Chris Knight
with Joe Stamm
First Avenue Club, Iowa City, Iowa • November 18, 2023
by Jeremy Glazier
On the lower level of an unassuming building just off of First Avenue in Iowa City, Iowa, sits a multi-use space called The First Avenue Club. Since 1994, they have been hosting a variety of incredible artists, and November 18 was another addition to the list of incredible shows with Kentucky singer-songwriter Chris Knight. Knight is a legend among legendary musicians to come out of the mines and hills of Kentucky, but for a guy that got his first record deal in 1997 at the age of 37, he’s wasted no time over the past 26 years catching up with his peers.
The evening’s music starts off with Illinois native, Joe Stamm. Stamm, who could still be mistaken for the football player he once was, came to music by taking a class in order to graduate from Taylor University, and it stuck. He cites influences like Kris Kristofferson, George Jones, and Chris Knight for their songwriting and storytelling. Stamm’s own unique blend of those influences, combined with his work ethic and rural upbringing have made him a fan favorite, and it’s easy to see why he continues to be invited to open for Chris Knight.
Joe, playing solo, opens with “Wrong Side of Town,” “Dandelion Woman,” “Ahold of My Heart,” and “Midwest Town,” before “Dollar General Sign,” and it’s hard to tell if the crowd came for Joe or Chris, as everyone I pass is singing along with each and every song. Joe writes and performs his songs with an authenticity that anchors them to relatable territory. without dipping into the tropes that fly out of pop country radio. Joe closes his portion of the show with the ever popular “Drink Enough (For the Town to Talk)” and “Grandma’s Bible.”
While Joe heads back to his well-supplied merch table, it’s only a matter of minutes before Chris Knight and the band take the stage. His set list, regardless of the tracks included, could be a greatest hits list, and his shows truly are always a great pleasure to experience. Opening with “Becky’s Bible,” “Rural Route,” and “I’m William Callahan,” it’s, again, difficult to find someone not singing along with every lyric.
The set list includes songs from all over his catalog, but it all fits like a glove with songs like “Nothing On Me” and “Low Down Ramblin’ Blues” from his 2012 album Little Victories, “Send It on Down” from 2019’s Almost Daylight and a few more songs from the 2001 LP Pretty Good Guy that include “North Dakota” and “Oil Patch Town.” Chris takes some time to introduce the band backing him up this tour, which includes Austin Cunningham on guitar, Shakey Fowlkes on drums, and Brian Zonn on bass.
Chris is very well know for his fantastic murder ballads and he performs a couple of my favorites with the upbeat “Framed” and the polar opposite, dark and haunting “Down the River.” “It Ain’t Easy Being Me” from his 1998 album Chris Knight is another classic, with incredible lyrics that include “There oughta be a side show act for freaks like me. I could be the star of the show with my name on the marquee. In a room with a big red button that says ‘danger do not touch’ Twice a day I’d mash it down and you can watch me self-destruct.”
After a quick lights-out break, Chris and the band return for a couple songs off of the 2006 album Enough Rope, with “Jack Blue” and “Up From the Hill,” before a final bow. It’s stunning how much great storytelling Chris packs into one show, and while he’s not constantly out on the road, if you’re lucky enough to be anywhere near a venue he’s visiting, you must do yourself a favor and catch a show. His website has the tour schedule as well as the store where you can grab vinyl, CDs, and a variety of merchandise.
