving voice to important matters, and not shying away from addressing reality.
Find Out More On End Overdose “No One Else Has To Die”
Among other stories, the personal touch on 215634—a poignant song about a childhood friend who landed in prison—evoked an emotional response, Adam Wood & Ben Chapman helped Elvie pen this personal song. Yet Shane wasn't all about dark stories, his vibrant performance of First Place was quite the party starter. The cheeky tale about reaching out to Little Big Town was a great hit, a reminder of his warm sense of humor. The crowd further relished in his spirited interaction about how the Little Big Town collaboration materialized through some cheeky liquid courage and sliding into DM’s. We got another dose of that warm sense of humor during Fan On High & Chicken Sh*t, which Elvie wrote with Jeremy Spillman, Ryan Tyndell, and Oscar Charles.
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Ending his main set with the intensely personal track Does Heaven Have a Creek left the crowd in a sea of feelings. The ethereal quality of this particular performance, along with his beautiful delivery of lyrics and story, seemed to cast a kind of magic over the crowd. This song stirred the hearts of the audience, reminding them of personal conversations with loved ones in heaven, a shared human experience.
After a brief band hiatus, Elvie reappeared on stage, acknowledging the crowd’s need for just a little bit more of his magic. Elvie returned to offer an enlivening encore, a one-two punch of his chart-topping hit My Boy, and an expertly transformed cover of Apologize. With the final encore performance being County Roads requested by the crowd, Elvie truly exhibited his range, showing the extent of his raw vocal talent and contagious energy.
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The impact Elvie left on the crowd was one to remember. Each song, each story, each chord strummed pulled you deeper into the mesmerizing world he wove with his tunes and anecdotes. As the evening drew to a close, fans left, filled with laughter and tears, cherishing a profound emotional journey. In short, Elvie Shane's Damascus Acoustic Stories Tour was everything one could wish for in a musical event.
Photo By: Nashville Is His Bride
Every ounce of Shane's energy poured out over the crowd, was reciprocated with immense affection, turning a damp, chilly February night in Chicago into a heated, celebratory testament of resilience, life, and unity. From its intimately electric performances to the genuine narratives entwined into the melodies, the Damascus Acoustic Stories Tour's Chicago leg was a mesmerizing concert, making it an essential pitstop for music enthusiasts nationwide. Elvie Shane showed that sometimes the most unforgettable shows are those shared in the most intimate settings, making you feel at home even amidst the dizzying chaos of life.
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For More On Ashland Craft Click Here
ASHLAND CRAFT SET-LIST
Last Twenty Dollars
Right Damn Now
Rough Roads (For The First Time)
First Time
Make It Past Georgia
Travelin' Kind
Highway Like Me
Smoke Weed
ELVIE SHANE SET-LIST
Outside Dog
What Do I Know
Jonesin
Baptized
Forgotten Man
Pill
215634
Appalachian Alchemy
First Place
Winning Horse
Fan On High
Chicken Sh*t
Does Heaven Have A Creek
My Boy
Apologize (Cover)
County Roads
