Yeah, OK, so maybe double headliners are not so rare these days, but musical hat tricks are, and if you are lucky enough to sit in 5th row center of one, you bring back a lifetime memory!
On May 31st, Country music superstar, Brad Paisley, kicked off his 2019, summer concert tour in Albuquerque, New Mexico. And being the consummate, entertainer that he is, he brought rising stars, Chris Lane and Riley Green along for the ride.
The tour landed in San Diego on June 1st at LiveNation’s North Island Credit Union Amphitheater. A favorite community venue and the fans represented! A full capacity country music-loving crowd, showed up, showed off and showed their love for Brad and his young, up and coming, opening artists.
If a glimpse of the stage set said anything, it was “We are here for your entertainment!”. Think dancing on the bar…multiple raised extensions reaching out into the floor area surrounded by barstools and happily drinking and singing along, VIPs and special guests, not only put these artists closer to their fans but allowed them to interact with audience freely and often.
Riley Green
Friday night’s party kicked off with, country music’s young gun, Riley Green. Hailing from Jacksonville, Alabama, Riley reflects all that is country music! With his charming and energetic stage presence, he instantly captivated his audience. Growing up in the deep south, Riley’s musical roots are deeply seated in the sounds of gospel, bluegrass, and good ole’ fashioned country. He writes of personal experience, traditions, and all the things that make life fun and worth living.
Riley has a considerable following both online and live. Online viewing and streaming number over 27 million, proves we are destined to see and hear much more from this talented artist. He has regularly been touring over the past five years and during that time still managed to release several excellent EP’s. Recently signed by BMLG Records, when Riley is not touring, he is in the studio recording new material. There is no doubt we will be seeing and hearing a lot more from Riley soon.
Chris Lane
He entertains his fans with stories of his songwriting inspiration and muse and personally interacts with his audience to make them part of the show. Making full use of the extended stage set, he signed autographs, shook hands, gave hugs, and shared the love! There is something extraordinary about country music artists and their relationship with their fans and fans with their relationship with their favorite artists. You never meet a stranger at a country music event. The mutual love between fan and artist and vice versa is evident every way you turn. As a multi-cross genre music lover, I never get tired of watching the fans at a country music concert; this is what I would refer to as hardcore love, affection, and respect.
Riley’s set a little too short, I would have loved to see and hear more, and there WAS MORE waiting in the wings. After a concise equipment changeup (don’t you love it when this happens? Nothing worse than a long, meandering break between sets). Another fiery artist was ready to set the fans back on fire.
A true American, southern, country gentleman, born in Kernersville, North Carolina, Chris Lane, is a chart-topping, multi-award nominee, young artist that is also bound for glory. In the past six years, Chris has released three albums, and four of his singles have rated gold and platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America, and in 2015, his single “Fix” reached number one on the American country music charts.
Over the next 45 minutes, fans were treated to a multitude of original music and phenomenally represented cover songs originally recorded by some of country music’s most respected artists in the industry. Chris also made sure that the fans were well within his reach. American country artists love their country. They are very patriotic and are not afraid to show it. As fans on the floor and around the stage extension, waved flags and showed their patriotism, Chris shared their enthusiasm and happily joined in the audience participation. Throughout his set, he spent his time amid his fans not only performing on the extended stage but moved out into the seats encouraging party goers to sing along. Toward the end of his set, he brought one lucky female fan on stage as he sang his 2018 hit, “I Don’t Know About You” as he set the scene for the night’s headliner.
After another quick change of set, Brad Paisley, immediately proved to his fans that he is not just another pretty face within the country music scene! When Brad performs, his fans and accompanying acts perform with him. Transforming the stage into a scene reminiscent of “Cocktail,” special guests and VIP’s were invited to sit and sip on the onstage tropical themed “bar.” Stunning visuals erupted from the screens that adorned the sides, and the rear of the stage as Brad immediately jumped into long-time fans favorites.
This 20+ year, veteran singer-songwriter was born and raised in Glen Dale, West Virginia, he made his debut into the country music arena in 1999, with the release of his first album “Who Needs Pictures.” Known for his humor and tongue-in-cheek songwriting, over the past two decades Brad has released 11 more albums, all that have reached “Gold” status or better and has been nominated and received a plethora of music and songwriting awards. Along with his musical talent, you can find an extensive list of acting and television credits to his name.
I love it when our long-time favored artists, launch directly into what they know their fans are going to immediately respond to and get them on their feet dancing and singing along. Fan favorite after fan favorite emerged throughout his performance along with new releases and a cover song or two. Brad’s personality comes out not only in his songwriting and performance; the whimsical stage setting, and a stunning never-ending stream of video-visuals was an all-encompassing treat for our eyes and ears. When you are an opening act for Brad’s tour, it doesn’t stop with the end of your set. You become part of his performance, as well. Bringing Riley and Chris back on stage to re-join the party, was a delight you don’t often see when it comes to touring artists; the audience reaction was deafening. There is no doubt that Brad Paisley knows how to throw a party and invite all the right people!
Brad, Chris, and Riley are currently summer touring throughout the United States, and you’re invited to the celebration. If you are a country music fan, it will be a party you will forever remember!
You can find all of these artists’ music, touring calendars, and videos on their websites and popular music streaming sites purchase it through most music retailers and follow them on social media by searching the artist’s name.
By: Siege / BackStage360