The Boxmasters Bring a Rock Revival to North Carolina

The Pepper Tree Hill Tour Rocks the Don Gibson Theatre in Shelby

There’s nothing like a good old-fashioned rock and roll show with no bells and whistles, just a bunch of guys on the stage giving it their all, raw and unfiltered. That is exactly what The Boxmasters brought last night in Shelby, NC, when they rolled into town on the Pepper Tree Hill Tour.

Now, the first thing you might be asking yourself is Shelby, NC? Why there? Well, why not Shelby? In the heart of uptown Shelby, there lies a hidden gem called the Don Gibson Theatre. Let’s recall that Don Gibson was a native of Shelby who went on to become a country music legend and a Country Music Hall of Fame inductee. The theatre is a small, 400-seat venue that is just a fantastic place to see a show. There literally is not a bad seat in the house, and I was pleasantly surprised to find out that quite a number of national touring acts add this jewel to their tour plans. There is also ample free parking and a lounge where you can grab a drink both before and during the show.

So that brings us to yesterday and The Boxmasters show. So, what do we know about The Boxmasters? Well, of course, the lead singer is none other than the famous actor Billy Bob Thornton. Yes, that Billy Bob Thornton, the one who made his name in movies like Slingblade, the one who made Bad Santa an instant holiday classic (at least in my house), and the one who plays the baddest and best oilman on television in the series Landman. But, for tonight, Thornton left the acting behind and focused on his other love, music.

I wasn’t too familiar with The Boxmasters, so I did a little digging. The band consists of Billy Bob on lead vocals, J.D. Andrew on guitar and vocals, Kirk McKim on guitar, Raymond Hardy on bass, and Nick Davidson on drums. Their discography is enormous, dating back to 2008 with their most recent and 19th, yes 19th!, record being released this past July, Pepper Tree Hill. Musically, The Boxmasters are really a mixed bag of rock and roll, blues, country, rockabilly, and a little of everything in between, so there is definitely a little something for everyone.

The band hit the stage promptly at 8 P.M. There was no opening act this evening, so it was nothing but The Boxmasters, which is exactly what the crowd wanted: a little over 90 minutes of pure rock and roll energy. Everyone in the band is a top-notch musician, and Thornton more than holds his own vocally.

The setlist was a great combination of songs from a variety of their albums, including a few tunes from their new record. Thornton took time between songs to address the crowd and to provide insight into the origins of some of the songs, telling us stories about how his father you to take him to see car wrecks as a kid before “Jayne Mansfield’s Car” and about a fan who turned crazy stalker which was the inspiration behind “Light Rays.” It didn’t surprise me that Thornton was such a great speaker, regaling us with stories of his past. What did surprise me was how genuine he came across. There was no movie star persona present in the least. He could have been any regular guy from Shelby who just happened to sing in a band, and it was a real breath of fresh air.

Although Thornton is the most well-known member, The Boxmasters are a true band effort, and they all had their own moments to shine, with J.D. introducing the only song that he never helped write, and J.D., Kirk, and Raymond getting together for a real jam session at the front of the stage.

It was a great night of music with Thornton urging all of us to come on down front for the last few songs. In a world full of TikTok viral hits and Auto-tune madness, The Boxmasters are just what the doctor ordered. The band is out on tour through the end of September, so add them to your must-see list today. Until next time, “Good Night Sleep Tight, I’m Gone.”

See the Full Gallery of the Night Here!

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Tour Dates:

Wednesday, August 27 @ 7:00PM

Lincoln Square Theater

Lincoln Square Theater, Decatur, IL 62523

Thursday, August 28 @ 7:00PM

Canterbury Park Concert Series

Canterbury Park Concert Series, SHAKOPEE, MN 55379

Friday, August 29 @ 7:30PM

Stiefel Theatre

Stiefel Theatre, Salina, KS 67401

Saturday, August 30 @ 7:00PM

Phil Long Music Hall

Phil Long Music Hall, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80921

Wednesday, September 3 @ 7:00PM

Whidbey Island Center for the Arts

Whidbey Island Center for the Arts, Langley, WA 98260

Thursday, September 4 @ 7:00PM

Spokane Tribe Casino

Spokane Tribe Casino, Airway Heights, WA 99001

Friday, September 5 @ 7:00PM

Bourbon & Bonfire Experience