Review – Kenny Chesney & Tim McGraw – Nashville

We brought in the first weekend of Summer yesterday at LP Field in Nashville for the Brothers of the Sun Tour featuring Jake Owen, Tim McGraw, Kenny Chesney, and Grace Potter & the Nocturnals (Sister of the Sun?).

At first, I was shocked at the 4:30 start time on the ticket, but then remembered that Chesney shows are all-day events, much like a Jimmy Buffett experience or a football game with extreme tailgating and what have you. I’m assuming each of the openers played a decent set length, but I wouldn’t know because we unfortunately missed Owen and Potter due to my firm protests against $25 event parking. Really? Seventy-five bucks a ticket, $25 parking, and $9 beers…wallet rape…not having it.

Tip to Nashvillians: Allinder Plumbing on Woodland St…ten bones to park and a healthy walk to the stadium.

We got inside just in time to hear Tim McGraw taking the stage. We rushed to our seats and drooled over that super tan, muscle man dressed in all white with eyes that sparkled like twinkling stars. Tim McGraw was one of the first Country acts I saw upon my move from Los Angeles, and I honestly enjoyed him. At that point, I wasn’t a big fan of the genre.

Besides being gorgeous, McGraw has a great voice. I feel that a lot of acts in Country music get by on their songs and their voices are just so-so. To be successful, you need those songs where the tune and structure are familiar and simple, but the story is descriptive and relatable. For instance, Chuck Wicks has the best voice I’ve heard from a male in the format, yet he can’t break through. He needs the right songs for Country.

McGraw has both the songs and the voice, and he sang all those songs last night…including “Felt Good on My Lips,””Where the Green Grass Grows,” “Better Than I Used to Be,” “ Southern Voice,” “Something Like That,” “Live Like You Were Dying,” and ”I Like It, I Love it.”

A  highlight would be McGraw’s wife, Faith Hill (looking fierce in an adorable pant jumper), joining him onstage for “I Need You.” Following the number, they gave each other a hug and a kiss, and Faith said something to the effect of “You look good in that white.” Rub it in you lucky devil. After watching her leave the stage, he turned to the crowd with an ear-to-ear smile, patting his heart with his hand….very genuine and heartwarming!

McGraw also brought Titans’ QB, Matt Hasselbeck, out at one point to throw some balls to the audience.

YTC Archive: Concert Reviews from Kenny Chesney in Jacksonville – 2009

Kenny Chesney had a lot to live up to. As people refreshed their beers, CHR and Urban hits pumped through the stadium, giving ticket-holders their second wind. A video montage of past Chesney shows rolled and concluded with a personal message from Kenny in the stadium stands wearing a Titans helmet, thanking everyone for coming out.

Then, there was yet another video. This one was a produced, countdown-to-show, anticipation-builder where a space satellite tracks Kenny’s tropical yachting trips to the sounds of AC/DC. Point received…you have an awesome life that we should all be jealous of. Maybe we should have skipped this concert and put the money toward our own vacation fund. I’m being harsh. I get it. He was trying to set the mood to one of an island vibe and mentality. It just wasn’t working for this pregnant lady trying to get comfortable in her stadium chair.

(Which brings me to another tip, don’t bring egg crate cushions to a concert to sit on. Tacky, tacky, tacky. Watch a DVD of the live show from the comfort of your couch, if you can’t handle it. Yes, my sister saw someone actually do this.)

Back to Kenny…you know what’s not tacky…making a huge entrance. Kenny always does, and I totally appreciate that. He emerged from a platform towards the back of the field singing “Beer in Mexico,” and then hopped on his special suspension chair that transported him to the main stage over the heads of the audience. I believe all stars should fly in their show, if they can afford it.

Kenny and Tim must be having some sort of “who can get more ripped/tan during the tour” competition, because this is ridiculous. Kenny looked outstanding. Aren’t Country stars allowed to be fat and kind of dumpy? Not these guys.

Brothers of the Sun in Nashville Highlights

I’ll be honest, I don’t know a ton of Kenny Chesney songs, and there were many songs played that I’ve never heard before; but he played for about two hours and the set list included almost all the hits I’m familiar with – so I was happy. However, he missed my favorite, “Don’t Blink.”

By the fifth song, Chesney’s grey sleeveless tank was soaked in sweat, but that is the mark of a hard-working performer. He pushed through, sprinting across that gigantic stage, fitting in as many songs as he could. He has a lot of fun on stage and connects with his fans.

He did one song that he had heard a truck blasting while his bus pulled into the stadium. He said that he wasn’t planning on playing that song, but because he had that experience earlier in the day, he thought he should play it. That was a terrific way to personalize the show.

