By Zac ChamberlinNot only is The White Buffalo full to the brim with raw emotion and energy, they possess the talent and dedication to their craft required to temper it. Elements of Country music, punk rock and folk styles bring a unique sound to the stage that’s not only fun to jump around to, but is equally engaging when sitting down and relaxing. Though they are probably most well known for songs showcased on the the television show Sons of Anarchy, if those are all you’ve heard you’ve only just scratched the surface.
I had heard of The White Buffalo before and listened to their album Love and the Death of Damnation a few times in the past few months. Even with this in mind, I wasn’t sure how they would be on stage. With some positive preconceptions and the urging of a friend, I decided to see how they were live at the Eagles Ballroom on November 12th.
Jake Smith as a singer/songwriter is a powerhouse with a real gift to make you feel. The deep rumble and piercing high notes are liable to give you goosebumps. Songs like “The Whistler” and “I Got You” will definetly tug at your heartstrings and make your eyes mist up maybe a little bit more than you bargained for. Along with the somber and sometimes haunting tunes they do have the catchy ones to get your feet moving as well. “Dark Days” and “Home is in Your Arms” are good reminders of that. The talented bassist Tommy Andrews and equally gifted Drummer Matt Lynott complete the sound of the band helping to keep Jake from bursting at the seams. After seeing them perform you might believe it is possible too.
Even after hearing all these wonderful originals, Jake played multiple encores with covers that hes become known for as well. The classic Country song “Highwayman” and “The House of the Rising Sun” had everyone feeling like they left the performance having found what they came looking for.
Seeing The White Buffalo perform at the Eagles reaffirmed for me that this band is in it for the music and their commercial success is just auxillary. A smaller intimate setting is where you want to see them if you can. They can easily hang with the big boys on large stages, like Grace Potter or Ziggy Marley, but they’re equally at home in a small bar on a Sunday night in Downtown Bozeman. •
