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Shane Smith & The Saints: A Red Dirt Revival on the Showdeo Stage

By Larry Philpot on April 29, 2025

As the sun dipped low on April 6, 2025, San Gabriel Park pulsed with anticipation. Shane Smith & The Saints took the Showdeo stage at 5:30 p.m., their Red Dirt roots ready to ignite Two Step Inn’s second day. This Austin-based quintet, known for their cinematic blend of country, folk, and rock, delivered a set that was equal parts wildfire and worship. Their performance, warming up the crowd for Lynyrd Skynyrd, was a masterclass in raw emotion and instrumental prowess, leaving Georgetown awash in their signature howl.

File Photo: Shane Smith and The Saints perform at the Faster Horses Festival in Brooklyn, Michigan, 2024. (Copyright 2024 Larry Philpot / SoundstagePhotography.com)

Background and Bio: Formed in Austin, Texas, in 2011, Shane Smith & The Saints—frontman Shane Smith, guitarist Bennett Brown, fiddler Zach Stover, bassist Chase Satterwhite, and drummer Bob Zgonc—blend Red Dirt, Americana, and Celtic influences. Their 2015 album Geronimo and 2019’s Hail Mary built a cult following, with hits like “All I See Is You” and “The Mountain” earning Spotify’s Texas Music playlist spins. Their 2024 release, Norther, topped Billboard’s Americana/Folk Albums chart, featuring “Fire in the Sky” and “Book of Joe.” They’ve played ACL Festival and opened for Zach Bryan, with Reddit fans praising their “holy roller energy” at Two Step Inn 2025. TV appearances include Austin City Limits (2023), and their music featured in Yellowstone (“All I See Is You,” Season 3) and The Night Shift (“Dance the Night Away”). No major awards are noted, but their 1.5 million monthly Spotify listeners signal their indie clout.

File Photo: Shane Smith and the Saints perform in Tempe AZ on February 24, 2024. (Copyright 2024 Larry Philpot,/ Soundstage Photography.com)

Performance Review: Shane Smith & The Saints hit the stage like a West Texas gust, Shane’s weathered Stetson and soulful wail commanding attention. They opened with “Book of Joe,” its haunting fiddle and pulsing drums setting a reverent tone, as festival lights bathed the crowd. “All I See Is You” was a heart-wrenching highlight, Shane’s voice cracking with longing as Stover’s fiddle soared, sparking couples to sway and sing. The crowd, a mix of bearded hipsters and cowboy-hatted purists, roared for “Fire in the Sky,” its anthemic build echoing across San Gabriel Park. Their Yellowstone connection resonated, with fans shouting lyrics to “The Mountain,” its Celtic-tinged energy evoking misty highlands. Shane’s banter—thanking Georgetown for “keeping Texas music alive”—felt intimate, despite the thousands watching. A cover of Merle Haggard’s “Mama Tried” paid homage to their roots, while “Hurricane” closed the set, its frenetic pace leaving the crowd breathless. Their five-part harmonies and Stover’s fiery fiddle, as noted in Texas Lifestyle Magazine, made the performance a spiritual experience, warming the stage for Skynyrd’s Southern rock.