Reckless Kelly provided two entertaining nights across North Carolina last week.

Austin based Reckless Kelly rolled into North Carolina for the second time this year with two stops scheduled in Winston-Salem and Shelby. Having previously visited the Tarheel State in June (Hickory and Raleigh) the return was met by many familiar faces as all of their shows serve to increase a consistent fan base, gaining new followers and peaking interest across the state.

The first stop this time around took place in Winston-Salem at The Ramkat, formerly Ziggy’s, and the changes to the venue have been impressive. A quality venue able to produce both a good listening room or full concert experience, the focus here is clearly on the music.

Lead singer Willy Braun appeared solo on stage as the set time approached after an entertaining performance from North Carolina’s own Time Sawyer, greeting the audience with a short introduction and rare acoustic performance. Covering the Bob Dylan classic, “The Times They Are a-Changin’” was a perfect start to an Election Day set highlighted by some appropriately placed songs with a patriotic feel.

Mixed between Reckless Kelly classics “Seven Nights in Eire”, “Nobody’s Girl” and “Crazy Eddie’s Last Hurrah” was “Pennsylvania Avenue” and a solo from lead guitarist David Abeyta of Slaid Cleaves‘ “One Good Year”. Both added a unique twist to the evening before a rocking finale.

Two days later, the band took on an entirely different feel inside the Don Gibson Theatre, located in Shelby. A seated room, with ease Reckless Kelly constructed a set of songs that equally matched the location.

A nice combination of the favorites paired among others that fittingly intersected with the setting, it created an entirely different feel during most of the evening. The sign of an experienced group of musicians, the band seemed to build momentum as the night transpired and by repeating the same finale from Winston-Salem, a rousing rendition of Creedence Clearwater Revival‘s “Fortunate Son”, much of the audience was on their feet, filling the aisles in addition to an area in front of the stage in support.

Both top-notch, quality performances as North Carolina looks forward to the return of Reckless Kelly again soon.