Soulful Tunes & Unbridled Energy: Colby Acuff and Paul Cauthen Take Center Stage in Columbia

Written by Emmi Jacqueline - Photography by Emmi Jacqueline

When Big Velvet shows up, so does Columbia. In November, Paul Cauthen rolled through Columbia backed by The Texas Gentlemen and supported by Colby Acuff. 

 As Colby and his band took the stage, I was immediately struck by their playful and boyish performance. They hyped up the crowd, lights popping and guitars screaming. They played a solid set that got everyone in the right mood. Colby has a voice that is notable and familiar. He sings in a soulful manner with lyrics that pay homage to the traditional country song structure. 

They looked like they were honestly having a ball on stage, they played their show the best they could and you could tell they were satisfied with it. Ripping through fast tracks and making sure to slow down for some acoustic songs, Colby Acuff made it clear he is going place. I caught him at Peach Jam this week with Ben Harper out in Nashville and was again impressed. 

After a set break, Paul Cauthen and The Texas Gentlemen took the stage. The Gentlemen truly came to impress. They cranked out tunes while Paul sang over them. The energy was just absolutely insane. Each and every person on that stage was throwing around more energy than most shows have in their entirety.

As he immediately launched into bangers like “Country As Fuck,” the crowd was ready to friggin party. The Gentlemen played each note like they had a secret that we were only bound to find out. The crowd hung on every word and note, singing along and dancing through the whole set.

Paul delivered an A-plus performance, I notice that he has fully embodied the caricature of country music he presents. It has taken on a life of its own, Paul is merely a conduit for the bit. But I can respect the commitment to the bit. He put the crowd through their paces with The Texas Gentlemen keeping the beat going. He danced, he sang, he gave it his all. 

I am curious to see where the bit will take Paul. Surely there is only so much comedy to be had and he’ll have to become a little more himself to keep it going? Who knows. I do know that I will probably go see him again, chasing that energy he and The Texas Gentlemen put out from the stage.