Another customization was a surprise birthday celebration for Grace Potter after she joined Chesney for their hit, “You and Tequila.” A big cake in the shape of a Flying V guitar (the kind Potter plays) was brought out, along with a margarita the size of her head; and then, a High School marching band from Brentwood took the stage. They played “Happy Birthday, “ and the stadium sang along.

Now, I don’t know what Potter’s relationship status is (we’re not friends on FB), but if Kenny’s trying to hit that, he’s scoring some serious points.

For the encore, Kenny and Tim blasted everyone with their duet, “Feel Like a Rockstar” and a couple other tunes, including  ”She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy.”  That was followed up by a cover of Jackson Browne’s “Running on Empty;” tour mates Jake Owen and Grace Potter both joined for that.. Before leaving the stage, all the artists stayed for at least five minutes signing autographs and shaking hands with fans.

This was an ideal summer show. I  don’t believe I’ve ever seen a regular concert at a professional football stadium. Sure, CMA Fest, but that’s a huge festival.

Originally, I was torn between this concert and Tenacious D at the Ryman, but I’m happy with my decision. I saw Tenacious D at Bonnaroo recently, and loved them, but as Chesney mentioned, he hadn’t been to Nashville to play a full show since 2007 (which seems really strange to me, since Nashville is the stereotypical home of Country)! Let’s hope he takes time out of him busy boating schedule to visit us again within the next five years.

If you went or are going to the Brothers of the Sun Tour, or are a fan of the artists on the bill, be sure to comment with your thoughts and reviews. Because, this is You Tell Concerts, and when you tell concerts..it’s cooler!

Buy your Kenny Chesney / Tim McGraw Tickets Here!

CMA FEST 2011 VIDEO FAN REVIEWS

CMA FEST 2011 – NASHVILLE, TN – June 9th-12th, 2011

After receiving a big ole fat “declined” email in response to my Bonnaroo media application, I had to think long and hard about shelling out $300 to sweat it out on the farm without the luxuries of the press area.

Since CMA Fest is always scheduled for the same weekend, I decided it would be best to stay in town and see what goes down for the Country music fans. After all, it was CMA Fest’s 40th Anniversary, and Bonnaroo’s 10th. Seniority prevails.

Not only was this the proper decision for my wallet and physical well-being, it clearly was the best choice for You Tell Concerts purposes as well – for a couple of reasons. First, we’ve already covered Bonnaroo in the past; and second, YTC is all about the fans and CMA Fest is specifically labeled to be a fan experience.

In addition to four nights of concerts at LP Field, which feature the top artists in the genre, plus special surprise guests, there are tons of other events that go on throughout the week that cater to the fan – thanking them for their support.

* People can attend the “Fan Fair” exhibit hall at the Convention Center, which has a huge schedule of artist meet-and-greet opportunities.
* There are fan club parties all over town that you can find out about on your favorite artist’s website, or a simple Google search for a list.
* The annual City of Hope celebrity softball challenge is always a fun time, where the Grand Ole Opry team takes on the After MidNite with Blair Garner team in a goofy game to raise money and awareness for cancer research. This year’s players included American Idols Lauren Alaina and Scotty McCreery, Vince Gill, Dierks Bentley, David Nail, Chuck Wicks, and Jake Owen, among others.

I got to cover some of these side events for my day job. Check out the video highlights of the game below:

If you join the CMA Fest text “mob,” you’ll be notified of pop-up events and signings, as well as a ton of contests and scavenger hunts that could lead to ticket upgrades, autographed items and more.

As mentioned before, the A-list play LP Field. Free concerts are at the Riverfront all is kind of a mixed lineup of newcomers and “well-knowns.” The up-and-comers usually play the Bridgestone Arena plaza stage. This way, Fest-goers get a taste of everything – the currents, the legends, and new faces.

While the CMA Fest patrons can get wild, it’s also a very family-friendly festival. There’s a kick-off parade to get everyone jazzed for the next few days. Broadway is shut down during Fest and divided into “zones” with sponsor booths, swag, misting stations (it’s hot out), signings, games, and smaller stages with cover bands and public artist interviews. Not really an activity for the kids, but Jack Daniels even had a trailer set up so people could take a lightning round distillery tour.

Did you know Jack Daniels died from foot complications after kicking a safe in anger?

Now, I was very particular about the Country music I listened to prior to moving to Nashville, but I’ll admit, it has grown on me after being submerged in it for a couple of years. After meeting a bunch of the artists face-to-face, I can’t help but admire how thankful and how hard-working they are, and also, how comfortable they are in their own skin. The CMA Fest experience helped me “come out of the closet” and openly admit that I indeed like the format and the lifestyle surrounding it.

