AMIGO THE DEVIL WITH SPECIAL GUESTS NATE BERGMAN AND TK & THE HOLY KNOW-NOTHINGS: YOURS UNTIL THE TOUR IS OVER AT THE BEACHAM IN ORLANDO, FLORIDA, SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 15, 2024
September 15th, 2024
Concert Review
By Maggie Martinez: Photographer / Writer
On Sunday, September 15, 2024, Orlando’s historic Beacham Theatre was more than just a backdrop for live music; it was a character in its own right. Built in 1921, the venue’s storied past added a cinematic weight to the evening’s performances.
The line to get in stretched down Orange Avenue, forming well before doors opened, a testament to the devoted following these performers have cultivated. Rich with history and a tinge of eerie folklore, The Beacham provided the perfect setting for an unforgettable evening of soul-baring music.
As you walk into The Beacham, the grandeur of its 1920s architecture strikes you immediately. Originally built as a vaudeville theater and later transformed into a cinema, the building still holds whispers of its glamorous past. The high ceiling, dual staircases leading up to the multi-level balcony, and the soft acoustics are all part of what makes The Beacham a true Orlando landmark.
NATE BERGMAN
The night’s opener, Nate Bergman, took the stage solo with nothing but an electric guitar and his deeply introspective lyrics. His performance had a rawness that grabbed the audience’s attention. There was something intensely personal about his set; it felt like we were all intruding on his thoughts, but no one dared to turn away. His soulful voice echoed through the hall, filling the cavernous space with a mix of vulnerability and grit. Performing original music with a My Chemical Romance cover sprinkled in, Bergman’s set was intimate yet commanding, setting the tone for a night that was as emotionally charged as it was musically eclectic.
Nate Bergman – Vocals / Guitar
Setlist:
War on the Working Class
Wish I Was Dead
Deep End
Apostolos
Back to Nashville
Helena
Into My Arms
TK & THE HOLY KNOW-NOTHINGS
Next up was TK & The Holy Know-Nothings, a Portland-based, self-proclaimed “psychedelic doom boogie” band that managed to shift the energy in the room while keeping the intimate, honest vibe alive.
Watching TK & The Holy Know-Nothings live is like being swept up in a gritty, chaotic dance of loose, groove-heavy jams that feel both raw and refined. Frontman (see also: “Heat Honcho”) Taylor Kingman sets the pace from song to song; one minute his voice is ragged with emotion, and the next, it’s howling with unbridled fury. Teasing the audience between sets he called out, “I’ll bet you’re all a bunch of good people out there, never done anything wrong, have ya?”
The band effortlessly shifts between graceful, spaced-out moments and wild, dissonant bursts, feeding off each other’s energy. They played both unreleased tracks and fan favorites, pacing them in a way that kept the audience guessing. At one point, Kingman restrung a broken guitar string mid-set and the band continued grooving, never missing a beat. Towards the end of the set, their guitarist PJ played his guitar above his head, while Kingman tore his shirt open as he was playing, inciting massive cheers from the crowd.
Their synergy was undeniable, and their performance was as unpredictable as it was captivating, leaving the crowd stomping, hollering, and completely entranced. I will be eagerly awaiting the release of their new tunes.
Taylor Kingman – Vocals / Guitar
PJ- Lead Guitar
Jason Montgomery – Keys / Lap Steel
Jason Simpson – Bass
Zach Martin – Drums
YOUTUBE VIDEO
Setlist:
Fat Black Raven
Love is a Compromise
The Devil’s Point
Serenity Prayer
The Blue
Emmanuel
Stray Dog
Astral Plane
Ghost Flesh
AMIGO THE DEVIL
Amigo the Devil, known for his unique blend of “murderfolk” storytelling ballads and gallows humor, delivered one of the most incredible live performances I’ve ever seen, in a venue that felt more than appropriate. With an extensive history riddled with stories of hauntings (it was once the site of a county jail where prisoners were hanged) there’s an air of mystery that lingers over The Beacham and its 1,250-capacity space.
Amigo’s presence was larger than life, yet his music was intensely contemplative, walking the fine line between the macabre and the emotionally vulnerable. From the very first strum, Amigo had the audience in the palm of his hand, leading us through tales of death, love, heartache, with a surprising amount of comedy mixed in.
One of the highlights of the night was Amigo’s masterful use of call and response with the crowd. At times, the entire audience felt like a choir, chanting his haunting lyrics back to him with passion. This connection between performer and audience created an intimate, communal atmosphere, even in the grand setting of The Beacham. Between jokes about defending the movie “Waterworld”, teasing a “brand new song” only to break out into “Truly, Madly, Deeply” by Savage Garden, and a classic Carrie Underwood cover to boot, the crowd was kept on their toes, entranced in the performance.
Whether backed by his full band or playing solo, Amigo brought the same level of intensity and emotion to each song. His solo performances were powerful, while the full band tracks elevated the energy in the room to a fever pitch. The ability to make a crowd laugh one moment and tear up the next is a rare feat, and Amigo and his crew pulled it off effortlessly.
One unforgettable moment came halfway through the set when Amigo broke his banjo mid-song, only to smoothly switch to guitar without missing a beat. The improvisation was flawless, but the real magic happened during “Hell and You,” when a fan named Charles proposed to his girlfriend right in the middle of the performance. Amigo paused the show to address the proposal, jokingly promising to make fun of Charles if she said no. Thankfully, she said yes, and the entire venue erupted in cheers. As if on cue, disco balls descended from the ceiling, and the audience belted out the final verse in unison, creating an electrifying, unforgettable moment.
The Beacham’s acoustics only heightened the performance, with Amigo’s voice echoing through the historic walls, bringing the venue’s legendary past into the present. For a place that once hosted vaudeville acts like John Philip Sousa and the Ziegfeld Follies, it seemed only fitting that Amigo the Devil, a modern-day master of blending dark humor and heartfelt storytelling, should command the same stage. It was his first time playing this venue, and he promised it wouldn’t be his last.
Danny Kiranos – Vocals / Banjo / Guitar
Katerina Kiranos – Keyboards / Backing Vocals
Carson Kehrer – Drums
David Talley – Guitar
Daniel Mason – Bass
Setlist:
Cocaine and Abel
Murder at the Bingo Hall
Drop for Every Hour
It’s All Gone
Cannibal Within
Another Man’s Grave
Before He Cheats (Carrie Underwood Cover)
I’m Going to Heaven
Once Upon a Time in a Texaco Pt. 1
Hell and You
Dahmer Does Hollywood
Small Stone
Stray Dog
The combination of Bergman’s soulful solo performance, TK & The Holy Know-Nothings’ raucous and honest set, and Amigo the Devil’s masterful storytelling made this a night to remember. And what better place than The Beacham, a venue haunted by both history and the weight of its musical legacy, to house such a powerful lineup? The spirits of the past seemed to nod in approval as the final notes echoed into the night and the crowd erupted into cheers.
Nate Bergman:
TK & The Holy Know-Nothings:
Amigo the Devil:
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