James Dolan of JD & The Straight Shot (Photo Courtesy: Publicity Please)

JD & The Straight Shot warmed up the crowd trickling in for Jewel’s Picking Up the Pieces Tour last week, April 7th, at the Lincoln Theatre.

Fancied as an Americana band (from New York, started in 2005) and fronted by James Dolan (aka JD), they also include Marc Copely (guitar, vocals), Bryron House (bass), and touring musicians Erin Slaver (violin) and JJ Appelton (guitar).

James Dolan (who just so happens to be the CEO of Cablevision and the owner of the New York Knicks) is quite the character indeed, he sauntered on stage sporting a red velvet jacket and told many a tale about his son, his songs and somehow managed to fit in a costume change to get into his ‘Ballyhoo’ character. Many of the tales were about songs featured in films like August: Osage County and Jane Got a Gun.

Their latest album, Ballyhoo!, came out this past January and includes the catchy and charming “Better Find a Church”. This is one of the few songs where Erin Slaver sang back-up, which was a theme that worked well to complement her prolific violin playing.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PszozSTwmb4]

They went all in on promoting the new album, performing seven songs from Ballyhoo! (from their nine song setlist).

The only songs that strayed from the album were “Violet’s Song” (from August: Osage County) and a cover of Little Feat’s “Let It Roll” to close out the set.

The highlights of the show was the interplay of Erin Slaver’s violin with the other instruments, woven around James Dolan’s troublear voice. As long as he stayed within his vocal range, the songs all meshed together quite nicely.

“Perdition”, from the movie you haven’t seen (as appraised by JD since the box office take of Jane Got a Gun was tiny), and “Empty” are the perfect songs for the band to perform live. They both bring a country and blues style harmony and flair, and rely on instruments laid bare to set the mood for hitting rock bottom or lower. Plus, I just like the lyrics, “I’m as empty….as a promise.”

They continue to tour through April on the East Coast, so take advantage of the chance to catch them live.

Setlist (4/7/16 @ Lincoln Theatre)
Empty
Violets Song
Glide
Perdition
Natures Way
Don’t Waste My Time
Better Find A Church
Ballyhoo
Let it Roll