On Saturday, April 11, Arizona native Evan Honer brought “it’s a long road” the tour through Phoenix, AZ. With only a few dates left on the tour, this show held a particularly special place in the self-described “y’allternative” singer-songwriter’s heart, as The Van Buren is a venue he has always dreamt of playing. The hometown crowd turned up in droves, packing the venue for Honer’s Van Buren debut, a performance that would not disappoint. His 33-date trek across North America has seen support from several artists, and for this evening’s show and for the final stretch of tour, Honer was joined by singer-songwriter Timmy Skelly.
Singer-songwriter Timmy Skelly kicked off the night, delivering tracks that he described as “straddling the line between emo and folk.” Shortly after beginning the set, Skelly polled the audience, asking who had never heard of him. Cheers from the audience indicated he was a new artist to the majority, to which he replied, "That's what I like to hear; it’s my job to make you a fan by the time I leave.” Tracks like “QB1,” “Telluride,” “Summer of ’16,” and my personal favorite, “I Am the Van,” along with his storytelling and stage presence, had the audience hooked. Based on the crowd’s reaction, it was safe to say he accomplished his goal. A relatively new artist, Skelly released his debut album, "Meet Me In Nowhere Land," in January. His music would appeal to fans of artists like Petey USA. Give him a listen!
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Eminem’s “Without Me” began to play over the speakers, and the vibe in the room shifted immediately. The entire crowd was dancing and singing along, and just as the first verse was about to start, the music cut out and Evan Honer burst onto the stage with a cartwheel/backflip combo, gaining some seriously impressive air and kicking off the set on a high note. The crowd collectively picked their jaws up off the floor as Honer and his band launched into “Everything I Wanted,” the title track from his newest record. The set turned into one large singalong as Honer took the crowd through a setlist that leaned heavily on "Everything I Wanted," with fan favorites from his past albums woven throughout.
Everything about the night oozed with pride for Arizona, from the state flag on display to mentions of local favorites in his lyrics, and the crowd was living for it. The singer-songwriter took moments between songs to share stories behind the songs and really connect with the crowd. In a particularly vulnerable moment, Honer opened up about his brother’s diagnosis with schizoaffective disorder and how it has impacted both of their lives before a moving solo performance of his song “Brother.” He continued on with self-described “depressing songs,” joined by the entire band around a single microphone for a performance of “me, without you.”
Even with a stretch of more mellow tracks, the energy in the room remained high. The band ramped back up as they continued with tracks like “How Could I Ever” and “Long Road,” before moving into another highlight of the evening. As “Long Road” wrapped, Honer’s beloved canine bestie, Leroy, emerged from stage left on a skateboard and donned ear protection. Honer held the bulldog as he did a brief rendition of “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown,” ending the track by hoisting Leroy overhead, a gesture reminiscent of "The Lion King," which had the crowd going wild.
Honer joined fans on the barricade for “Foolin’ Ourselves,” before moving into a cover of Tyler Childers’ “Jersey Giant,” which featured a bit of choreography from Honer and his band. The chemistry between the band was undeniable all evening in their interactions. It was clear that everyone on that stage was having the time of their lives, and it was impossible not to be part of it. The set ended with “Wonder,” before the band returned for a three-song encore, featuring the unreleased track “The Late Show” and a lively cover of Fall Out Boy’s “Sugar, We’re Goin Down,” during which Honer hopped the barricade and sang with fans in the crowd. For the finale, Honer declared, “My name is Evan Honer, I’m from Surprise, Arizona, and I don’t know shit about cars,” wrapping the night with the beloved track from his “Fighting For” album and throwing in one last backflip for good measure.
Honer’s performance far exceeded all of my expectations, and I would catch his set again in a heartbeat. While this tour is nearing its end, Honer is set to hit the road again this summer with a number of headline, supporting, and festival appearances across the US. He is definitely one to watch! Be sure to check him out next time he pulls through a city near you.
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