Black Dirt Music Festival 2022 Day 2 with Andrew McMahon in The Wilderness, The Record Company, Nikki Lane, and Backyard Tire Fire
July 23
Downtown Bloomington, Illinois

 
The second day of Black Dirt Music Festival was threatened by thunderstorms and tornadoes. What else would you expect from Central Illinois. At least the storms stayed to the north and helped cool down the festival grounds.  The night started right with Backyard Tire Fire.

Backyard Tire Fire is the band started by Edward David Anderson and Tim Kramp in Asheville, North Carolina. They are currently located in Central Illinois. The band had been on hiatus since 2011 and started back up performing in the area in 2021. Edward David Anderson has a solo project also.  Backyard Tire Fire had been a favorite live band many of my friends. And I had yet to see them live. They are a band that you can see Backyard Tire Fire love what they do. Backyard Tire Fire is blazing rock.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nikki Lane is a country artist who hails from Nashville. Her style is considered Outlaw Country. Self-dubbed the Highway Queen and her third album of the same name was released February 17, 2017. Her second album was produced by Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys. She also co-wrote “Breaking Up Slowly” and performed on Lana Del Ray’s Album Chemtrails over the Country Club.

Nikki Lane was recently in Spain during the heatwave and had a travel horror story where she had to travel 54 hours and got her jewelry and money baggage stolen. Sounds like the beginning of a new song. Nikki Lane’s music sounds like old country. Her songs cover all the topics of cheating, stealing, and drinking. Her upcoming album Denim & Diamonds out September 23rd has been produced by Josh Homme.

 

 

 

 

 

 

My new favorite live band is The Record Company.  The Record Company is a Grammy-nominated rock band that comes from Los Angeles. The singer, Chris Vos, said he grew up not that far away from Bloomington. His Allis Chalmers hat might be some indication that he grew up in a black dirt farmland area.

The energy of the band is one of joyful rocking. Chris Vos asked us if we were having fun because he was. It was evident that the whole band was enjoying themselves. The closest sound that I think of when listening to The Record Company is The Black Keys. They have a blues rock sound that is just good to listen to. They played a cover of “Hound Dog” and reminded us that it was written by Big Mama Thornton who has yet to be inducted into the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame.

Their completed setlist:
Baby I’m Broken
How High
I’m Getting Better (And I’m Feeling It Right Now)
Turn Me Loose
Rita Mae Young
On The Move
In The Mood for You
Hound Dog (Big Mama Thornton cover)
Off The Ground
Life to Fix

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Andrew McMahon in The Wilderness is the latest band for Andrew McMahon. He founded the bands Something Corporate and also Jack’s Mannequin. Andrew McMahon in The Wilderness has a definite pop sound. His piano is front and center and stickers from all over. Prominently placed in the center of the piano is a sticker for his project Dear Jack Foundation . After recovering from acute lymphoblastic leukemia thanks to a bone marrow transplant from his sister, he and his wife decided to give support to adults and young adults with this disease.

Andrew McMahon went into his former bands for his headlining setlist. And he was a huge Tom Petty fan and decided to cover “American Girl”. He said he saw Mike Campbell the night before and wanted to pay homage. He moves from in front of piano all over and even jumps off the top of the piano. He bravely decided to go into the crowd on a llama pool float. He went all over and made it back to the stage unscathed all while singing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year three of Black Dirt Music Festival was bigger than ever and we cannot wait until next year.