Friday night, Bodeco, Junkyard Dogs, and The Ladybirds gave Louisville a lovely, lively, and local post-holiday concert. The show served as the third installment of the new concert series “Faces at the Palace”.
The Ladybirds opened the show. Sounds of rolling guitar, grungy but sassy vocals, and all-around jump-up-and-down energy filled the lobby in The Palace, and the night was off to an exciting start. Fresh off the road, The Ladybirds seemed neither tired nor ready to sit down. When I say “jump-up-and-down energy”, I mean the band was literally jumping up and down. It was fabulous.
Much to everyone’s surprise, Bodeco took the stage next. Most audience members expected Bodeco to headline the show, especially as that seemed to be the idea advertisement for the night advanced. A vast majority of the crowd did indeed wake from its turkey coma specifically for Bodeco. There was definitely more excitement in the audience for the performance than existed during The Ladybirds' set, and when Junkyard Dogs took the stage, perhaps only less than half of those previously in attendance remained.
Bodeco undoubtedly put on a great show. The instrumentalists certainly kept the rock and roll rocking and rolling. They still "got it", as they say in some circles. Lead vocals (brought to stage by lead guitarist and founding member Ricky Feather) were undeniably weathered by twenty-seven years in the band, but maintained quite a charm. Audience reaction certainly confirmed an exciting performance.
Despite the vote of the audience, however, The Ladybirds' performance, judging from the band's energy, stage presence, chemistry, and confidence took the gold medal home. The show was stolen, as they say. Regardless of what was happening in front of them, each member of the band appeared to be in the middle (the whole time) of the greatest moment of his/her life. Their set was commanding and exciting. Good work, Ladybirds!
Watch for the fourth installment of the Faces at the Palace series next month!
Photo courtesy of The Ladybirds
