Photos by Sterling Munksgard // Written by Molly Kish //
Sturgill Simpson with The London Souls //
Fox Theater Oakland – Oakland
November 20th, 2016 //
Alt-country and roots rock singer-songwriter Sturgill Simpson graced the stage at the iconic Fox Theater Oakland for two straight sold-out shows, ending a nearly seven-month tour of North America. Still in shock from the results of the U.S. presidential election that became official a little more than a week before the gigs, Bay Area attendees were mourning what would and continues to be one of the worst conclusions to 2016.
Amidst the tension and palpable air of discontent, Simpson and his multifaceted bandmates commanded the capacity crowd, shifting the focus from the unfortunate events of November 8th to the celebratory vibes that come with finishing a long tour. Giving it everything he had, Simpson took his fans on a journey through heartbreak and perseverance with songs such as “Living the Dream” and “Brace for Impact (Live a Little)” while guiding the crowd to “Keep It Between the Lines” over the course of a two-hour set.
New York City rockers The London Souls opened the night after releasing their sophomore LP Here Come the Girls on Feel Music last year.
Setlist:
It Ain’t All Flowers
Some Days
Turtles All the Way Down
Sitting Here Without You
Water in a Well
Long White Line
Call Me the Breeze (J.J. Cale cover)
Life of Sin
Living the Dream
The Promise (When in Rome cover)
Railroad of Sin
A Little Light
You Don’t Miss Your Water (William Bell cover)
Welcome to Earth (Pollywog)
Breakers Roar
Keep It Between the Lines
Sea Stories
In Bloom (Nirvana cover)
Brace for Impact (Live a Little)
All Around You
Oh Sarah
Call to Arms / The Motivator
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