A few years ago, a new interest snuck up on us. Beyond our usual diet of rock, metal, and everything in between, we found ourselves drawn to a genre we hadn’t yet fully explored: Country. Today, we are happy to say we’ve truly dived headfirst into the scene, having attended a handful of shows and even a full festival day. Honestly? The music itself sounds absolutely fantastic; our infatuation boils down to two additional distinct reasons.
First, there’s the lyrical content. Country hits differently when you get a bit older, and by older, I mean hitting that stage of life where you have a home of your own, a partner, and perhaps even children. Family and tradition are themes woven beautifully throughout this genre, and being a father naturally softens you up, making you incredibly vulnerable to songs of that nature.
Second, it’s all about timing. It turns out we weren’t the only ones ripe for a Country takeover. The genre has absolutely soared over the last couple of years. Megastars like Post Malone and Beyoncé have pushed the sound to even greater heights, while core artists within the scene have skyrocketed from playing intimate clubs to filling massive arenas (but more on that in the second part of this love letter tomorrow).
One of the very first artists to land on our radar when we opened our doors to the genre was The Castellows. The trio, consisting of three sisters, creates absolutely stunning “neo-Country,” as they like to call it. We have been following their journey since their debut EP, but we fell for them hard the moment they released “No 7 Road.”
After catching them at C2C in March of last year, we were ecstatic to see them return. Currently on the road opening massive shows for Luke Combs, the sisters booked a headline date at Amsterdam’s Melkweg in the ‘Oude Zaal’. It sold out in a flash, further cementing our belief that Country is rapidly conquering the market here in the Netherlands.
With unbridled enthusiasm, we flocked to Amsterdam to witness the band’s first-ever headline show overseas. Playing to a packed, ecstatic room, a few things immediately stood out. First and foremost, the sheer musical talent of the Balkcom sisters and their backing band is undeniable. The sisters frequently swapped instruments on stage while effortlessly trading off lead vocal parts. Unfortunately, due to an accident just days before the show, Lily Balkcom had to limit herself to “just” vocals tonight, a task, we might add, she executed to perfection.
Country tracks tend to run a bit shorter than the sweeping epics we are used to in the rock and metal spheres, which usually results in shorter setlists when it comes to the sheer number of songs. Country shows, we have learned this weekend, have, on average, a bit more songs on the setlist. Even for a standard club show, The Castellows brought a whopping 20-song setlist and flew through it at rapid speed. While they took time to converse with the crowd between tracks, they kept things moving without the dragged-out banter we so often see at gigs.
They managed to power through all 20 songs in less than 90 minutes, delivering brilliant renditions of fan and personal favourites like Freeway and Sober Sundays (performed beautifully even without co-star Wyatt Flores). Another massive highlight was their cover of Levon Helm’s Hurricane, which has quickly transformed into a staple anthem among their fanbase.
The band shifted seamlessly from high-energy bangers to moments of raw vulnerability, perfectly fueling our love for this music. The entire concert was an absolute joy to witness, save for one frustrating detail: a handful of people in the back who unfortunately confirmed the stereotype that Dutch crowds simply cannot shut up during a performance. Please, for the love of all that is holy, refrain from having full-blown conversations at the exact same decibel level as the band.
While we will be diving deeper into the duality of Country in tomorrow’s piece, centred around Luke Combs’ monumental upcoming show at the Johan Cruijff Arena, for now, we invite you to relive this extraordinary night.
Check out the full photo gallery from The Castellows at Melkweg below, courtesy of Eva van den Bosch!
