About 10 years I was listening to more rock than country and one band that had a spot on my playlist was Nashville based, American Bang and their high energy single “Wild and Young”. Fast forward ten years and American Bang is no longer a band but most of the members stuck together and formed the Cadillac Three. 

Although the Cadillac Three performs under the country baner the country music they play isn’t your mama’s country music. To be honest C3 has a much harder edge than American Bang ever had and that translates into one heck of a live show.

Black Mountain Whiskey Rebellion. September 28, 2018. Algonquin Commons Theatre. Photo: Ron Pettitt

Joining Jaren, Neil and Kelby were newcomers the Black Mountain Whiskey Rebellion which features some familiar faces in their lineup, namely Clayton Bellamy (Road Hammers, Clayton Bellamy Band) and Erik Dylan. Bellamy is likely the better known of the two names but if you recall about 4 years ago we introduced Erik Dylan to you at the Spencerville Stampede. Dylan is also best known for his songwriting having written songs for Justin Moore, Luke Combs, Kip Moore and Chad Brownlee to name a few.

Black Mountain Whiskey Rebellion. September 28, 2018. Algonquin Commons Theatre. Photo: Ron Pettitt

You honestly couldn’t have asked for a better touring combo, BMWR delivers the same edgy country rock that we’ve come to expect from the Cadillac Three. BMWR quietly launched earlier this year with their breakout debut single “Holy Smoke” (download it here on iTunes) . You definitely want to keep an eye on these guys, after this tour something tells us there’s a rebellion starting to take shape…a Black Mountain Whiskey Rebellion. Speaking of Erik Dylan be sure to checkout his album Baseball to the Moon which was released this past May. The title track “Baseball to the Moon” features Luke Combs on guest vocals, download it on iTunes here.

Cadillac Three. September 28, 2018. Algonquin Commons Theatre. Photo: Ron Pettitt

The Cadillac Three exploded into the Algonquin Commons Theatre. And for the next 90 minutes took Ottawa through a journey that stretched 3 albums from “Tennessee Mojo” all the way through to their monster hits off their most recent album Legacy including “Long Hair Don’t Care”, “Cadillacin'”. Much of the night you could hear the crowd calling for “White Lightning” and as the show neared the end they got what they asked for as Jaren and the boys launched into it before closing out the night with “The South”.

Cadillac Three. September 28, 2018. Algonquin Commons Theatre. Photo: Ron Pettitt

I missed the Cadillac Three on their last visit, with Dallas Smith last October, because I had to work that night but it was awesome finally catching up with the guys and reconnecting with Erik Dylan again. Country music is alive and well here in Ottawa with some monster country shows lined up for 2019 including Thomas Rhett, Carrie Underwood, a new country music festival slated for Wesley Clover Parks next summer and a show or two that we’re still expecting to be announced.

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