Ray Fulcher LIVE at Duling Hall on 2/17/2023

meet RAY FULCHER

Whether it’s the quick-word dropping, slow chorus in “Way Out” that pits the notion of how far out of town one lives with the idea of escape or the vocal harmony-basted swagger of the country living truths in “Compliment,” Fulcher delivers songs that distill a slower way of life that’s equal parts pride, joy, and good clean fun. The euphoria almost rises from the tracks as the words, melodies, and darning needle guitars fly by.

“Jonathan’s guitar just moves over everything, whether it’s a Tremolo part or this quick-picking all over playing,” the high energy performer enthuses. “There’s that Memphis thing he brings, a little bit edgier, maybe, or dirtier. You know, when we’re in the zone, I think my songs move a little more rhythmically, go a little deeper into the pockets.”

Certainly “Girl in It” leans into the notion of rhythm and punctuation. Whirling through the phases of love and losing, the truth is that no matter what – there’s always a girl in it. “In the verse, you’ve definitely got that very rhythmic, aggressive tempo going on, but the way the hook lands, it changes everything up. You know, you can take a simple idea, but dress it up with how you drop the words, where you put the melody in the hook.”

That same hand-clap percussive drive marks “Damn If It Didn’t Hurt,” the truth-telling take on life’s little defeats and how a man growing up faces life, love and disappointment. The turnaround here comes from the reality that the best things in life often come with just enough pain to let you know, but not enough pain that if you could do it all over again, you’d do a single thing different.

Those sorts of moments anchor Fulcher. To him, the more of his own life he can draw into the songs, the more the fans can see themselves in the words. It’s a principle he and his buddy both embrace, one that allows them to create their own kind of country. Just listen to “Bucket List Beers,” a laundry list of the best beers ever consumed; started with Combs, the pair decided the song might better serve Fulcher. Out on the road with Matt Stell, the athletic performer tumbled into the rest of “Bucket” in the Green Room of the Gramercy Ballroom.

“The freedom to just do the second verse let me put my whole life in there,” Fulcher says. “I was on the phone with my Dad the day he retired, and I thought about my cousin coming from the Marines… We all have those moments we want to toast and we want to remember; that’s what I hope this song does for anyone listening who’s ever had that moment they wanted to cheers to.”

Listening to his Black River debut EP Larkin Hill Mixes, the songs are instantly recognizable. Heck, they feel like old favorites from the very first listen. Maybe it’s the influences he grew up on. Maybe it’s the desire to lift people up, let them feel what he’s writing. Or maybe, just maybe, the friendly artist who writes songs of misdirection understands that life is what you make it – and lets his songs take it from there.

“We stuck to our guns, and we were right,” he says now. “Nothing works out like you planned it, but this turned out beyond our dreams. I’m thankful we trusted our sense that the songs we wanted to hear, other people would, too.
“I’m just so thankful… We were right to stick to our guns, and now I get to take my career to the next level. My dream’s never changed, only some of my circumstances are a little different.”

Doors – 7:00pm | Show – 8:00pm

Listen to his newest album Spray Painted Line and watch his newest music video Anything Like You Dance to get a sneak peek at the show you’ll be seeing at Duling Hall on February 17th.

Our friends at Saltine Restaurant serve a food menu from doors to showtime and provide a full bar with signature cocktails throughout the entire event.

Duling Hall is an Independent Venue that welcomes all music lovers.