Molly Tuttle and Golden Highway live at the Fillmore in Silver Spring, MD review

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As a devoted fan of Molly Tuttle and Golden Highway, I must say that their show at the Fillmore in Silver Spring, MD was nothing short of spectacular! The energy, talent, and charisma from each member was palpable, making it an unforgettable night of music.

2023 and 2024 have seen Molly Tuttle traveling extensively, with her “Down the Rabbit Hole” tour nearing its end. Eager to explore fresh opportunities, she recently sported a new hairstyle at her concert in Silver Spring, MD’s Fillmore on Saturday evening. This was a long, black wig that she had stored away for several months, waiting to make its stage debut.

I was captivated by a fresh Martin acoustic guitar that I used for a brief moment when I took center stage, performing “Take the Journey” solo during a short break for my Golden Highway bandmates. For this instance, we had a new mandolin player, though that role was only temporary. Our regular mandolinist, Dominick Leslie, is on paternity leave, so Casey Campbell, who trained at Belmont, has stepped in as an exceptional substitute.

On Saturday evening, Golden Highway’s performance held an additional understated modification in front of a thousand joyful spectators. Tuttle, known for her generous leadership, has often appeared to deliberately shine the spotlight on other Golden Highway members. This practice has a thoughtful explanation.

Molly Tuttle and Golden Highway produced a glorious night of music

Among the band members, Shelby Means (bass), Bronwyn Keith-Hynes (fiddle), Kyle Tuttle (banjo, who surprisingly shares no relation with the others), and either Campbell or Leslie, are all exceptional musicians. In fact, Tuttle has been recognized with a total of seven nominations and two wins as the IBMA Guitar Player of the Year. However, in past performances, she usually stepped aside to let the rest of the band take center stage.

In a shift from her usual modest stage presence, Molly Tuttle, aged 31, seized the limelight more prominently during their Saturday performance compared to previous shows. Her shimmering mini-dress and captivating rendition of “Take the Journey” solo, along with several impressive guitar solos, served as testament to her expanding comfort in her role as a versatile American musician.

Approximately half the songs performed on Saturday were from Golden Highway’s Grammy-winning 2023 “City of Gold” album. This set started with several tracks such as “Down Home Dispensary,” “Yosemite,” (with Kyle standing in for Dave Matthews, who sang this duet on the original recording), and the energetic “El Dorado.” The latter, a thrilling account of the American gold rush, is as gripping as any movie on the same topic.

Next, they moved into the area Molly called the “haunting” section of the stage setup. From there, she switched to an electric guitar for a chilling rendition of “The River Knows,” followed by “Stranger Things,” and concluding with the incredibly psychedelic “Alice in the Bluegrass.

Besides adding several captivating renditions, she started off early with an energetic reinterpretation of “She’s a Rainbow” by The Rolling Stones, and later delivered a crowd-favorite version of John Denver’s “Thank God I’m a Country Boy.” In the middle, she hinted that we were about to hear a well-known song from recent years given a bluegrass twist, followed by her performance of Olivia Rodrigo’s “Good 4 U.

As a gamer, I wrapped up our main performance with an incredible four-track finale, kicking it off with the boisterous “Where Did All the Wild Things Go?” This tune gave our often-overlooked bassist, Shelby Means, a chance to shine with her soulful solo and powerful vocals. Following that, we took a brief instrumental interlude where everyone got to showcase their skills before diving into the epic “Dooley’s Farm.” This was Molly’s rendition of Steve Earle’s “Copperhead Road.

During each episode of Golden Highway, Molly often shares a poignant moment discussing her unique struggle with alopecia and the wig she wears now. This condition left her bald as a child, causing anxiety during her teenage years and young adulthood. To express her message about embracing differences, she removed her long black wig and sang “Crooked Tree,” a song emphasizing that unique qualities are one’s true strength. The audience erupted in approximately five minutes of applause. Lastly, the lively tribute to cannabis, “San Joaquin,” concluded the main performance.

For a two-song encore, Golden Highway was accompanied by their opening act, Two Runner. Two Runner, a lively folk/bluegrass duo made up of Paige Anderson on guitar and banjo, and Emilie Rose on fiddle, opened the show with a spirited thirty-minute set filled with danceable tunes. They are joining Golden Highway for the final stretch of their tour.

Growing up in our northern California town, Tuttle and I have been inseparable since we were just ten. We’d cross paths at local folk festivals, bonding over shared music passion. One memorable time, during an encore, Tuttle handed me the mic for a cover of Richard Thompson’s “1952 Vincent Black Lightning.” Quite an unforgettable moment in our musical journey together.

As I stood amidst the vibrant landscapes of Golden Highway and Two Runner, under the blanket of twilight, I closed the evening by sharing a heartfelt “Big Backyard” with my fellow gamers.

Only a few performances remain on the “Down the Rabbit Hole” tour, with the band performing multiple shows across New York and New England before taking a well-earned break. Tuttle has some shows in California coming up in December, including a benefit at the Fillmore in San Francisco – a venue she’s always dreamed of playing, having grown up in that area. Fans in Washington, D.C., were lucky enough to witness Golden Highway’s first show at the Fillmore, but Tuttle is set to play her second there.

Golden Highway is scheduled to hit the road again next Spring.

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2024-11-17 17:30