TYLER CHILDERS – SIDNEY MYER MUSIC BOWL

Review: Craig Eriksson. Photos: David Harris

Last night we attended the Sidney Myer Music Bowl in Melbourne to see the amazing American country/folk singer Tyler Childers and his band The Food Stamps on their Mule Pull Tour– Australia & NZ February 2025 presented by Live Nation and Love Police. It was a beautiful evening in Melbourne at the iconic music bowl for a sold out show.

Childers is one of the 3 best things to come out of Kentucky! Bourbon whisky, the Colonel’s Southern fried chicken with its secret herbs and spices (although the company has just moved it’s HQ to Texas!) and the incredible Tyler Childers and his fabulous music. All incredibly delicious in their own unique and special way.

We have attended quite a number of wonderful country music events lately such as Luke Combs, Sierra Ferrell, plus the Ridin’ Hearts festival and the Childers show can certainly be added to our list of standout shows. Childers has a distinctive, Southern, raspy voice and his powerful vocals, storytelling and connection with the audience was top notch. The theatrical stage backdrop was impressive which added an extra layer and dynamic to the show.

Childers and his 7-piece band The Food Stamps play a diverse, refreshing brand of country music from bluegrass, folk and honky tonk that combines both alt-country and traditional country music in their 22-song, 2 hour solid set.

Timothy Tyler Childers is a Singer/Songwriter from Louisa, Kentucky. He started writing songs when he was just 13 years of age and released his first album Bottles and Bibles in 2011 when he was 19. Childers album Purgatory released in 2017 was co-produced by Sturgill Simpson and gained worldwide attention with songs like Whitehouse Road, Feathered Indians and Lady May. Over the years, Childers has had incredible success worldwide and built up a massive following with fan favourites such as All Your’n, Nose On The Grindhouse and Rustin’ In The Rain.

Tyler Childers 7-piece band The Food Stamps are:

• Craig Burletic – bass guitar
• Rodney Elkins – drums
• James Barker – pedal steel guitar / guitar
• ‘The Professor’ Jesse Wells – other guitars, banjo, fiddle
• CJ Cain – acoustic guitar
• Kory Caudill – keyboards / organ
• Jimmy Rowland – synthesiser / piano accordion / multi-instrumentalist

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A very down-to-earth Childers walked unassumingly onstage dressed in a green cardigan and polo shirt, grey trousers, white runners and sporting a crewcut which didn’t fit our perception of country, until he said he was going to sing some hillbilly music and then the penny dropped. From this casual entrance, Childers proceeded to open his mouth and sing with such confidence and grace and what flowed was a mighty voice with a distinct Kentucky twang, effortless in its scope and range. Childers looked a little uncomfortable at times when he didn’t have his guitar, crossing his arms with a vulnerable but confident expression in his eyes as he stared out at the large audience. We were instantly mesmerised. A state we continued to find ourselves in as Childers and his band played their incredible 2 hour long set.

They opened with the acoustic Shake the Frost which instantly highlighted Childers incredible and beautiful Southern vocal range. Country Squire from the 2019 album of the same name followed with its storytelling and traditional country twang. Other songs from this 2019 release were Creeker highlighting Childers upper vocal register, clarity and emotional depth, House Fire and one of fans favourites All Your’n which Childers sang during his short solo set.

The Food Stamps were so in sync, each member taking the spotlight at different times to solo and then all playing together to create a huge sound presenting so many shades and layers. The musicality of this band was incredible. What continuously struck us was the way the crowd sang along to all of Childers songs.

The stage lighting was brilliant and the stage setting had an old vintage TV playing throughout the entire show, old furniture, couches and an old dresser that had about a dozen or so mason jars of water that Childers drank throughout the show. There was an Indian imagery placed on the synthesisers stand.

Childers quirky, humble and fun personality shone through when he shared a couple of stories in between songs and introduced his band. The words just flew out of his mouth and his thick Southern accent was hard to keep up with. Childers had a strong, emotional connection with the crowd which was incredible to experience considering the size of the audience.

When Childers played a 3-song acoustic solo set, it was so raw and authentic and you could see that he really feels the music. At times, the crowd became a massive choir accompanying him, singing at the top of their lungs, loving every second. A crowd highlight of the evening was everyone singing along to Lady May, Nose on the Grindstone and Follow You To Virgie. It was very special to behold and be a part of at the bowl.

Childers played 5-songs from the Purgatory (2017) album. I Swear (To God, Whitehouse Road, Honky Tonk Flame, Universal Sound and the beautiful Lady May.

During the middle of the set, the synth player, Childers and the band did a Hare Krishna mantra which was a little different, but seemed to work and went down well with the crowd. Other standout songs throughout the set were Follow You to Virgie, Two Coats, Whitehouse Road and the up-tempo Rustin in the Rain. Childers and his band sang a few covers – Tulsa Turnaround (Kenny Rogers & the First Edition cover) and Old Country Church (Hank Williams cover).

Childers thanked everyone for coming along to their show as he said you could be doing a million other things tonight. Country music in Australia is so incredibly popular and on the rise and we have the legendary Chris Stapleton playing at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne next Tuesday 25 February 2025.

Tyler Childers upcoming shows are:

22 Feb Coal Creek Community Park, Korrumburra, Victoria

24 Feb The Drive, North Adelaide, SA

28 Feb Kings Park & Botanic Garden, Perth, WA

SET LIST:

1. Shake the Frost
2. Country Squire
3. I Swear (To God)
4. Creeker
5. Peace of Mind
6. Tulsa Turnaround (Kenny Rogers & The First Edition cover)
7. Percheron Mules
8. Rustin’ in the Rain
9. All Your’n
10.  Purgatory
11. In Your Love
12. Lady May (solo)
13. Nose on the Grindstone (solo)
14. Follow You to Virgie (solo)
15. Old Country Church (Hank Williams cover)
16. Can I Take My Hounds to Heaven?
17. Whitehouse Road
18. Two Coats (Jubilee version)
19. Honky Tonk Flame
20. Way of the Triune God
21. House Fire
22. Universal Sound