It was another hot and sticky August night at Hollywood Amphitheater for the Backroad Baptism Tour. Few complained as they baked in the line to get in. It’s almost like they knew the treat they were about to get.
Photo Credit: Carrie Ogle
Struggle Jennings hit the stage with full energy. He was in full outlaw attire that reflected his roots. Step-grandson of the late legend Waylon Jennings, and grandson of Duane Eddy and Jessi Colter, music royalty is in his blood. Between an exceptional musical performance, he talked about celebrating getting his life turned around from drug issues. His daughter heads off to college this week. Caitlynne Curtis joined Jennings, and slayed. She gives me Evanescence vibes.
Photo Credit: Carrie Ogle
I love a show that has some form of entertainment between sets. Josh Adam Meyers made it seem like the show never stopped. He was raw, fun, and hilarious. After Jennings’s set, Meyers jammed “Living on a Prayer,” with the crowd and made his way to the lawn to hand out VIP passes.
Photo Credit: Carrie Ogle
Then Ashley McBryde took over.
McBryde is my favorite current female vocalist in country music. She is brilliantly beautiful, and beautifully brilliant exploded right when country music needed her most. She isn’t a size 2 blonde, but stunning, tatted up, and writes music that matters.
Before slinging some bras around to “Brenda Put Your Bra On,” she told the sold-out crowd she had never felt more at home on a tour. She knew this night would be their best yet.
Jelly Roll himself asked if she would make sure to sing her current hit “Light On In The Kitchen,” which will be on her new album The Devil I Know September 8th.
Local Pastor Chad Kent Smith had a TikTok video that had made its way to Bunnie XO and Jelly Roll. His goal was to open the show. His video did just that after getting to pray with Jelly Roll before the show. His daughter was so surprised, and thrilled.
Jelly Roll is no stranger to St. Louis. He spoke of days of selling out Pops, during his residency there, and hitting the East Side. Eating Imo’s pizza. Traveling to the “Legendary Riverport” and tailgating with his family. He knows the secret of partying at your car after the concert, so you don’t have to sit in traffic.
Photo Credit: Carrie Ogle
“I remember being in this cowboy club, and it just reminded me how much I love country and rock and roll.” Jelly Roll told the crowd.
St. Louis country and rock loves him right back. 105.7 The Point was the first to play “Son of a Sinner.” 92.3 WIL followed suit a few weeks later and was the first in the US for country.
“I will never do a tour and not come through this town. Ever ever ever.”
When he went into Easy E’s “Cruisin’ In My 64” he chuckled, “Don’t show your age St Louis,” before busting into a Gen-X and Millennial wet dream of rap mix. I never knew I needed to hear Struggle Jennings and Jelly to cover Afroman’s “Crazy Rap” until that night.
This wasn’t just a concert. Between a mix of his old and new stuff, Jelly Roll spoke of the power of music, and said it was, “a family reunion of people healing together.”
It was also a huge jam fest of friends. Each opener came back and joined him to give this crowd what they paid a “criminal fee to Ticketmaster.” Ashley McBryde reminded us of her pipes and wound down the show with “Simple Man.” Something Jelly Roll committed to playing as a nod to Shinedown and Gary Rossington of Lynyrd Skynyrd.
One of my favorite moments of the show was when Jelly Roll recognized a friend from childhood. She held up a poster of his grade school yearbook photo. He even called her Mama by name and asked how she was. Both were told they had to come back stage so they could catch up. Class act kind of moment.
That’s one of my biggest vibes from this show. Jelly Roll is such a down to Earth performer. You keep hearing how he pays it forward to fans. He still has this pure humble side. I hope he never loses it like so many rock stars do. You can sense the genuine gratitude to be where he is. He has so much respect and is incredibly in love with Bunnie XO, and we got to watch that when she took the stage during “Kill a Man.”
Jelly Roll and I agree on so many things he kept coming back to. Those celebrating sobriety need to celebrate every single day.
“We are so happy for you. I hope you have the best f**king night of your life tonight.”
An epidemic has hit our country, and something has to be done about it. He thanked Missouri for not treating marijuana users as criminals like Tennessee (his home state) does. He spoke of the need to get fentanyl off our streets. He encouraged those battling to keep going.
“Just keep f**king going. The best is in front of you. Your windshield is bigger than your rearview for a reason. What is in front of you is bigger than what’s behind you.”
Beware, STL. Jelly Roll is coming to St. Louis when he retires and running for mayor.
Love him or hate him, Jelly Roll is changing music. He is the first to have the same song on the top ten of rock and country charts. This was the wildest mix of demographics I’ve seen at a show. The middle school girls behind me knew every word to his new stuff. The retired folks to my left, and the parents on a date night to my right knew the words to the old and new. It was a fun show. The energy was undeniable. And Jelly Roll was grateful for each sacrifice fans made to be there, and assured it wouldn’t be his last trip.
“I’ll be back next year, I promise.”
Alison Hillman
Alison is first and foremost, Jason Squared's best girl. She is the wife of Jason and proud mama of Jase, Jesus freak, dog mom, and auntie. She can be found capturing stories with her business BTP by Alison, screaming loudly for the St. Louis Cardinals, and dancing hard at concerts. She is a girl living out loud. On purpose.
