q104 country christmas


Jackson Dean is one of our more favorite rising stars just now and this was a rare opportunity to catch him outside of the glitz and glam of an arena show.  Indeed, we had been trying to catch up with him, in just this type of format, for more than a year.  Each attempt was thwarted for one reason or another and we had kind of given up hope.  Then comes Q104 (KBEQ-FM) with their annual Christmas show featuring none other than this elusive musician.


Hosted by PBR Big Sky at the Power & Light District, with proceeds going to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, this proved the perfect opportunity to catch his act, up close and personal, and unplugged.  This is the true test of the talent of any musician, to get up on stage with nothing more than their voice, instrument and stage lighting.


Jackson Dean did not disappoint either. A country musician who is not entirely country, he is rhythm and blues, and a little bit of rocker too.  A voice that is gritty and growly, and at other times, rich, strong and smooth as silk, he can belt one out with the best or serenade a swoon from his followers.  His music and lyrics showcase his determination, intriguing life backstories, and occasionally, just the right sort of angsty melancholy mixed with a glimmer of hope.  He is undoubtedly proving himself to be a diverse and talented artist to keep an eye on.


Alongside Jackson, appeared Josh Ross and Bryce Leatherwood.  We had not heard of these folks before the lights came up but were not disappointed in the least.  Each taking turns with Jackson in a round-robin on stage, they hammered through their favorites and recent popular accomplishments, holding their own ground.  It turned out we had actually heard a few too and immensely enjoyed all of the performances, to include one round of popular tunes by none of them.


While the performance only lasted a bit over an hour, it was worth every penny, and the effort of going out on a school night.  Additionally, it was good to meet and talk with other fans of Jackson Dean, some from as far off as South Dakota.  They all expressed that their reasons for making the journey were no different than our own, simply to catch Jackson Dean without the grotesque arena pop-star accompaniment and ticket prices.  Standing three meters away will always be preferrable to watching a performance on a big screen across an ocean of people at an exorbitant cost.
Location: PBR Big Sky, 111 E 13th St, Kansas City, MO 64106, USA

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