Ameristar Casino November 2025 Show Review
by Steven D. Light on 11/10/25Ameristar Casino and Hotel - Kansas CityRating: 5 out of 5The Ozark Mountain Daredevils are a band that has fascinated me for a half century. There have been over 30 members through the years and it could be argued that the current lineup is the best. The original members Randle Chowning, John Dillon, Steve Cash, Buddy Brayfiled, Michael “ Supe” Grande, and Larry Lee are OMD Royalty, to be sure much as the original cast of SNL is esteemed. The current band members, John Dillon, Supe Grande, Ruell Chappell, Nick Sibley, Kelly Brown, Ron Gremp, Bill Jones, Dave Painter, Molly Healey, and Jeremy Montgomery are all excellent musicians with John, Ruell, Nick, Dave, Supe, Jeremy, and Molly giving capable to outstanding vocal performances. John is the main lead vocalist and continues to deliver vocals for the songs he and others have written over the course of their careers. This band wrote and played their own songs almost exclusively throughout their long careers. And they continue to do so. The Ameristar Casino show was another outstanding performance by the band. From Nick Sibley’s driving harmonica riffs on Black Sky and If You Wanna Get Yo Heaven, to Molly’s fiddling and Dave Painter’s guitar duels on Backroads, to Bill Jones sax and tambourine, Kelly Brown’s riveting piano, Ron Gremp’s wonderful smiles and drumming, Ruell’s bongos and cowbell, Supe’s spot on bass lines, Jeremy’s versatile assistance on guitar and mandolin, and John Dillon’s and Nick rhythm guitar playing, this band delivers everything you’ve ever heard from them and more as they play the songs from their albums and CDs. Their story is fascinating and their songs still resonate with the audience as evidenced by the dancers and the futile efforts of security to rein them in on Chicken Train. The Ozark Mountain Daredevils are a band that has celebrated their Ozarks roots in song and lifestyle as well as their fans have done but from all over the world. If Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show had been from the Ozarks, this is what you might have gotten. Now, with 53 plus years under their belt and the outstanding management of Dwight Glenn, they are only slowing down but not stopping. Catch them any chance you can and tell them Steven sent you. You’ll not regret it and you’ll be glad you did!
