Sam Burchfield & The Scoundrels came to Morgantown, W.Va. on Nov. 7 to showcase their 2022 album, “Scoundrel.” They were hosted by one of the newest Morgantown venues, The Encore, and played for an audience of around 50 eager listeners that Tuesday evening.

“The Encore is a rustic listening room & dance hall with a passion for the preservation and performance of traditional American music,” said the venue’s website, making this an ideal setting for Burchfield.

The band formed in the foothills of the Appalachian Trail in Jasper, G.A. and produces a blended sound that is reminiscent of traditional folk, gospel, country, and southern soul. Their newest album emphasizes themes of growing up in western Kentucky and South Carolina, and is titled “Scoundrel” after one of Sam Burchfield’s ancestors, a late Appalachian moonshiner who shared the same name as the singer. The ancestral figure provided enough inspiration for the band to excite their latest record and declare their name as an ensemble.

Upon arrival on the night of their performance, the venue appeared a dimly lit storefront with a large gravel lot beside it for parking. The lot was nearly full on the night of the show, and groups of friends and couples of all ages funneled into the venue. There was one ticketer, no security, and a decently sized performance space equipped only with a stage and 50 folding chairs set up across the floor. The ticketer informed everyone that the show would start about 15 minutes late, as the band was having some van issues.

The audience remained enthusiastic and polite, patiently waiting and filling the venue with warm sounds of chatter which added to the already rustic and intimate feel. There was a merchandise stand with custom t-shirts, ball caps, and vinyl copies of the band’s latest album to occupy the guests. After about ten minutes of waiting, the band stepped out onto the stage.

They jumped immediately into the title track of their album, “Scoundrel” which successfully got the guests tapping their feet along with the music. The audience listened almost silently during each song, but roared with electric applause at the end of the numbers.

Burchfield relied on his music to deliver much of his Appalachian sentiment, but he also interacted with the audience through traditional storytelling. He informed everyone that one of the back tires on their van popped only a mile from the venue, an unpredictable occurrence that left each of the bandmates stressed about promptly starting the show.

“We’re not mechanics. We’re musicians. Changing that tire was the manliest thing we’ve done in a while,” said Burchfield, causing the audience to replace their active listening with laughter. He told other stories throughout the night about growing up in Appalachia, meeting his wife, learning to write, and finding himself through music.

These close interactions within the small venue established a connection between Burchfield and the listeners. As both parties settled into the atmosphere, the energy began to pick up. Burchfield and The Scoundrels bounced around the stage, as audience members ditched their chairs to dance. Couples do-si-doed and a few guests knew the words to sing along. By the end of the show, everyone was on their feet and dancing with the others around them.

It was their first time playing in Morgantown. Burchfield thanked the audience for being so welcoming and promised to make a return after they finished their tour through Appalachia. The excitement remained as people headed out the doors and back to their cars, making it a successful night for both performer and listener. Everyone was fulfilled.

Sam Burchfield and The Scoundrels have only six shows left, and tickets are available on their website https://www.samburchfield.com/. The bandmates include Colin Agnew on drums, Ryan Plumley on electric guitar and Trygve Myers on Bass.