Average Joes was sold out for a mega pop show featuring Craig Stickland and Tyler Shaw, Oct. 18.
I don’t listen to listen to much pop mus
ic, but Shaw is one of the many people the local Top 40 stations play without introducing. So while I couldn’t name many of his songs, I definitely recognized them and so did the audience, most of whom were singing along from the first notes. He sang in appealing R and B/soul tinged tenor voice and had a lot of energy.
He also know how to play to his crowd of mostly young women who sang along with every word.
I missed Stickland’s opening set and was counting on seeing him play lead guitar with Shaw, but it was not to be, though Stickland joined him on stage as Shaw donned an acoustic guitar, to sing a duet on the more country number “When I Taste Tequila.”
Shaw was only backed by a lead guitarist and drummer, with other pre-recorded instruments playing subtly in the background.
He crooned ballads but also brought a lot of energy in more up-tempo tracks.
“ By My Side” was a highlight. I recognized “With You,”one of the umpteenth ballads he crooned, which inspired me to catch other shows.
