After giving Long Island a warm welcome, the Marshall Tucker Band began their set with “This Ol’ Cowboy,” and it was followed by a sultry version of “Dog Eat Dog World,” which featured Chris Hicks on lead vocals.
“How ya’ll doing tonight?” front-man Doug Gray asked the Huntington crowd. “Thank you for keeping Marshall Tucker Band alive for 43 years.”
They changed the pace of their set with the upbeat and fun “Fire on the Mountain,” which was the quintessential sing-along. “How ya’ll feeling?” Gray asked. “Let me ask you a question. We have all night.”
The iconic band went on to perform “Midnight Promises” and it was followed by the infectious “I’ll Be Loving You,” the latter of which had audience members dancing.
Gray shared that the band has reached a new demographic, which includes adults between the ages of 18 and 37, proving that Marshall Tucker Band is a true force to be reckoned with. They broke into an exceptional rendition of “Take the Highway,” which featured superb flute solo by Marcus James Henderson and drummer B.B. Borden nailed the drums.
Lead singer Doug Gray, with Henderson on piano, delivered a spell-binding, raspy rendition of the soulful ballad, “Asking Too Much of You,” which earned them their first standing ovation of the evening. “Thank you for remembering,” Gray said, midway through the song.
Their signature song “Can’t You See” was another fun sing-along, which garnered a roaring response from the Long Island audience, that earned them yet another lengthy standing ovation. “Thank you guys,” the band said graciously.
Particularly impressive was that Marshall Tucker Band played this Digital Journalist’s all-time favorite song of theirs, “Blue Ridge Mountain Sky,” which was nostalgic and sheer perfection.
The Verdict
Overall, Marshall Tucker Band proved that they are like fine wine, they get better each year, with every show. Their timeless music has attracted more younger people to their shows, making this band as significant as ever. Their 2015 Paramount show garnered an A+ rating. It is only a matter of time before these southern rock veterans get inducted into the coveted Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
