The renaissance in country music doesn’t begin and end with Beyoncé as it happens. Angel White and his rag tag band of Texans are proudly taking their place as a fresh sound in the genre. They showcased their rock-heavy  sound on the road with The Josh Abbott Band this winter. Their Wichita show on 02/24 delighted the Saturday night crowd at the historic Cotillion Ballroom.

Angel White’s personal songwriting and intoxicatingly lively vocals is at the center of what makes this band good. What makes them great is being flanked by talented musicians bringing Angel’s words to life. Much can be said for the whole band including Nick Milligan on drums and Amanda Jarman on bass guitar. But William Hooper on guitar is what puts the sauce on it. The musical conversation that goes on between White and Hooper is reminiscent of 70s rock. This is a breath of fresh air for the country genre that can even catch the interest of people who may not otherwise listen to it.

There was a moment in the show that really made the personality of Angel White’s sound come out. That moment came just prior to the band playing Red Blanket, a song about the importance of keep-sakes from loved ones. The proud cheers from Angel’s sister Skaila could be heard upon the song’s intro. Angel pointed her out and said he almost cried when he saw her. This moment punctuated the meaning of the song and connected the crowd more closely to the artist that they may have never heard of before they arrived.

A lot more could be said about this band but it’s their music and live performance that speaks for itself. If you’re into anything from Zach Bryan and Tyler Childers to The Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin, you’ll find something to like in Angel White.

Review & Photos by: Mitchell Arias-Elmore

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