The country-rock maverick from Texas is on his first major tour
Koe Wetzel has perhaps the most distinctive sound in country music’s post-bro country era. Wetzel is finally riding his musical virality with the cross-country Damn Near Normal Tour. He brought the show to DC’s Anthem on Saturday (Aug 24th).
Wetzel’s devil-may-care attitude has always been present in his life and music. Before “9 Lives (Black Cat),” Koe said plainly, “This song’s about cocaine.” And if his music isn’t speaking his truth, his actions are. One of the more tame stories involved a Texas music hall, a pop-up show, and a miscommunication. The ensuing brouhaha cemented Wetzel as a guy who doesn’t care what anyone thinks, he’ll do what he wants. And not shockingly, his artistry is stronger as a result.
Case in point: Wetzel had to throw out fighters, admonishing them about buying tickets to see a show only to get drunk and fight; “What the fuck sense does that fucking make?” In another moment, he cussed out those using cups and cans as enthusiasm-demonstrating projectiles. He then continued with the music but did appear to cut his set short.
Wetzel’s sound has always been a balancing act between country and rock, with punk sensibility. Certainly, his band played the tunes like a punk group, going hard across the two-tiered risers at the back of the stage. “Twister” started the show off with that punk edge, while “Good Die Young” swung back towards a more traditional country sound.
The aforementioned 9 Lives is also the name of a record Koe Wetzel dropped exactly one month ago. He talked on the stage about feeling like someone who has had nine lives with everything he’s been through in life. Wetzel is on a journey to get as Damn Near Normal as possible.
That song—which the tour is named after—is for everyone fighting against their demons to fit in with society. Without judging, Koe is insightfully observing that we all have our normals, for better or worse—and that can be hard to break from.
The show closed with Koe’s biggest hit, “Something to Talk About,” an anthem for the rebels. If Koe’s maverick streak is the through line to his music, he’s embraced it proudly as something not to fight against, but to turn up as loudly as he can.
Part of that is his fearless stage show. Standing in one spot, guitar in hand, what happens around him is over-the-top. Flames and fireworks punctuate the first note. The pyro continues, along with lasers, lights, and more, throughout the show. If this is the type of show Wetzel puts on in 6,000-person clubs, imagine what he will do when he gets to arenas. And he doesn’t have “a long way to go” to get there.
