When I heard Billy Bob Thornton was coming to town with his band, The Boxmasters, I literally jumped at the chance to cover the show. Get this: The band blends elements of rock ‘n’ roll, country, and ’60s pop, and when you throw in a front man with as much worldwide popularity (and notoriety) as actor Billy Bob Thornton (“Bud” as his gas-station attendant button down shirt displayed), the level of uniqueness was something that simply could not be missed. Here’s my honest take on their performance at Chicago’s City Winery last week:

In terms of authenticity, The Boxmasters’ music is rooted in a genuine appreciation for vintage Americana sounds, drawing heavily from the ’60s, British Invasion rock, and Southern influences. You can sense that the band’s style and Thornton’s vocals are sincere attempts to pay homage to those eras. Also, the lyrics seem to have a strong narrative quality, which is of no surprise, given Thornton’s acting and creative background. Honestly, most of their songs carry a certain straight-forwardness but with quite a bit of wit as well, which was fun. The only disappointing aspect is Billy Bob’s singing voice. It’s gravely and a bit monotone, which makes the songs feel less engaging after awhile. But, Thornton and the entire band are certainly entertaining, that’s a fact.

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Based on the fact that the band is playing to a niche’ audience in smaller venues makes it surprising that they have released seventeen (17) albums, they’re latest entitled, Love & Hate In Desperate Places, which was just released this past August. But, unlike others in this day and age, let us not gauge worthiness and success on crowd size alone. In the end, if you’re into throwback sounds and appreciate strong storytelling in music, you’ll definitely enjoy them. Plus, watching/hearing the legendary Billy Bob in action…I mean, c’mon, it’s a win-WIN! Catch Billy Bob Thornton and The Boxmasters in the States through mid-November. Click HERE for the band’s official website.