Written By Tobin Smith
Country rock band Pecos and the Rooftops played the third-to-final show of their 2025 tour at none other than George’s Majestic Lounge here in Fayetteville on November 15.
Hailing from Lubbock, TX, the band consists of lead singer and acoustic guitarist Pecos Hurley, Hunter Cassel on rhythm guitar, Jesse Santos (who went to Berklee for drums) on lead guitar, Steven Buehler on bass, and Garett Peltier on the drums.
After they got their start in 2019, Pecos and the Rooftops have more than made their mark on the country rock scene. After their breakout hit This Damn Song blew up, the band skyrocketed to country fame, playing alongside artists such as Koe Wetzel, Parker McCollum, Cody Jinks, and Zach Bryan.
Now, for the concert. As the crowd shuffled in, opener and rock band Passengers Unknown absolutely killed it in setting the tone for what was sure to be a rowdy night. The smell of beer in the air and the sound of breaking bottles clashing over the music reminded me of exactly what kind of concert this was. They rocked for about an hour playing some of their bigger songs, such as 3 am and How are you, before the crowd was left eagerly waiting for Pecos to take the stage.
This was a concert that I will always remember. Not only because of how amazing the band sounded, but because I was blessed with the unique opportunity to spend the concert not with the crowd, but beside the stage, watching from the band’s level. It was a truly unforgettable experience getting to hang out with the band in the green room before and watching them do their thing from five feet away.
After not too much waiting, the moment finally came. The lights were flashing, and the smoke machine filled the air with a haze when the band took to the stage and set the tone with one of their rowdier hits, 11 Beers. Cheering erupted from the sold-out venue, as this was exactly what the people came for.
Following this, the band continued to play hit after hit, dancing around the stage and listening to the crowd sing every word. They eventually moved to a sadder tone, playing Hate Waking Up, and Wouldn’t Have to Miss You, and everyone was moved. That is, until they finished Last Night’s Lashes, and there was a brief silence. A guitar solo cut through the air that everyone knows; My Hero by Foo Fighters. Jesse Santos absolutely shredded, turning this song into the solo from Freebird, and then eventually Everlong.
And just like that, the energy was back. The band went on to sing a cover of Toby Keith’s Courtesy of the Red White and Blue before eventually closing with the song everyone had been hoping for, This Damn Song. The crowd roared every single lyric, sometimes without music from the band, sometimes alongside Pecos himself. It was a moment that can’t be described as anything less than magical.
Pecos and the Rooftops undoubtedly put on one hell of a show for Fayetteville. The energy was outstanding, and I am positive that it was an unforgettable concert for all who went. Of course, I may be slightly biased being given the incredible opportunity that I was, but even still I know that this will always be one of the greatest concert experiences I have ever had.