UPB put on a concert featuring country music newcomer Sammy Arriaga and the established duo Love and Theft. Arriaga impressed the crowd with his vocal range and stage presence. Headliners Love and Theft then took the stage, with Stephen Liles engaging the crowd while Eric Gunderson showed guitar skills. They performed old favorites and new singles, encouraging the audience to come to the stage. The author commended their talent and ability to interact with fans, calling it an amazing show worth more than the ticket price.

1. Love and Theft: A Concert Review
If you happened to have passed the Quad this past Wednesday night, you
may have heard an unfamiliar sound echoing from the Wilson auditorium. That
would have been the melodic tunes of country music newcomer Sammy Arriaga and
well-established duo Love and Theft. The concert, put on by UPB, lasted
approximately three hours, with both acts putting on quite a show. First up was
Sammy Arriaga, a 21-year-old Miami native with a smooth, solid voice and look
made for the spotlight. Playing both original material and various covers, the young
artist came out with guns blazing, easily making a number of new fans. This can be
accredited in part to his ability to please a number of tastes and showing his creative
flexibility with covers like Avicci’s “Wake Me Up” and the Goo Goo Dolls’ “Name.” He
also played a number of songs ranging from slow ballads to fast-paced, feel-good
tunes much like those that you would hear if you were to listen to a current country
music radio station.
Arriaga held good stage presence and tried to interact with the audience as
best as he could. However, the atmosphere was not the most inviting, as fans were
not allowed to leave their seats and come stand in front of the stage. Despite this, the
artist was able to connect with fans and show his more sensitive side by putting
down his guitar and coming from behind the mic stand with his heartfelt ballad “Call
Me After Midnight.” The artist also showed off a nice range of vocals and ability so
that if he had nerves before going on stage, you would never have known. Such a
young performer can easily be commended for the ability to do such a thing, but
Arriaga will no doubt stay humble. The singer made sure to praise and introduce his
band, as is custom, and also held Love and Theft in high regards for allowing him to
tour with them. In my opinion, Sammy is one to watch out for, as he fits right in with
popular country trends of today. All in all, a solid opener to get the word out about a
talented, new artist and the crowd riled up for the main event.
Fast-forward to the entrance of Stephen Barker Liles and Eric Gunderson,
and cue ear drum- shattering screams from the crowd. The duo took to the stage
with enough energy and excitement to go around, and the talent to match. Liles and
Gunderson got into their groove and showed off their personalities through their
performances. For the majority of the show, Stephen Liles left his mic stand behind
and made his way around the stage, showing off his looks and dancing moves that
made the girls swoon. He also lead the role of keeping the audience interested and
excited, as he did most of the talking throughout the night. Eric Gunderson, in
contrast, showed a more reserved side to the duo as he mainly stayed behind his
mic and handled a guitar with skill up to par with his counterparts in country music.
Together, however, they balanced each other nicely and began to show that they
weren’t just looks and good times; they could sing their hearts out.
The two fed off of each other’s energy, putting on one heck of a show. With
matching guitars, the pair performed with utter synchrony in their vocals. After
performing a few songs like this to get everyone warmed up and the crowd going,
the real “show” began. Seeing that no one was leaving their seats, the duo
encouraged the crowd to come to the stage, and the audience was not one to protest.
Within seconds the crowd had made their way to the foot of the stage. Touching
distance away, Love and Theft then paid tribute to the late Johnny Cash by playing

2. “Folsom Prison Blues.” The party didn’t last long, as security was soon at the fans’
heels corralling them back to their seats, and Gunderson jokingly coined the men
“the fun police.”
The duo proceeded to show off a mix of their old favorites and new singles,
all with vocals that would do any artist proud. The singers showed their relevance
and down-to-earth perspectives with catchy tunes like “21” and “Girls Look Hot In
Trucks,” but also knew how to get a crowd going with anthems like “Runaway.” To
show a softer side and an even sweeter vocal range, “Amen” and “Thinking of You
(And Me)” showed the true talent and depth of the artists. I believe the band should
also be recognized for their ability to communicate with and involve the crowd.
Within a medley of Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s “Fishing in the Dark” and “Drift Away,”
most commonly known for Uncle Kracker’s rendition, the two singers held a friendly
competition with the audience. Seeing which section of Wilson could belt out that
classic line of “Drift Away” the loudest, fans got plenty of entertainment and laughs.
Wrapping the show up with perhaps their most widely known song, Love and Theft
declared that “there’s a little bit of devil in those angel eyes” and thanked the
audience for coming out.
On a personal note, the show was worth well over the price of the ticket.
Having scored a meet and greet pass, I was able to hang around and make small talk
with the duo, who seemed just as personable off stage as they had been while
performing. I don’t mind saying that I have paid almost triple that amount to see
another country music artist some years ago, and I feel I got the same, if not better,
enjoyment out of this one. That is what I believe gives Love and Theft so much
potential- their ability to put on an amazing show without the bells and whistles of
other artists. The singers were simply on stage performing their songs and
interacting with the audience just as classic country music is meant to be played. I
could clearly hear every word they sang over the music, and was in no way
disappointed with their stage presence. I must say, UPB found a gem with these
artists, and as for me, it will be a hard experience to live up to.
Mollie Jones