Country Westerns, Liquor Store, Ill Angel @ Union Pool

by Kevin McGann | May 16, 2023 | Shows

Country Westerns at Union Pool (photo by Kevin McGann)

Nashville’s Country Westerns brought their distinct brand of hard-hitting garage rock to Brooklyn’s Union Pool earlier this month to a packed house. The trio of music veterans, including front man Joel Plunkett on guitar and vocals, Brian Kotzur who is an absolute beast on drums, and newest addition Jordan Jones on bass, bring a punk feeling to their sound and marry it with a more traditional singer songwriter lyric sensibility. Songs that conjure images of life on the road, on the stage, or just hanging at the bar—all of which made their 2020 self-titled debut album one of the most critically acclaimed albums of the year.

Of course, 2020 was also the year that live music died, so for a while all anyone could do is envision those songs played live. And for those who hadn’t seen them yet since the gigs resumed in the last year and a half (see FTA coverage for their opening slot on the Titus Andronicus gig at Elsewhere here), Country Westerns returned to promote their latest full-length banger, Forgive the City. Once again produced by fellow music veteran, Matt Sweeney (Skunk, Chavez, Zwan), they were joined onstage by Sweeney for a few numbers that had those in front of the stage dancing out of their cowboy boots.

Opening the night was Brooklyn’s Ill Angel, led by songwriter, and producer/engineer at Metropolitan Sound, John Epperly. Joined by fellow Metropolitan alumni Murat Aktürk (guitar for Daddy Long Legs), Epperly led the four-piece through a rocking, yet melodic set.

Following Angel was Liquor Store who are a return to great ole rock ‘n roll blasted from your muscle car as you’re speeding down the highway. The guys were having a great time, shredding some guitars and joking about it being their first ever show.

Make sure to catch Country Westerns on the Forgive the City tour and check out the album while you’re at it.