The Band CAMINO just can’t stay away from Phoenix, and nobody is complaining. The trio stopped through over the weekend, and even though it’s only been eight months since their last performance in the valley, the fans showed up in droves to sell out the venue. That’s how you know the band has something special — people will show up again and again, even in the scorching heat, even when the setlist is mostly the same.
But as a fun twist, the Taking Shape Tour also features Knox, a fellow Nashville-based pop rock artist who’s no stranger to the desert. His headliner at Valley Bar sold out in a matter of hours, and he opened for Nightly at Crescent Ballroom a few months before that. Like The Band CAMINO, Knox makes upbeat earworms that get the crowd dancing, so this tour was a match made in heaven. We got “Sneakers”, new track “Treadmill”, and, of course, the breakout hit, “Not the 1975”. And with so much touring experience already, Knox performs with total confidence and has amassed his own fanbase who packed the front row early.
The energetic opening set was the perfect way to set the tone for the main event, and The Van Buren was abuzz with Saturday night energy when Spencer Stewart, Jeffery Jordan (in voluminous jorts and cowboy boots, which we’d be remiss to gloss over) and Garrison Burgess took their places on stage. Kicking off with “Nostalgia”, it would appear the trio isn’t taking shape — they’re fully in their groove. They’ve determined this formula of full band + acoustic mini set + full band + encore works, and they’re sticking to it. It gives each show a unique touch, and the loudest fans can successfully request their favorites. In Phoenix, one of those requests was “Berenstein”, which was redemption for skipping over it last fall.
But even better than the setlist was the way the band regarded the room. Arguably the best part of seeing an artist early on in their career is seeing the moment when they are just as in awe of the size of the crowd they drew as the fans are of them. Yes, The Band CAMINO is several years in by now, but they still are awestruck by their fanbase, and it’s exciting to see. Maybe they’re taking shape after all and will be massive stadium-level rock stars when they’re fully formed. (So if you’re not already on the train, now is the best time to hop on.)
For now, though, they’re building momentum with high-energy shows featuring the music their fans can’t get enough of, and it won’t be long until we’re all coming back for more.
