Concert Review: Kiefer Sutherland kicks off first country tour in Milwaukee

Piet Levy
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Actor Kiefer Sutherland's played a bad boy vampire, a musketeer and counter terrorism agent Jack Bauer on Fox's hit action series "24."

But could Sutherland play a country real life?


A couple hundred people packed the club, despite the fact that Sutherland has only released one song. And right before the actor took the stage, one fan screamed "Lost Boys," the title of one of Sutherland's most famous films.

But by the end of the show, fans were swayed by Sutherland's abilities. One fan was flashing devil horns during the smoking "Down in a Hole," the title track from Sutherland's debut album, coming out in June. People may have come to see a celebrity up close, but Sutherland earned the crowd's respect through solid songs instead of star power.

His original, unheard material dominated the vast majority of Thursday's 80-minute set. Nothing he displayed would be considered groundbreaking — Sutherland's songwriting is rather simple and straightforward — but all of the originals conveyed conviction and character. There wasn't a single dud or awkward lyric in the bunch.

"Shirley Jean" is Sutherland's admirable homage to the songwriting styles of Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash and Merle Haggard, about a young man thinking about his lost love right before his execution. There was a rich moment of juxtaposition in which Sutherland sang of dancing with Shirley Jean, his arms wrapped around his acoustic guitar as he swayed, the romantic sounds of Spanish-style guitar swelling from the stage. But the character is merely daydreaming, right before "they flip the switch."

"Goodbye" was a Tom Petty-inspired power rocker that ended with Sutherland barking "I'll see you in hell when I (expletive) die." Sutherland said it won't appear on the album, but it should.

The standout was "All She Wrote." It sounded like a death march in the desert, with slow, twangy guitar and sparse, foreboding drums giving way to dramatic surges of menacing country rock and sturdy vocal harmonies. It was a fine match with Sutherland's vocals, full of danger and dread, expressed through a gravelly rasp.

Sutherland also brought his acting chops to the stage, handily conveying longing, regret and devilish charm when the moment called for it. It helped that Sutherland was supported by a strong four-piece backing band as well. Drummer Jes Calcaterra played with punk-like relish, her tongue sticking out like Michael Jordan during her flashy kit moments. And guitarist Michael Gurley, best known for fronting rock band dada, mastered Bakersfield twang, visceral rock swagger and everything in between.

But Sutherland still wouldn't have been so successful Thursday if the songs hadn't come from a personal place.

"Truth In Your Eyes," he said, was inspired by a friend, a "beautiful woman," who lived a hard life and died too young. "My Best Friend" chronicled a personal epiphany, that he needed to learn to love himself before he could be a good friend to others. Multiple tracks, like lead single "Not Enough Whiskey," addressed the dark side of drinking, something Sutherland has struggled with himself.

Sutherland's covers came from a personal space as well. He covered "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" because it was the song his father, actor Donald Sutherland, would blast in his Ferrari driving a 5-year-old Kiefer to nursery school. Those were some of the only times he spent with his father as a young child, Sutherland said, and he brought the warmth of that memory to his performance.

And he didn't appear to be acting when he said he had been waiting a lifetime to play for a crowd like this one.

Maybe being a country singer is the role Sutherland was born to play after all.

More on music




■The club didn't clear after the show ended. A long line stretched from the stage to the box office of fans holding tickets and posters, and Sutherland stuck around after the show to take pictures and sign autographs for everyone waiting.

■Sutherland didn't just give autographs. He also accepted a gift: a shot of whiskey handed to him from a fan up front. "You even got my flavor," he said taking a sip.

■ A fan couldn't resist calling out "Kieferrrr!" throughout the night. Eventually, Sutherland asked for her name, and shouted out "Heatherrrr!"

■Alas, there was a fan who requested "Free Bird" again and again throughout the night, but Sutherland laughed about his persistence.

■Sample banter from the crowd: "I love you," screamed one woman. "I love you more," screamed another. "I'll fight you for him," the first woman playfully yelled back.


1. "Can't Stay Away"

2. "I'll Do Anything"

3. "Calling Out Your Name"

4. "Truth In Your Eyes"

5. "Not Enough Whiskey"

6. "Going Home"

7. "My Best Friend"

8. "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" (Bob Dylan cover)

9. "Shirley Jean"

10. "Ways to be Wicked"

11. "Honey Bee" (Tom Petty cover)

12. "Goodbye"

13. "All She Wrote"

14. "Down in a Hole"


15. "Sundown" (Gordon Lightfoot cover)

16. "Gonna Die"