Photos: Ricky Montgomery at Truman

October 7, 2024

Zoe Strohm,

Photo by Zoe Strohm

Move over Brat Summer, Ricky Montgomery has officially kicked off Sad Boy Fall with Wednesday night’s stop of the “The Rick Tour: One Rick to Rule Them All” at the Truman, following the release of his second album, Rick.

Montgomery was joined by Ray Bull and former Kansas City native Kate Cosentino.

Cosentino, dressed like a self-described “Animal Crossing Character,” started off the night reminiscing on songwriting in her hometown and seeing Sleeping with Sirens on the same stage years before. Her bouncy personality and cheery songs were almost reminiscent of Zooey Deschanel. After her set, Cosentino met fans at her merch stand to take pictures and sign merchandise.

Second opener, Ray Bull, is as close to early 2000’s garage band rock as you could get in the present day. After gaining popularity on social media for their “Songs that are the Same” series, where they mash songs with similar tempos, Ray Bull was not a new name to many members of the crowd. Without a doubt, Ray Bull is a name we will be seeing more often.

I discovered Montgomery in 2015 from his song “Out like a Light” that he produced with The Honeysticks and then again after singles “Mr. Loverman” and “Line Without a Hook” became popular on social media in mid 2020. With the heavy use of acoustic guitar and melodic storytelling, I was expecting a chill, intimate concert. I was wrong.

For ten minutes leading up to the band’s entrance, remixed versions of popular songs played, with “RICK” and “RICKY” cutting in throughout. The Truman is a smaller venue, but Montgomery did not let that limit him. By using sheer white curtains and moving lights, platforms and faux doorways, they made the small space seem double the size.

Starting with “Line Without a Hook” he came in hot and never cooled off. Watching Montgomery bounce around the stage, run through the photo pit to interact with fans, all without missing a beat was enough to make me tired, yet song after song he never faltered. Even with the slower acoustic songs, he was never in one place for long, making sure he was center stage for fans from every angle.

While social media fame put Montgomery into the public eye, he has worked to make himself more than “the guy who sings that song from TikTok,” and it has paid off. The next time he makes his way to Kansas City, it is worth it to grab a ticket, fan or not.