Church is Sunday. But on this Thursday, the sermon was delivered and the congregation praised on high.

Local Treasure Valley sounds Nothing But Heros and The Weary Times brought an awe inspiring performances that would set the stage for those in attendance with their blend of guitar rock/blues.

Off to the side of the room, bathed in the glow of just the stage lights sat a road worn man, alone at the merch table. Humbly greeting those who happened by, Patrick Sweany would gladly shake a hand and converse with anyone who was interested, showing great appreciation for those remembering his last show in Boise. The transition from the man signing and selling his own records to the presence on stage was almost as notable as the tracks he would lay down.

Remarking how refreshing it is to “not have an opening band that sounds like The Black Keys first record”, Sweany would evoke a visible passion and lay out a performance that moved the audience to life-long fans.  Playing for over an hour and a half, scorching the wooden walls of The Olympic Venue, Sweany brought a stage presence most would believe is long since passed. Combining his vintage blues soul with his rocker exterior. Sweany played songs from his forthcoming albums as well as from his prior releases, most notably Daytime Turned to Nighttime. His story-telling between songs gave way to bleeding passion at the frets and an explosive musical possession as he moved about the stage. A dual of slides begot hell-shattering solos which begot time-altering song after song.

When you see Patrick Sweany live a few things become instantly obvious. The Ohio rocker exercises his demons nightly. His eyes blazing, throat burning, he stares an unseen person or experience square in the eyes and proclaims that they have not won this round, that his music is his sword and he’s ready for a fight. A fight he clearly wins. The years of Waters, King, and Guy, led to Patrick Sweany. The stories told in the Deep South at crossroads, where souls are offered for a guitar made out of an old wooden box live on in the man that stood before The Olympic this night. His message was simple. His message was music. But it was his stance at the pulpit of Blues and Rock that bathed the crowd in a stunned glow. Baptized in Patrick Sweany’s message, there is no doubt all present breathed a new air when the guitars unplugged and lights turned off that night in September.

Sweany and the amazing band supporting his art would pack into their van and do it the next night, and the next. If he comes to your town, this is the MUST SEE show. Words hardly express just how incredible Patrick Sweany is live. It is a show all will remember for a lifetime. And even if this humble road-worn musician remains on the fringes of success, though it is his name that should be worldwide, not other not-named-limited-Ohio musicians, the passion of Patrick Sweany will continue his sound, which will continue his legacy we will be talking about for decades to come.