American Nomads At ‘The Loft’: Showing ‘Em What They’re Made Of

September 7, 2018 by
American Nomads In The Loft

American Nomads In The Loft at City Winery / photo by Howard B. Leibowitz / courtesy of B.L.Howard Productions

Brooklyn Roads ventured across the East River on August 16 to catch American Nomads at Manhattan’s new The Loft at City Winery. The Greenpoint-based octet played a tight, 10-song set of Americana and roots music with a dash of zydeco. The latter was courtesy of Walter Kenul, who proved that the accordion can be soulful instrument in the right hands.

The band led off with, appropriately enough, “Welcome To My Everyday,” followed by “Lost Inside the Chords,” a song in the best life-on-the-road/whiskey-and-women tradition.

Susan Darmiento and the Nomads On Stage

Susan Darmiento and American Nomads On Stage / photo by Howard B. Leibowitz /courtesy of B.L.Howard Productions

Kenul and Susan Darmiento then teamed up on “What We’re Made Of,” a pleasing, down-home style duet. Darmiento’s strong vocals were also at the heart of the band’s rocking, roots-style cover of Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love.” It was one of the true highlights of the evening, along with “A Revelation’s Gonna Come,” a song that reached number six on the Billboard AC charts a few years back, and the follow-up single, “Dogtooth Bend,” which, fueled by guitarist Dante DeLemos’ gritty lead vocal and Joseph Humann’s harmonica riffs, gave off a true country blues vibe.

Chapell

Indie Synth Rocker Chapell / photo by Howard B. Leibowitz /courtesy of B.L.Howard Productions

American Nomads wrapped things up on a high note (or notes) with rousing renditions of “Ghost Highway” (title track of their most recent album) and “White Lightning” (an original song, not a George Jones cover). We look forward to hearing more original music from this band — and more cool covers too.

For the third time this year, American Nomads were paired with singer-songwriter Chapell, this time around serving as his opening act. The eclectic, indie-rock sounds of Chapell and his band provided a nice complement to the Nomads’ contemporary Americana style.