Aaron Lewis performed at the Paramount Theatre on Saturday, January 14. The singer-songwriter, known for fronting the alternative rock group Staind, played a handful of covers and new songs off of his solo EP, Town Line.
Lewis' performance was enthralling due to the intimate atmosphere that accompanied it. He sat atop a stool in the middle of the stage with an assortment of guitars by his side, and was accompanied by friend and local musician, Ben Kitterman. Lewis smiled at the audience before going into material off of Town Line. Fans applauded and cheered as Lewis began to perform, his acoustic guitar sending out chords of melancholy joy. The luscious, elongated steel guitar strums from Kitterman only added to the show's appeal, its resonance intertwined with Lewis' husky growl.
From the patriotic fan-favorite, "Red, White and Blue," to the country-tinged "Country Boy," Lewis was fearless as his voice would crescendo with every forceful strum from his acoustic guitar, resulting in fans screaming wildly. After reaching for another guitar, Lewis turned back to the audience and made an announcement: "I do not have a setlist." Suddenly, the show became unpredictable; fans shouted for "Sober," "Black," "It's Been Awhile." One fan even confidently yelled, "Freebird," and the audience laughed hysterically as Lewis stared into darkness trying to find the culprit.
And, surprisingly, Lewis went right into it, albeit briefly. He did this for a few songs: "Time After Time," "My Sharona" and "Puff, the Magic Dragon," Lewis had the audience impressed and baffled as he covered an array of pop hits in a matter of seconds. Before getting too carried away, another fan yelled, "play your songs," ending the audience's calamity. Smiling, Lewis went into one more cover before moving on.
Lightly strumming the opening to "What Hurts the Most," Lewis' vocals soared with conviction, his backed sentimental chords swallowing the audience whole. "What hurts the most," sang Lewis, the chorus poignant and powerful as audience members were left immobile. Lewis' raspy delivery gave the song a hard edge, only adding to its somber sound.
Ending with mainly Staind songs, including "It's Been Awhile," fans were left satisfied as Lewis performed each one flawlessly. Lewis is a talented musician; although first acquainted to him through his angst-driven, introspective narratives in Staind, the singer-songwriter has come a long way, making a distinguishable mark on not only alternative rock music, but country music as well.