Jake Segura and Wonitta Rivero of Citizen Soldier, fresh off their “Heart Support tour,” are immediately back at it again, bringing to us a “Secret Songs Tour” – an acoustic take on some fresh new songs not available anywhere else except on an album you can get on this run. Fans located in Las Vegas were the first to experience this one-of-kind tour, and I am beyond glad I was able to see it as well.
Before we get to that though, I want to take a moment and share what could have been the best part of the night. Normally, when a band of this caliber goes on tour, they bring supporting acts with them — artists who have some following and can help draw a crowd. Instead, Segura and the team decided to bring in local acts to open for them. Our treat on this opening show? Say hello to Casey Stickley of Second Echo.
As a Vegas local myself, I am sad to say I hadn’t heard Stickley before. With a voice that reminds me of the legendary Chris Cornell, and lyrics emphasizing growth, journey, and perseverance, I found myself thoroughly engrossed in his set. I think what stood out to me the most was how calm and collected he was. You can tell, just by listening to him and by watching him, that peforming on stage is where he truly belongs. There was no fluff; he was pure emotion and musical brilliance. Take a moment and check out his song “The Great Divide.” It will have you feeling some type of way.
We have all had our moments where we wonder if we are strong enough to make it through a period or event in our life. That is just a small fact of life for sure, but when it comes to music that is synonymous with having the strength and reliance to pull through those times, Citizen Solider is at the top of the list. What makes the healing even more powerful is when an artist with this kind of background takes the time to put together small, intimate shows — just to show you that you’re not alone.
This set unlike was anything else I have ever experienced. First, if you have not listened to Citizen Solider, you have to understand that Segura is a practicing Clinical Therapist. All of their work is written in a style that makes you feel like you are being heard, that your every breath is important. This show was a perfect extension of that — a healthy balance of life anecdotes and music, punctuated with humor and topped with a powerful message: you are never alone.
What stood out to me the most was yet another first for me. Taking a good, but reasonably paced, segment of the set, Segura and Rivero took crowd participation to a whole new level. Using crowd suggestions, input, and direction, they created and wrote an entire chorus for a song together. Centering around betrayal, Segura commented about how this was a theme they hadn’t touched yet, so it really had his interest. Maybe this is a track we see finished in the future?
All in all, this was an experience that I can try to explain to you in words, but until you live it yourself, imagination will have to take the reigns. If you are anywhere on the west coast, I can’t recommend enough that you find a tour date near you and go. This was one of a kind show that I won’t soon forget.
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