The Charlie Daniels Band
December 3, 2013
Newberry, SC
Newberry Opera House
Concert Review by Joseph Hett
The Charlie Daniels Band Got Down In Newberry
The Charlie Daniels Band brought their action-packed show to the Newberry Opera House in Newberry, SC on Tuesday night. They showcased their signature brand of southern rock and country.
The CDB stepped out on the stage and started up with a couple of fiddle tunes, “Redneck Fiddlin’ Man” and “Drinkin’ My Baby Goodbye.” Daniels already had the hairs of the fiddle bow coming apart midway through the first song.
Daniels was handed his guitar and went into one of his classics, “The Legend Of Wooley Swamp.” Daniels said he 
usually explains what a swamp is but since he was down south, the audience already knew what a swamp was.
Daniels kept the rocking songs coming with “El Toreador,” a tale about a Spanish bull fighter.
The band recited the “Pledge Of Allegiance” and dedicated the next song, “In America,” to the men and women who have served in the armed forces—past, present and future. He even changed the lyrics to “Just go and lay your hand on a South Carolina Gamecocks fan.”
They snuck in a holiday tune called “The Christmas Song,” which was appropriate since the stage had a Christmas tree aligning each side.
Daniels said, “I can say without reservation that the best band I’ve ever had is standing on stage with me now. I’m gonna prove to you why I say that now by doing a song I wrote specifically for that reason.” They then went into a jazzy instrumental called “Black Ice.” This was followed by an impressive extended drum solo by Pat McDonald.
He mentioned that his first album, “Fire On The Mountain,” is approaching 40 years old and still contains some of their most popular songs. He then cranked out the classic “Long Haired Country Boy.”
Daniels said he moved to Nashville in 1967 and ran into a legend a few times, who was “unfailingly nice” to him. And to pay tribute to Johnny Cash, they began “Folsom Prison Blues.”
After the hymn, “How Great Thou Art,” the CDB closed out the show with a couple classics.
The fiddle was brought back out to Daniels, and he got to sawing with “The South’s Gonna Do It (Again)” and “The Devil Went Down to Georgia.” They finished up and left the stage to a standing ovation.
Daniels and his band were very tight and energetic all night long. They played all of the hits except for “Uneasy Rider.” Daniels is 77 years old but still has the ‘it’ factor. They really did put on a show for the folks in Newberry, SC. Hopefully they come back to these neck of the woods soon.