AARON LEWIS LIVE @ INDIAN RANCH – WEBSTER, MA.

By Joe Perusse

Aaron Lewis – Indian Ranch, Webster Ma

Sunday I took a drive up to Webster, Ma with my sister Claudine for a 1 PM Aaron Lewis show. For someone who has to get up on Monday for work I am an advocate for more 1 o’clock Sunday shows. My sister has always loved Aaron’s voice and goes to see him whenever she can. If you have never been to one of his solo shows, it’s Aaron, telling stories, drinking whiskey, singing songs and more than a touch of a Trump rally.

My brother in law, Billy said he wasn’t up for the Republican National Convention yet, so it was just the 2 of us. Being from CT, I thought I was heading up to an Indian casino in Massachusetts. Nope, if you have never been, it’s an outdoor stage in a trailer park on Lake Chaubunagungamaug, also know as Webster Lake. Good thing my sister had enough cash for parking because that thought never crossed my mind.

Aaron did not disappoint in all aspects I just mentioned as you will see. Coming out he greeted the crowd with a boisterous “Fuck Yea, Good Afternoon, Everyone drinking?” Taking a sip of his whiskey he stated “still tastes good on a Sunday”. “Sinner” led off the set followed by “Granddaddy’s Gun”. Mentioning that none of us talk to God enough anymore and we should change that “Everybody Talks to God” was next.

The crowd started their first “Let’s Go Brandon” chant of the afternoon and saying funny you should mention that “Let’s Go Fishin”, his version of the chant got the crowd riled up and a USA chant followed the song. Lewis mentioned he wrote the next song “Lost and Lonely” at a high point in his life, as he was entering rehab. He said it was a great time if you like puzzles and forced sobriety.

“Kill Me Like You Love Me” led into the new Staind single “Here and Now”. Band intros were next and only giving first names joining him on guitar were Chuck, who he blamed for any complaints in the set list as that is Chuck’s job and Kevin. He questioned why he doesn’t sing with an accent like Sully from Godsmack and played a snippet of “Voodoo”. Lewis said he should sound like the Pepperidge Farms guy, born in Vermont and raised in Massachusetts.

A snippet of Bon Jovi’s “Wanted Dead or Alive” had the crowd singing and Lewis commented “I guess that’s about right that this area of the country would be the last place they are still cool.” Smashing Pumpkins “Disarm” was the next snippet and the comment that they sound more like “Smashing Vocal Chords“. After his digs at those band, a set list staple, “Ironic” by Alanis Morissette, had the crowd singing along.

Between guitar changes, keeping the whiskey full and making sure the cigarettes didn’t run out, as Lewis chain-smoked throughout the show, his guitar tech was a busy guy. Getting a little ornery now Lewis yelled at the people out on the lake, “how you liking the free show, fuckers?, Fuck You.” “Someone” led into a tribute to where he grew up and where the show was taking place “Massachusetts”.

Throwing picks to the crowd, he let everyone know there are only 2 picks he uses, one with a picture of his favorite person on earth and the other says fuck Joe Biden. He started a song he acknowledged was written a long time ago and amazed himself that he was 51 but he got sidetracked a bit with his whiskey, pointing out that if you mix it with water then its a healthy shake. “I’m just hydrating“. Then telling the ladies, “I’m gonna say it’s moist. I don’t know what your problem is with that word, most good thing are moist.” Back to the music, “Outside” by Staind finished the main set.

Coming out for the encore to a USA chant, Lewis stated he was kinda hoping for the other chant so the crowd obliged with “Let’s Go Brandon”. During “I Ain’t Made in China” there was a big commotion in the crowd. Aaron noticed and stopped the song. A policeman had gotten punched and Lewis chewed the guy out and said hope he has a shitty night. His support is always with the blue.

The song was then played from the beginning. Writing “Country Boy” in 20 minutes because his plumber bet him he couldn’t write a country song, he told the crowd we should all tap into our human spirit. Explaining how he used to sing it in bars starting out and just changing the words every time finally getting it right 28 years ago “It’s Been Awhile” (Staind) spent 17 weeks at number 1. The crowd was loving it 28 years later. Motioning the crowd to stand for the finale “Am I the Only One” he then yelled “Stand on your fuckin boats too.” The crowd sang along loving every bit of it.

It was great ending to a great day and heading out for home by 4 pm was very much appreciated.

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