When I arrived at theatre three at the Hoogland Center Saturday night, I was disappointed to find the stage sparsely equipped. There were no stacks of amps or a drum kit, immediately tipping me off that Robbie Fulks would be performing sans band. Now, I enjoy a good acoustic set as much as the next music lover, but after a hard day helping to build a habitat for humanity, I was looking forward to something a bit more rollicking. Little did I know that Fulks can pull off rollicking (and sweet and haunting and funny-as-hell) all by himself.

Fulks demonstrates his  height.

I can’t imagine that one man with one guitar has ever been more entertaining. Fulks has a great voice, owns his six-string and his songs are incredible. He also exudes energy and excitement. Even his slower songs were delivered with a gusto that kept the audience entranced.

Even if you don’t like Fulks’ brand of country music, it still would have been worth your double sawbuck just to hear his between-song banter. The man is funnier than 95 percent of the hacks who make their living standing up in front of the brick wall on Comedy Central. And he doesn’t just trot out tried-and-true material. Most of what he talked about sounded off-the-cuff – reacting to the audience’s comments and recalling previous trips to Springfield. At one point, noting that the Hoogland’s stage gave off a Prairie Home Companion vibe, he set out on Garrison Keillor and did a mocking impression of the homespun humorist. And not once did Fulks tell us how to vote in the presidential election.

This highly-entertaining pairing of music and comedy did present a problem after a couple of Sam Adams Brown Ales. There simply was no good time to sneak out for a potty break without missing out on something good.

Fulks is also an affable gent. After I spotting him at the back of the theatre before the show, my wife went back to pass along her adoration, in particular, for his song, Georgia Hard. Later, a couple of songs into his set, he told the audience that he was approached earlier by a pretty lady and with mock derision added that she was at the show with her husband (me). He even remembered her name when he dedicated the song to her.

The lanky Fulks, he’s got to be pushing 6’5”, should be selling out enormodomes, instead he’s playing in Springfield, IL in front of 100 people. I’m grateful to have seen him, but he deserves better.

Opening up for Fulks was Elizabeth Cook, who provided the perfect accompaniment as she’s also a purveyor of that true country sound. And I’ll be damned if she wasn’t funny and charming as well, along with being awfully easy on the eyes. It doesn’t take much for me to fall for a girl with a guitar, but Cook’s talent legitimizes whatever crush I may or may not have developed.

Readers will note that Cook is better looking than Fulks.

One of the best songs of the evening was by Cook’s guitarist/husband/songwriter-in-his-own right, Tim Carroll. His haunting Until Then (?) hasn’t been released yet, and I hope I remember to look  him up when it comes out.

The show was part of the WUIS Bedrock 66 Live Series. It was the first one we had seen, but I’m looking forward to going again. I was somewhat surprised to be in youngest quartile of audience members. This show rivaled a Gus-production for number of retirees in attendance, which isn’t a bad thing because they know better than to talk during the show.