07/03/24
The Wild West Fest (website), Hays Kansas’ 4-day annual event, kicked off on Wednesday night under a scorching sun and fickle sky. Even though the night was limited to two acts due to impending weather, they really got the crowd rocking.
Up first was 80’s rock tribute band Paramount, made up of 5 talented members from across the Midwest. Lead vocalist Eddie Light effortlessly belted out some of the most beloved and recognizable hits of the era. The 80’s is a decade that refuses to be forgotten, and that was made apparent by the number of young people I spotted singing along word-for-word to songs like Corey Hart’s “Sunglasses at Night”, Poison’s “Nothin’ But A Good Time”, “Heat of the Moment” by Asia, and “Heard it From a Friend” by REO Speedwagon. Lead guitarist Nevin Truan was aggressive on the guitar, had a few epic solos, and provided that 80’s crunch factor that we all know and love. Paramount, as always, was enjoyable and was a great way to open the festival.
Up next was Nate Smith, a self-proclaimed gritty backwoods soul with rock ‘n’ roll swagger and velvet-thunder vocals. Nate is a California native and a Sony music artist who epitomizes midwestern values and maintains a resilient “knocked down 3 times, get up 4” spirit. As the crowd grew in numbers, Nate matched that energy that only grew stronger the longer he played.
What struck me as Nate performed was his willingness to get vulnerable with the crowd, offering insight into what inspires him to create an album like Through the Smoke. “Five years ago, my hometown Paradise, California, burned down in a terrible fire, and I lost everything. I had to start over from scratch,” he professed to the crowd. This fire propelled Nate to Nashville and ultimately secured him a Sony record deal. Like a phoenix, Nate Smith emerged from the ashes determined to succeed and fulfill his dreams. As he played songs like “Bulletproof,” “Sleeve,” and “Whiskey on You,” it was clear he was doing just that.
Throughout his set, Nate recounted experiences from his time as a CNA to a few memorable nights in Hays’ infamous ‘barmuda triangle,’ and reflecting on the lifelong friendships he made along the way. He dedicated “Here’s to Hometowns,” a track from his 2024 album Through the Smoke, to Hays expressing his connection to the city. “I said I promise one day I’m gonna come back to Hays if I get a chance to make it in this industry. It’s been four years since I’ve been back and I’ve been looking forward to this day every day since I left. From the bottom of my heart, I feel like I’ve found another hometown here in Hays.”
Nate Smith’s set was powerful, and it was easy to see why it felt like the entire city of Hays came out to see him play. Children lined the barriers wearing earmuffs, young boys sat atop their fathers’ shoulders, and Nate doled out an endless amount of high fives and fist bumps. He ended his set with an awesome encore performance of “My Hero” by the Foo Fighters and “World on Fire”.
It was a fantastic, family-friendly evening filled with great music, an enthusiastic crowd, and performers who made braving the heat worthwhile. Night one of the Wild West Fest set an exceptional standard, and I look forward to the rest of the week.
The Festival continues Friday with performances from Jake Dunworth, Savanna Chestnut, and headliners Sawyer Brown. Saturday features Roxslyde, Sunset Sinners, and closes the festival with Quiet Riot.
