Bowen Taps Boots at Cheatham Street Warehouse

Kent Finlay’s Cheatham Street Warehouse, built in 1974, is still booming after 35 years of honky-tonk bliss. The warehouse proved its ability to continue drawing in large crowds of western clad, country music lovers for Wade Bowen’s Tuesday night performance.

The show kicked off with The Wes Nickson Band from Austin. The band was mostly Texas country with a hint of traditional southern rock.

They play shows almost every other night, mostly around Driftwood and New Braunfels at Tavern on the Gruene.

The Wes Nickson Band’s first independently released album came out in 2005 titled Tired of Waitin’. The band played its latest hit single called “Barely Holdin’ On,” and despite the keen ability to make listeners tap their boots and sing along, the band members currently remains unsigned.

Wade Bowen and his band took the stage at 10:40 p.m. By that time, the crowd of people gathered closely and the bar nearly tripled.

Bowen announced this was the band’s first time to play at Cheatham Street and they got a warm welcome.

The band’s front man, Bowen, was born and raised in Waco. Bowen said he had a love for country and bluegrass music from an early age, and finally decided to break off and start making his way in the music business in 2001. Other members of the band include Bowen’s longtime friend and fellow musician, Matt Miller, along with Gary Wooten, Brooks Robinson and Caleb Jones.

The band played its current radio hit “You Had Me At My Best.” I could tell it was a fan favorite looking around the warehouse at all the people singing and toasting their drinks in the air.

Ashley Westbrook, psychology senior, has seen Wade Bowen play a few times and said she is never disappointed.

“They were amazing as usual,” Westbrook said. “He always puts on a great show, and he really knows how to entertain the crowd. I had a great time as always.”

Currently signed with Sustain Records, Bowen wants to remain true to his Texas country roots. He turned down a music video opportunity for their latest single.

“This ain’t no No.1 or No.2 on some CMT countdown,” Bowen said.

Like other artists in the industry, Bowen claims to be in it for the music and not the fame. However, the music video for their song “Trouble” does happen to be posted on CMT’s Web site. I found that rather interesting.

The debut album Try Not To Listen was released in 2002, followed by Live at the Blue Light and Lost Hotel in 2006. The group’s latest album is titled If We Ever Make It Home and came out in Sept. 2008.

The band has collaborated with artists such as Pat Green and Ray Wylie Hubbard and recently toured with the Randy Rogers Band, another Texas country favorite.

Wade Bowen is heading east for the next couple of weeks to play shows in Huntsville and Victoria, but will be back Nov. 25. in New Braunfels at Gruene Hall.