One Percent and The Waiting Room Lounge Presents .38 Special

.38 Special performing an outdoor concert on the Military Street in Omaha's historic Benson downtown. (Photo credit: Dean Birkheimer)

BY DEAN BIRKHEIMER | Go Venue Magazine

“’Cause the South’s gonna do it again and again..’ Charlie Daniels”

Seems like every time One Percent Productions and The Waiting Room Lounge get together, something special happens. In this case something special literally happened, .38 Special that is.  What a wonderful evening and atmosphere we were privy to last Friday. The weather was perfect, the crowd was well-behaved, and the staff and security were outstanding. 

Opening for .38 Special was Myron Elkins and the Dying Breed. According to their web page, “Myron Elkins is a 20-year-old from a small town in Michigan where friends are family and family are friends. Values matter where he’s from. It’s the kind of place where a handshake is your contract, and you’re true to your family name. Where Grandpa taught you to play that guitar, and Grandma taught you how to not be late for supper. Where you still say your prayers and remove your hat when you’re supposed to. Simple. Honest. Along with his band, The Dying Breed, the music harkens back to the days of Hank Williams, Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings. It isn’t contrived, it’s just a way of life for Myron Elkins and The Dying Breed.” Myron has a distinctive voice, not just in tone, but lyrically as well. His style of country is soulful and does not have any of the twang you still hear today. Myron and the Dying Breed are well on their way, and I’m sure will soon be headlining their own cross-country tour. As for Omaha, there is no doubt Myron and his Breed left with a pickup truck load of new fans. 

SET LIST:
BREADWINNER – SUGAR TOOTH – HANDS TO MYSELF – WRONG SIDE OF THE RIVER – GOOD TIME GIRL – OLD TRAUMA – NASHVILLE – MACHINE

Now this is the 3rd time I’ve seen .38 Special. First time was in 1981 in Germany, 2nd time here in Omaha in 2018 (which I did a live review for Go Venue Magazine) and now this 3rd time, outdoors at The Waiting Room.  Here is what I know. This band sounded crazy good, after all these years and still the lead and back up vocals were amazing. They kicked things off with “Rockin’ into the Night”. This immediately set the Nebraska red necks (I say this affectionately) into a fever pitch. A fan favorite and a great concert song, “Roughhousin’” was next. Then two more hits, “Back Where You Belong” and “Wild Eyed Southern Boys”.  That a four pack that can rival any set of four songs on the planet.  This band has nothing to prove, but they play like they do. They hit you with non-stop licks and guitar solos, everything they do is done in the name of entertainment.  Songs like “Teacher Teacher” and “You Keep Runnin’ Away” followed.  After “So Caught Up in You”, they left the stage but returned to perform their biggest hit, “Hold on Loosely”, then closed the show with “Travelin Man”, a CCR cover. The crowd ate this band up and the 22-song set list was perfect. As I was leaving, I kept hearing people say how good the band sounded. Hopefully it won’t be another 3 years before .38 Special returns

ROCKIN’ INTO THE NIGHT – ROUGH-HOUSIN’ – BACK WHERE YOU BELONG [-WILD EYED SOUTHERN BOYS – PARADISE – SOUND OF YOUR VOICE – SOMEBODY LIKE YOU – HONKY TONK DANCER – TEACHER TEACHER – YOU KEEP RUNNIN’ AWAY – SECOND CHANGE – LIKE NO OTHER NIGHT – FEELIN’ STRONGER – RIDE THE STORM – IF I’D BEEN THE ONE – FANTASY GIRL – GOOD TIME TONIGHT – TROOPER – SO CAUGHT UP IN YOU

ENCORE:

CHAIN – HOLD ON LOOSELY – TRAVELIN’ MAN

.38 Special


Myron Elkins and the Dying Breed

 

All images © Dean Birkheimer
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