When word came out Ben Rector was touring through Knoxville, Knoxvillians jumped on the opportunity to see him live once more. Rector played a sold out concert at the Tennessee Theater with Judah & the Lion this past Wednesday, Oct. 28 to an enthusiastic crowd full of students and adults of all ages.
As the opening band, Judah & The Lion hyped the crowd up so much, I was actually nervous that Rector coming out would bring down the vibe. The Cookeville band’s music sounded much better than I predicted. Their group featured an accordion and banjo, giving off an Avett Brothers feel but with much of their own authenticity. They brought great energy, flair and fun dance moves to the stage.
And just when I thought it couldn’t get any better – it did.
Once Judah & the Lion closed, Rector came out and wowed everyone on the piano before switching to his guitar for his second song. His prominent sincerity, love for his fans and passion for music held true during the performance. His talent was evident and effortless in a world full of auto-tune.
Throughout the night, Rector switched from songs from his latest album Brand New along with tunes from his previous albums. He played his older hit Follow You as his last “official” song of the night, with White Dress and Sailboat as his encore.
Both Rector and Judah & the Lion mixed things up by playing renditions of more songs than their own: Judah & the Lion sang a mash-up of R. Kelly, Lion King, We Built This City, Rocky Top and many more throughout the night. They proved how much of a versatile band they are, which attested to their ample amount of talent.
Ben Rector played My Girl and Steal My Girl by One Direction, which was charming. Both Ben and Judah engaged the crowd with mirroring tunes and dancing through the aisles. Performances from both groups seemed to have come natural and their passion for performing shined through their show.
Until further notice, we’ll have to stick to listening to Ben Rector on Spotify, but Judah & The Lion will be back in Knoxville on Feb. 14 at the Bijou following their new album release early that month. See you there.
Ratings: 5/5
Ben Rector performed Wednesday evening, Oct. 28, at a sold out show in the Tennessee Theatre.
