Son Volt

The historic Holland Theatre welcomes Son Volt, Americana favorites showcasing their latest album, Electro Melodier, and its unique blend of folk, country, blues, soul, and rock. Jesse Farrar of Old Salt Union will be opening the show.

2020 was not quite what Jay Farrar was expecting for the 25th anniversary of Son Volt’s groundbreaking debut Trace. Farrar had started Son Volt in 1994 after leaving Uncle Tupelo, a seminal group that helped define the alt-country and Americana genre. In 2020, Son Volt had just finished an Outlaw Country Cruise when the pandemic hit and sent the band into their homes on lockdown.

Instead of a triumphant tour marking the illustrious landmark, Farrar was forced indoors by the pandemic, and his “Reverie” during that time helped define Electro Melodier, Son Volt’s 10th studio album. The title, taken from the names of two vintage amplifiers from the late ‘40s and early ‘50s, also describes the disc’s unique blend of genres – an electric troubadour with melodies that hit and stick. 

Once again accompanied by the current Son Volt line up – keyboardist/steel guitarist Mark Spencer, bassist Andrew Duplantis, guitarist Chris Frame and drummer Mark Patterson – Farrar takes a slight turn from 2019’s politically pointed Union to a series of songs that asks questions rather than demanding answers – think of “Livin’ in the U.S.A.” as Farrar’s version of Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the U.S.A.,” Neil Young’s “Rockin’ in the Free World” or Patti Smith’s “People Have the Power,” an anthem to unite the populace.

An American Songwriter review of the album described Son Volt as “heartland rockers in an Everyman guise, ever-engaged troopers determined to rally the masses and reflect their resolve. They may rail against a skewered situation, but they keep to a sure-footed sound while carrying the cause forward.”

PLEASE NOTE: As of March 8, audience members are no longer required to wear masks while inside the Holland Theatre. We continue to reserve the right to adjust our policies and procedures in response to performers’ requirements and the local health situation.