“Good evening,” said Catherine Porter, who went on to introduce the band. “We’re Shotgun Wedding, and it’s nice to meet you.” They opened their set with a cover of Billy Joel’s “Travelin’ Prayer,” as the stage was graced in orange and green lights. Most impressive about this group is that its male musicians have all been a part of the iconic Billy Joel band.
They continued with the mid-tempo and piano-driven “Just One Minute,” which featured co-lead vocals from Porter and founding member Dennis DelGaudio, who also plays guitar for the group.
“Thank you so much,” Porter said. “Can we get a yee-haw? All right.” It was followed by “Lies Crying” which featured Wade Preston on vocals, coupled with DelGaudio and Porter on harmonies. “I bet you can’t wait to see LeAnn Rimes,” they told the audience, praising their headliner.
The band immediately broke into “City Hall,” which deals with a shotgun wedding, as purple and green lights dimmed from the stage.
“Thank you very much,” they said, prior to singing another “city song,” which was their lead single from their debut album, entitled “City Boy.” DelGaudio acknowledged the fact that their music is considered “city country music,” which is a term that he coined from his band.
Porter sang lead on “Hurtin’ Songs,” where she demonstrated her wide vocal range and prowess, as the audience was clapping along. They expressed their gratitude to the venue, The Paramount for having them, as well as Rimes for allowing them to open for her. Shotgun Wedding closed their set with “Tumbleweed Tuesday.”
The Verdict
Overall, Shotgun Wedding soared as a whole at The Paramount. DelGaudio and Porter delighted on vocals, while Wade Preston delivered on piano, Andy Cichon rocked the bass, and acclaimed drummer Chuck Burgi nailed the drums.
