Live Review and Photos by: Mary Grace McKernan
If anyone thinks that country music can only be made in Nashville, Tennessee, Nick 13 proves them dead wrong. Nick was born and raised in California and his solo sound is as Americana/Country as it gets. One can just imagine listening to his music in a convertible Pontiac GTO while traveling on the Pacific Coast Highway with the Santa Ana winds blowing through your hair. His California-Country sound takes listeners back to 40s, 50s & 60s. Last night, at the landmark El Rey Theatre, Nick 13 did just that. He stepped onstage with a 40s style gold suit and tie and took a packed house back in time. It was hard to take your eyes off him. As most of the dames in the audience would attest, he is definitely, “easy on the eyes”. By the third song, “Restless Moon” everyone didn’t know whether to sing along with Nick or continue applauding the very talented musicians on the stage.
Nick 13’s songs are heart wrenching and cathartic. But nothing is more provocative than “All Aone”….A Victrola spins a 
record/The needle plays our song/ On a summer night like this, the band played on/ I’m all alone, in this world. This was an audience favorite and with one song, it was as if Nick had reached out to everyone and somehow was able to touch their soul and let them know that they were not alone. He explained that he wrote, “In the Orchard” about eleven years ago and it was this song that started him on the road from Tiger Army to his solo country career. In between songs, Nick thanked the fans and expressed his sincere appreciation for their loyalty. He let the audience know that Tiger Army will be back this October and you can bet that everyone in this audience will be back for Tiger Army’s performance come this fall.
Photos by: Mary Grace McKernan
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