Listen Back: The Lil Smokies at The Wilma on New Years Eve 2018 (Full Recording)

On Dec. 31, 2018, Missoula concertgoers had the pleasure of ringing in the New Year at The Wilma with hometown heroes The Lil Smokies.

Once again, the Smokies packed the house — pulling out all the stops to make the night one to remember. This included a diverse set with songs from their self titled debut album, 2017’s Changing Shades, and a plethora of unique covers.

At one point, guitarist Matt “The Rev” Reiger took over the mic for vocals on their cover of ZZ Top’s “Sharp Dressed Man.” Not long after, they did their own version of Billy String’s cautionary tale “Dust in a Baggie” and later played their recently released cover of The Beatles’ “Paperback Writer.”

Possibly the most exciting (and nostalgic) part of the night came when past band members Pete Barrett, Cameron Wilson,  and Jesse Brown joined the current lineup on stage to perform the last two songs of the night — “Whiskey” and “California” — both Smokies originals.

You can listen to the full set below.