A Jaw-Dropping, Booty-Shaking Good Time with The Band Perry

Country, Live Music Review, Music News, Paul Weber, Slider | January 14, 2012 by Jessica Emmerich | 2 Comments

The Band Perry
Opening for Brad Paisley
The Bradley Center – Milwaukee, WI
1/13/2012

All photos by Paul Weber

The Band Perry is a trio of siblings (Kimberly, Reid, and Neil Perry) from Mobile, Alabama. Last year was a huge year for the band as they picked up New Artist of the Year, Single of the Year for “If I Die Young,” and Song of the Year for “If I Die Young” at the 45th Annual CMA Awards. For New Year’s Eve they performed on Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve and as for 2012–it has started with a bang! They recently received a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist and their debut album was certified Platinum. Currently they are on the road with American Idol Scotty McCreery and Brad Paisley.

Last night Perry tore down the arena opening for Brad Paisley. While it took a song for Kimberly’s voice to warm up, the rest of the set was a grade A performance. The band was synchronized in their moves and was full of energy. When it came to “Hip to My Heart” Kimberly said to the audience, “I am going to need your help on this one.” Kimberly and her brothers Reid and Neil engaged the crowd like veteran entertainers.

Among their original songs, they tucked in a few classic rock covers such as Queen’s “Fat Bottom Girls” and Tom Petty’s “Free Fallin’.” Most artists just tease and play a recognizable riff from a popular rock tune, but the band followed through and played both songs in full. Tom Petty’s “Free Fallin’” was cut and split into the middle of their song “Independence.” During “Fat Bottom Girls” the boys took to the microphone for the first time in the night. Kimberly still got a word in during the song, saying to the crowd, “If you got it, you better be shaking it tonight, Milwaukee!” The trio had the crowd dancing all night.

The trio used the ramps that were set for Brad Paisley to their advantage. Each brother took to side as Kimberly shot down the middle ramp. It was during their big hit “If I Die Young” that the three took to the middle ramp and jammed out as a unit. They ended with “Lie to Me” and announced that they would be signing autographs in section 217 before Brad Paisley would hit the stage.

The crowd ate The Band Perry up as if they were the headliners; watch this family climb the ladder and start headlining their own tour if they keep this up! They would probably also put on a good show with Sugarland! The Setlist and tour dates are below:

Setlist:

Miss You Being Gone
Hip to My Heart
All Your Lives
Independence/Free Fallin’
Fat Bottom Girls – Queen Cover
Postcard from Paris
If I Die Young
You Lie

Photos of The Band Perry’s Set: