Dalton Domino: Mercury Lounge Tulsa Photo Review

December 6, 2019 Melissa Payne

November 29th, 2019-Dalton Domino was back to headline the Mercury Lounge Tulsa. In support of the show was Oklahoma singer-songwriters, Ben McKenzie and Blake Allen Lillard. A very special guest would also take the Lounge stage for a couple of songs during Domino’s set.

Ben Mckenzie | Photo By Melissa Payne

Ben McKenzie, originally from Crescent, Oklahoma but resides out of Stillwater, swapped songs to open the night with Blake Allen Lillard. The talented songwriter had the crowds attention throughout the set. His lyrics are witty, raw, and you can hear the influences of Chad Sullins and No Justice in his sound. He has a new album, A Simple Thing, that was released on October 22nd, 2019. The album is a 7-song acoustic album that was recorded live on tape at Castle Row Studios in Del City.

Blake Allen Lillard

Blake Allen Lillard is a Red Dirt, traditional country music artist from Tulsa, Oklahoma. This young man is a throwback to the days when you could hear “real country” in the vocals and the lyrics on corporate radio stations. In fact, his vocals and lyrics immediately commanded the crowd’s attention as he sang tunes from his most recent, self-titled EP, Blake Allen Lillard. A couple of songs on the EP to checkout is “How’s Dallas” and “The Blame.” Lillard also played a new song that is perfect for the holidays called, “Granny’s.” According to Blake, the song “Makes me think of all the good memories like being around family during the holidays. I think we’re all pretty dysfunctional, but there’s nothing like seeing everybody and spending the most forsaken thing we have on this earth together, time.”

Dalton Domino

There is something very special about an artist on the intimate stage of The Mercury Lounge. The sets become personal for the musicians and for the crowds that attend these shows. Dalton Domino managed to take this element of intimacy and make his set even more personal.

The Memphis born, Texas country singer, brought with him his atmospheric Americana and Red Dirt country to the lounge stage. He also brought his keen sense of storytelling and his amazing ability to connect with his fans. Instead of using a setlist, Domino took and played request after request from the packed-in Mercury crowd, telling personal stories and connections to the songs in between. This combination made for a magical night and for one of the best sets that have been played on the Lounge stage this year.

Dalton told the story of how he is responsible for setting up Cleto Cordero of Flatland Cavalry and one of Oklahoma’s Red Dirt Queens, Kaitlin Butts. It all started with a group chat, initiated by Domino that has now magically turned into an engagement to be married for the two love birds. Kaitlin would show up to the Mercury Lounge later on in the night.

Kaitlin Butts and Dalton Domino

Kaitlin Butts took the Lounge stage and played a couple of tunes. The first was a sing-along with the crowd, a terrific version of Dolly Parton’s 1980 release of “9 to 5.” The second tune was a fantastic rendition of Buddy Miller’s “Don’t Listen to the Wind.” The tune has most recently been on Lee Ann Womack’s 2014 album, The Way I’m Livin’. Kaitlin added an even more special element to what was already a perfect night at the Mercury Lounge Tulsa. Be sure to check out one of the best murder ballads out right now, “White River.”

The set ended with Dalton Domino covering the Turnpike Troubadours tune, “Diamonds & Gasoline.” Perfect close to a fantastic night and performance at the Mercury Lounge Tulsa. Checkout Domino’s most recent release, Songs From The Exile.

Ben Mckenzie:

facebook.com/benmckmusic/