Arts Inc.
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EVANSTON — Maybe it was my mood after a day of dreary news headlines and traumatic world events that put me in a ready state for old-time country music blended with rock and roll. Having grown up with a father who loved country music, and then being a teen during the ’50s rock and roll days, I was totally captivated by the performance of the band Brand 307 on Friday evening, Nov. 2, at the Strand Theatre.
Arts Inc. provided an enjoyable trip down memory lane for this Herald reporter. The “red-dirt country” band Brand 307 was an energetic and talented group of five musicians.
Keyboard player and lead vocalist Keith Guille could not keep his body still. It was as if the music was pouring out from his very soul. He bounced and swayed to the music he played and when he closed his eyes the songs came from deep within him.
Drummer Ken Guille was the heartbeat that raised the pulse of the band members and the audience.
Bobby T. on the steel guitar was more than awesome and when he and bass guitarist Jason Berner played together, the old Strand Theatre rocked.
Their sound technician Paul Sahler did a good job of adjusting to the acoustics in the building so their voices became clearer and more understandable as the evening progressed.
I felt young again listening to their brand of country. My spirit was happy and I forgot all the bad in the world for those two short hours. Even the melancholy love songs made me feel fortunate I had memories of long-ago lovers, hot nights and dancing in the moonlight. In those moments, I had no regrets, only joy that I have had great experiences in my 76 years on this planet. It was pure fun listening to this band, and I was glad to be alive in that theater, in this town and in Wyoming.
The only woman and new to the group was Andrea Kaiser — and what a voice! Her vocal range was reminiscent of June Cash, Joanie Mitchell and Aretha Franklin, depending on the song.
Kaiser and Berner had recently written a song together and she sang it to his accompaniment for the final number. The refrain, “Here I Am,” echoed my feelings of the night. It was a lovely way to end the evening with a song of redemption and love.
