On April 13th, 2014, Kevin Costner and Modern West took the stage for a 15 song set at The Paramount in Huntington, New York. The stage was running on schedule, and offered a wild ride for all.  Costner’s daughter Lily opened the show with a short acoustic set, her sweet voice and strumming accompanied only by Gil Landry on a second guitar.  I suppose you could say that if the band played, they would come to fill the venue to see the legendary Hollywood star in person.  He welcomed the audience with “It’s so great to be here. Thanks for going to the movies all these years.” Costner offered a tight band, with vocals that were overshadowed by his charisma and his palpable Hollywood legend permeating the air.  He also thanked the audience for “treating my daughter so graciously”. The Prince of Thieves and his merry men opened with Red River, and that river flowed until their encore of Bob Dylan’s Mr. Tambourine Man, done in the tradition of Roger McGuinn’s Byrds. 

Kevin Costner’s wife Christine Baumgartner encouraged him to pursue the musical career he had abandoned for acting, which led to Costner reuniting with some former members of his old band the Roving Boys.  The Roving Boys had a hit in Japan with their song The Simple Truth, but dances with some wolves called critics and overwhelming acting success forced music to be put on hold.  Including From Where I Stand (2011) and Famous For Killing Each Other (the soundtrack to Hatfields & McCoys, 2012), the band has four releases, and a world tour to their credit since getting back together.  If audience demand is the final word on longevity, Modern West should be around well into the future.

The enthusiastic crowd was filled with many women who were smitten by the looks and charm of Mr. Costner.  As they said in similar fashion about Sinatra, there were men there who wanted to “be” him, in a sense, in addition to the females fielding screams “for” him.  Musical highlights included Alive In The City, Top Down,  and Hey Man, What About You.  The crowd was urged to sing along on the encore of Dylan’s Mr. Tambourine Man, an offer to which they acquiesced.  If fun exhibited is the measure of a concert, the audience found this one an enjoyable success. 

Modern West includes Costner on guitar and vocals: Teddy Morgan on lead guitar; John Coinman on guitar; Larry Cobb on drums; and Luke Bulla and Park Chisholm on fiddles.  Songwriting is usually shared by some combination of Costner, Coinman, and Forward.  2004’s “Miss Golden Globe”, Lily Costner joined the band on the duet Let Me Be The One (on which she sang the female vocal done by Sara Beck on the studio recording).

The Paramount offers friendly staff and security, and easily accessible bars.  There is seating and standing room on the floor, as well as balcony seating.  Many restaurants are in the area, as well as a lovely shopping district to stroll before and after the show.  Unlike many venues, even a capacity crowd does not provide a claustrophobic atmospehere.  A close up view for all to any act at the Paramount is a given.   – by Bob Wilson

 

Photos by Wayne Herrschaft

 

Setlist: Red River; Ashes Turn To Stone; Turn It On; Nogales; Alive In The City; Love Is Everywhere; Maria, Nay; Top Down, Let Me Be The One (with Lily Costner); Famous For Killing Each Other; Stand Strong; Long Way From Home; Cleo At The Wheel; Hey Man,What About You; ENCORE: Mr. Tambourine Man   

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niHg0oC8qy0

 

A clip of Costner in his great portrayal of Jim Garrison in Oliver Stone’s JFK (1991).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BckPa2_A8gI

 

 

 

 

 

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