Vincent Neil Emerson at the Raccoon Motel -- October 26.
Vincent Neil Emerson: Monday, October 26, 8 p.m.
The Band Memo: Monday, October 26, 6 p.m.
Raccoon Motel, 315 East Second Street, Davenport IA
Described by Saving Country Music as “easy to warm to, but lasting in effect,” country-Western singer/songwriter Vincent Neil Emerson headlines an October 26 engagement at Davenport's Raccoon Motel, the 8 p.m. show preceded by a separate 6 p.m. concert with the rockers of The Band Memo.
Originally from Texas' Van Zandt county, Emerson was raised by his single mother, and began his music career in north Texas playing at house parties and open-mic nights. His playing style heavily influenced by singer/songwriters such as Townes Van Zandt, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Steve Earle, Joe Pug, and John Prine, the musician, in 2013, recorded his first independent release Flyin' High, a collection of nine originals that led radio's LAST FM to declare, "To the enthusiast of well-crafted, honest songs, it would be wise to keep an eye on this newcomer. From what we hear, this first record is just the tip of the iceberg – only an introduction to what's to come."
Following years of touring engagements and a growing fan base, Emerson released his album Fried Chicken & Evil Women in September of 2019, and within three months, the recording had garnered 360,000 streams on Spotify in more than 70 different countries. The release also earned its creator exceptional reviews, with Turn of the Amp deeming it “a delightful gem of an album,” and Saving Country Music stating that Emerson “gets plenty of fine lyrical licks in to five the record some depth along with the entertainment value.”
Released in June of 2021, the self-titled Vincent Neil Emerson featured songs in which the artist sang about the suicide of his father in “Learnin’ to Drown,” risky life decisions in “High on Getting By,” and a 1963 forced sale of Native American acres by the government in “The Ballad of the Choctaw-Apache.” Ink 19 called the album “one hell of a piece of art,” and The Musical Divide stated that Vincent Neil Emerson boasted the artist's “spare, loose style, for sure, but in a way that complements writing that’s far darker and [more] introspective than before.” The recording was followed by 2023's The Golden Crystal Kingdom and this year's Blue Stars, which inspired Americana Highways to rave that "the life experience poured into his songs rings true every single time."
Prior to Emerson's show, the Raccoon Motel welcomes the musicians of The Band Memo, which, per MemoTheBand.com, "burst onto the NYC music scene in 2025 with an electrifying live sound rooted in classic rock, psychedelic grooves, and improvisation. Their self-recorded and produced EP, Treading Water, blends the timeless sounds of the ’60s and ’70s with a fresh, modern energy. Known for dynamic live performances, Memo combines tight songwriting with spontaneous musical exploration to create a unique experience at every show. After supporting The Heavy Heavy, Allen Stone, and Mihali of Twiddle, and completing their first headline tour in 2026, The Band Memo is quickly emerging as a rising force in the Retro-Rock / Jam scene."
The Band Memo's performs in Davenport on October 26, with admission to the 6 p.m. concert $19.84, while Vincent Neil Emerson and special guest Dax Lindholm take the stage at 8 p.m., tickets available for $26.45. For more information and reservations, visit TheRaccoonMotel.com.
