The last time American Slang played in Wichita Falls, they weren’t old enough to drink, they had released one original single, Gypsy Life [Spotify | Apple Music], and they absolutely blew the roof off the Iron Horse Pub with a show that incorporated non-stop rock & roll stage antics.
Last night, it had been nearly 11 months since their last appearance in Wichita Falls, and they came back with five original streaming singles in their pockets. We were interested to see how the guys in American Slang had grown, as young men and musicians, and if/how their sound had matured.
To nobody’s surprise, they blew the roof off the pub again with energetic rock and country, and they’re still not old enough to drink.
American Slang has been marketed online as a “shred dirt” act lately — guitar-oriented hard country rooted in Oklahoma red dirt music — but on the basis of their performance, they are still primarily a rock band that happens to play some country music. They play some country covers, and they wear boots and jeans, but when you see them perform, it’s clear American Slang’s heart is in high-energy rock.
Lead singer Miller Wilke paces the stage like a hard-rock Bono, with a swagger and confidence that makes you forget he just graduated high school last year. And Wilke’s hip gyrations can make the ladies forget their names. After Wilke made a particularly animated Mick Jagger-esque strut across the stage, a female friend of mine leaned over and shouted in my ear “Man, he just oozes rock star.”
We were glad to see American Slang’s lineup the same as it was in 2023, with guitarists Preston Reeves and JC Farmer joining at stage left and right, respectively, along with left-handed lead bassist Siggy West and drummer Boston Davis.
I got to chat with JC very briefly before the show and noticed he had a bandage on his broken nose. I was told later he broke it playing baseball, and I was again reminded that American Slang are not the seasoned rock stars they appear to be. JC Farmer is still a sophomore in high school.
Their ages notwithstanding, every member of American Slang is very talented. In 2023, we weren’t sure which of the guitarists would be considered the lead guitarist, because they were both incredible. In 2024, JC Farmer seems to have accepted a role as primary shredder, while Preston Reeves has stepped up at the mic on backing vocals, in addition to also possessing incredible chops on the six-string. We still can’t decide who the “lead” guitarist is.
Backing vocals have dramatically improved in American Slang, with bassist Siggy West and drummer Boston Davis both taking strong command at their respective mics. There were moments in the show where four members of the band were singing at once, with crafted harmonies.
In addition to five original singles available for streaming, American Slang has also covered “Fever Dog” by the fictional band Stillwater, portrayed in the movie Almost Famous. They played the track at their gig, and at the end, Miller Wilke led some rowdy members of the crowd through famous quotes from the movie. “I am a golden god!” and then “I’m on drugs!”
When American Slang visited Wichita Falls in 2023, we said, if they can keep it going in the right direction, they are absolutely going to make it. Our opinion in 2024 has not changed. American Slang is a show to be seen — for the spectacle, for the musicianship, for the songs. Maybe for no other reason than to be able to say “I saw them in a dark little club before anybody knew who they were.”
Have you seen American Slang? Tell us about it in the comments.
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I have kept in touch with them from the beginning and they have grown by leaps and bounds!! Watching them perform is so memorable. When certain songs come on the radio it reminds me of them.
They definitely have a future in the music career. I am so proud of them and pray they stay true to themselves. Never give up and never lose yourself!! Luv u guys…