Reviewed by: Clinton Camper
September 19, 2022 at House Of Blue (Dallas)
For his first time headlining a show in three years, UK alt rock singer-songwriter Barns Courtney burst onto the stage with pent-up infectious energy, and the packed crowd at House Of Blues in Dallas returned that elevated energy.
Courtney was out on his Out With the Old Tour, which plays North America for the next two months, with Bristol UK band The Ramona Flowers opening many dates on the first leg.
As for Courtney himself, he’s still out in support of 2019’s full-length 404, but has many new songs, ahead of a new album expected late this year.
He started fiercely, with a rapid drum beat introducing “London Girls” and prowling the stage from end to end, singing, “I should have cut my hair and changed my name” when in fact, he’s let his hair grow out, dyed it a platinum blonde, and kept his name.
With additional red blush on his cheeks and a devilish smile, he took on a Dark Knight-era Heath Ledger appearance, grinning similar to Yungblud or a younger Steven Tyler.
Courtney had the crowd in the palm of his hand from the beginning, as many had originally bought tickets over two years ago and had been waiting since and showed their loyalty back early on with “whoa-oh” responses back to every verse of 2019’s “Fun Never Ends”.
The three-piece band was solid all night, and each played with a reserved flourish. In addition to being his first headlining slot, the Dallas crowd got to hear several, yet-to-be-released songs including the new “Wanna be a Star” and “Guillotine”.
No one had to tell the capacity throng to clap along to 2017’s “Hands” as they just did, and on current single, “Supernatural” Courtney sang, “You’re terrifin’, beautiful, like a thunderbolt through my body”, maybe speaking of his own blast of frenetic energy that helped propel the set.
“They’re all Champions!” referring to his bassist, guitarist, and drummer for learning the set so quickly, before launching into the 2017 anthem, and the energy went to an even higher level for the rousing stomp of 2017’s “Glitter and Gold” with the crowd’s voices even drowning out the band’s, on the choruses.
Fans went back in time to the seemingly simpler 1990’s for the melodic radio hit, “99”, Courtney leaned on his own upbringing (living in Seattle from age 4-15) on the new “Young in America”, and the set found its fifth (maybe sixth) gear towards the end with 2017’s primal and booming “Kicks” and the main set closer, “Fire”.
Courtney had everyone crouch low to the ground, to then explode into a total jump-a-long on the floor with the man himself venturing out in the middle to spur things on further.
By the end of the main set, both band and crowd were happily exhausted, but the audience found it still in them to chant and applaud for more, even though it would be hard to top the end of the main set. Though a set of encore songs was listed, the band chose to end the night as-is and on a definite high.
While most bands returning to the road simply say how grateful they are to be playing live music again, a few acts really show you how excited they are, and that energy often translates back into equal or greater energy from the crowd, resulting in a truly interactive and experiential evening. Barns Courtney is one of those performers.