Blackfoot Gypsies: Riot Room
The first time I saw Blackfoot Gypsies was in August at the inaugural Railbird Festival. Seeing them was a bit of a blur since their set was sandwiched in between Gary Clark, Jr. and Tyler Childers. Old souls in young bodies, mellow with fiery voices and passionate energy on stage with an eclectic style all their own. The trio is comprised of Zack Murphy (drums), Dylan Whitlow and Matthew Paige (both vocals and guitar). I wondered then, like many, if Dylan and Matthew are brothers but they are not. In fact, they are not related at all.
I was sad that I couldn’t stick around longer to enjoy their set at Railbird, but was glad when I discovered, thanks to Instagram, that they were going to be coming to Kansas City. This certainly isn’t their first time playing in the Kansas City area, Paige told me. Bustling with talent, Wednesday September 11, Blackfoot Gypsies filled the outdoor stage of Riot Room with the same energy I remember from Railbird. The band had just come off of a 25-hour drive from the Pacific Northwest. While I didn’t get to meet or chat with the guys at Railbird, to be welcomed walking into the venue with hugs like catching up with friends was completely my style, and a great start to the night. Before their set started, I got to chat with Matthew about life on the road, fashion, and guitars. The Austin City Limits shirt he was wearing reminded me of the retro Houston Astros baseball design from back when games were played in the Astrodome. With a heavy touring schedule and not much time at home in Nashville, it lends to coming across unique guitars in the most unexpected places, Paige said. He just released his first book on September 16, titled BandLife. In it, he shares tips on how to survive life in a traveling band. It is available for purchase in many shops in Nashville, but if you are unable to make that trek, you can find it on eBay.
The band formed in 2010 consisting of Paige and Murphy. Their previous two albums, On the Loose (2012) and Handle It (2015), are not to be overlooked. They also headlined the 2013 Muddy Roots Music Festival and have made appearances at Austin City Limits.
Zack took the stage in his purple faux snakeskin pants and tank top. The signature Gumby was on Dylan’s mic stand while he wore his Hard Travelin’ Hatters custom hat. No visible setlist on the stage, and a bit more crowd interaction with the welcoming of requests of their songs. If you’re trying to describe their style to others, they fuse swamp blues, hillbilly, and funk. We heard songs like “Back to New Orleans” and “Potatoes and Whiskey” off of their To the Top (2017) album.
Under the dimly lit stage and clear September sky, we were treated to two new songs. They told us that they weren’t recorded anywhere and to just enjoy them. The crowd did indeed, just enjoy them, but cheered for an encore. Sadly, due to another act taking the stage after their set, the band did have to quickly pack up their gear before heading home.
As I was packing up my camera gear, while the band members were talking with fans, it was heartwarming to hear that they had sold quite a bit of merch. By chance, two guys had walked into the venue during the last two songs. They were so sad they’d missed out on most of the show, but grateful they decided to come to the venue. Loving what they briefly heard, they walked away with some merch till they could see the band again and suggested unique venues in other states while exchanging travel stories, too.
Cheyenne, who was helping to sell merch, and I were able to chat about her love of film photography and the anticipation of seeing what was captured once the film is developed, versus the instant knowledge of the digital camera world. Make sure you say ‘hi’ to her if you see her at a show.
The band has a few days off before hitting the road again for almost the rest of this year. They just announced their New Year’s Eve show at The Burl in Kentucky with Arlo McKinley and the Lonesome Sound. It’s a two-night, double headlining show that’s not to be missed, if you’re able to attend.
Kansas City, let’s make sure we warmly welcome these guys back with a large crowd next time they come to town. If you’re not in Kansas City, don’t miss the opportunity to see them live when they stop at a venue nearby. I’m sure you’ll agree that these are some of the friendliest people and you’ll leave feeling like you just hung out with friends.
Blackfoot Gypsies:
https://www.blackfootgypsies.com
https://www.facebook.com/blackfootgypsies/
https://www.instagram.com/blackfootgypsies/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiE5-4TjBNoQtDRpE0V9vOg
All Photos Courtesy of OKR Photographer Kaeleigh Williamson:
