Gretchen Wilson @ Seneca Events Center (Inside the Seneca Niagara Casino), Niagara Falls, New York 2-9-13

Country music artist Gretchen Wilson brought her brand of “the party” to the Seneca Niagara Events Center, inside the Seneca Niagara Casino, in Niagara Falls, New York, on Saturday night. The band got the party started at about 8:10 PM as they came out rockin’ to the tune of the Scorpions “Rock You Like A Hurricane” and then sequed into “Here for the Party” as Gretchen Wilson took center stage. The audience obliged with appreciative cheers from the start.

Gretchen’s voice sounded great and with a band of very talented musicians behind her, she was full of energy. She sang her hits, played guitar and also gave the crowd a preview of her upcoming album “Right On Time,” due out in April. “One Good Friend” and “Still Rollin” are soon to be released. She sat on a stool and was accompanied by an acoustic guitar as she sang “Grandma’s Gonna Fly.”

Wilson is also working on an album of classic rock cover songs and performed a smokin’ version of Rod Stewart’s “Stay With Me.” In my opinion, this tune really showcased her vocal ability as she put forth an edgy raspy tone and was able to readily return to a smooth vocal intonation. This tune also featured an excellent honky tonk piano tone courtesy of the keyboardist.

Following “Stay With Me,” Gretchen Wilson noted that there were some “rockers” in the audience as the two guitarists (both playing Gibson Les Paul models) began a little dual. Gretchen walked off the stage and the band proceeded to play a “heavy medley” featuring snippets of riffs from Led Zeppelin, Rush, Ted Nugent, AC/DC, Heart, etc. While the band was playing, Gretchen came back to the stage and tossed T-shirts into the audience. The jam session ended with Gretchen singing “Crazy On You (Heart Cover)” and the crowd giving up a standing ovation. Wilson went on to introduce the band and even invited her crew to the stage to take a bow.

She wrapped up the set with her hit “All Jacked Up,” which included a drum solo. After briefly exiting the stage, she and the band returned for a two song encore including her Grammy Award winning single “Redneck Woman” and “Rock and Roll (Led Zeppelin Cover).” At the end of this show, I was “All Jacked Up” and find myself looking particularly forward to Wilson’s upcoming album of classic rock covers.

Set List:

Here For The Party
A Place In The Whiskey
I Got Your Country Right Here
Homewrecker
One Good Friend
Still Rollin’
Grandma’s Gonna Fly
Work Hard, Play Harder
Walk on Water
Stay With Me (Rod Stewart Cover)
Classic Rock Medley (Instrumental)
All Jacked Up