Show Details

Vincent Neil Emerson

Ticket Site: TicketWeb
Show Time: 8:00pm
Lineup: Vincent Neil Emerson

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Joe’s on Weed Street — Chicago, IL

Address: 940 West Weed St., Chicago, IL 60642
Additional Info: Vincent Neil Emerson has become a beloved figure in folk and country music, celebrated for his raw, honest storytelling about life on the road, heartbreak, and hardship. His 2019 debut LP, Fried Chicken & Evil Women, established him as a refreshing voice in modern country music, but his playful, charming songs only scratched the surface of his story.On his new album, The Golden Crystal Kingdom, Emerson expands his narrative scope, chronicling his personal history and exploring themes from his honky-tonk days to his early struggles living out of a car and busking. Tracks like the title song and The Time of The Rambler highlight his journey from Texas honky-tonks to self-discovery.Born and partly raised in East Texas around his Choctaw-Apache family, Emerson moved frequently and was raised by a single mother after losing his father to suicide at age nine. He examined these losses on his self-titled 2021 album, with songs like Learning to Drown and Ballad of the Choctaw Apache, the latter shedding light on his tribes history. His familys relocation from Louisiana to Texas reflects a deep connection to his Native roots, which he honors through his music.The Golden Crystal Kingdom showcases Emersons evolution, blending folk and rock influences reminiscent of Bob Dylan and Neil Young while retaining his sharp storytelling. Produced by Shooter Jennings, the album embraces a freewheeling rock aesthetic. I didnt want to model this record after anyone elses music, Emerson explains. Ive been influenced by a lot of rock and roll from the sixties and seventies.Emerson sought to expand his sound, not oppose his country and folk roots. Collaborators like Jennings, Steve Earle, and Rodney Crowell helped shape the album, with Earle providing key encouragement for the socially charged track Man From Uvalde, written in response to the tragic Uvalde, Texas school shooting. Initially hesitant to include the song, Emerson found confidence in Earles guidance, making it a standout on the album.The record also pays tribute to peers who inspired him, including a cover of Charley Crocketts Time of the Cottonwood Trees and reflections on the support hes received from Crockett and Colter Wall. Theyve been my biggest supporters and encouraged me to pursue this, Emerson says. Especially when I lacked the confidence to believe in myself.Growing up in a trailer with a single mother and enduring bouts of homelessness, Emerson credits friends, family, and collaborators for their faith in his vision. Yet his humility doesnt mask his hard work and singular talent. By blending everyman tales with tributes to his roots and aspirations, Vincent Neil Emerson cements himself as one of the most compelling songwriters of his generation. With The Golden Crystal Kingdom, he carries forward the singer-songwriter legacy while carving out a space uniquely his own.