Last Thursday I attended Ricky Montgomery’s sold out show at Emo’s here in Austin, only the second show on his Another Rick in the Wall tour. Judging by the long line of excited young fans wrapped around the venue and the grid-locked crowd, I was in for a spectacular show.
Noah Floersch was the first to take the stage, and the crowd was seemingly just as ecstatic to see his performance as they were for Mongomery’s. Young fans screamed their declaration of love for several band members as Floersch set the tone for the night with incredible musicality, fun and frequent interactions with the crowd, and fun jokes to hype up Montgomery’s impending performance. The audience clearly welcomed him with open arms as many of them sang along to the closing number “Ghost of Chicago,” Floersch’s biggest hit. He is certainly the musician you’d want to open a show with his silly antics and passionate performance to rile the crowd up for the headline set.
There was no question, however, that the young crowd was devoted to Montgomery, for there wasn’t a single silent moment from the second the lights dimmed until the close of the show. Fans passionately sang along to every word of newer singles like “Type A” to his smash hit “Line Without a Hook” without missing a beat. Montgomery immediately captivated the crowd with a high energy, audience motivated performance, with him climbing into the pit to join his fans within the first couple of songs. His band showed just as much excitement and energy with a lively performance and clear passion for their music. I’m excited to see how Montgomery grows as an artist and how his fanbase continues to grow with him, but based on my first impressions this tour isn’t one to miss. If you’re looking for an unforgettable and engaging show, catch Ricky Montgomery’s next show ASAP!