My sister and I went to all four nights at LP Field. I think I was the craziest for Reba, but Jason Aldean has won me over. Especially, because Kelly Clarkson took the stage for “Don’t You Wanna Stay.” I love her voice, effin’ love it. Trace Adkins is the coolest dude ever. It’s like watching a wrestler sing karaoke – really well.

Josh Kelley @ The Riverfront Stage

Blake Shelton killed me with his version of “My Prerogative,” while reliving growing up through a series of covers. Speaking of covers, Josh Kelley busted out Snoop’s “Lodi Dodi” at the Riverfront and The Cleverlys rocked out The Bangles’ “Walk Like an Egyptian” and Black Eyed Peas’ “I Gotta Feeling” Bluegrass-style.

Keith Urban @ Nashville Municipal Auditorium (Fan Club Party)

The LP shows were great, but my favorite part of the weekend was going to Keith Urban’s fan club party, where we got a sneak peek at his “Get Closer” tour. It was a rehearsal, so there were some flub-ups, but that’s what made it special. He obviously didn’t do the whole show, but he played a good amount of songs, and it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to have an inside look – seeing him and his band practice in a near-empty arena.

Here’s my coverage video:

We also went to Miranda Lambert’s fan party at Nashville Palace. I can’t get enough of Miranda and her sassy-style. In a time of radio crossover, Miranda keeps it Southern and I think a lot of core Country fans appreciate that. Here new trio project, Pistol Annies, has that same vibe and I hope they get huge. She mentioned that it’s been awhile since there’s been a project like “The Highwaymen,” and she believes it’s important for artists to group together for side projects like this and expand on their creativity.

Miranda Lambert @ Nashville Palace (Fan Club Party)

Here’s my video from that event:

So, it turned out okay that I didn’t get to Manchester this year. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I would have loved to go. However, it was an eventful weekend – a lot of work and little sleep, but a lot of fun too.

Oh, and did I mention that I got my Tiffany album signed by the woman herself?

That’s pretty cool!

For more information on CMA Fest, check out www.cmafest.com!

Rain or Shine, Chrystal and Guy head to the Crawfish Boil and get fan reviews of the show.

Saturday was my first double header! We were exhausted from our GWAR experience, but we grabbed some Monsters and umbrellas, and headed to the Crawfish Boil. Little did we know, umbrellas weren’t allowed at the outdoor concert held during thunderstorms. Damn it! Ah, well – it was still a blast.

The Lineup:

Mike’s Pawn Shop (a local band)
Hoobastank
Saving Abel
Gavin Rossdale
Boys Like Girls
311

We missed Mike’s Pawn Shop, and saw a bit of Hoobastank. Things started to get going with Saving Abel. They are so much better live than on their CD. I hope the production of their new album shows off more of the rockstar enthusiasm that they have on stage. They might have played it a little too safe with the first album. But, whatevz, it worked! Now that you have our attention, you know what to do, boys!

We got a few minutes to talk with Jared and Scott from Saving Abel before the show. Check it out. The sound’s not great, but you get the idea.

Gavin Rossdale was, as my mom would say, “a hunk of burning love.” He started off with Machine Head, and played lots of Bush hits. I didn’t hear “Glycerine” though. Maybe I was in some in depth convo, or on a pee break – but even then, I’m pretty sure my receptors would have picked that up. Didn’t matter. He rocked it. He hated the fact that the crowd was throwing beer bottles. Such a peaceful man.

I’ve never seen Gavin before. Did he always dance like that? I can just picture him in the living room with Gwen going over some jumpy dances. “Honey, can you teach me some stage moves?”

At this point, I had to leave to catch Elton John and Billy Joel at the Sommet Center. Guy, like a true Nebraskan, stayed for his fav – 311.

Before 311, Justin Kalk of The Justin Kalk Orchestra got on stage to announce some contest winners. Justin’s band is in Hard Rock Cafe’s Ambassadors of Rock Competition. They will be competing against 22 bands for a spot in the lineup with Dave Matthews Band and Bruce Springsteen in the Hard Rock Calling Concert in London. Online voting starts May 26th, and ends June 6th. VOTE PEOPLE!

http://www.hardrock.com/promo/AOR09/battle-of-the-bands/

Need more than me just demanding you to vote? If you are in Nashville, YouTellConcerts.com is putting together a concert at The Mercy Lounge and Justin Kalk Orchestra will be headlining. Harlott will also be playing. The show’s on June 3rd! Be there!

www.justinkalk.com

www.myspace.com/harlottrock