With an audience overwhelmingly anxious for things to begin, the darkened stage began to fill with a thick white smoke. From the back of the stage emerged the man most had came to see. Wearing his off-white cowboy hat, boots, jeans and a snake skin jacket, Gary Allan started the night off with the perfect song, " Right Where I Need To Be." The crowd burst to their feet and began singing and dancing to this hard driving, hard hitting song off Gary's third album, Smoke Rings In The Dark.With an eight piece band including himself, Gary was tearin it up!
Jumping right into his new CD, Tough All Over, due to be released on October 11th, Gary performed "Tough All Over" and later in the night "He Can't Quit Her," "No Damn Good," and "Putting Memories Away." Hearing the lyrics from this last song mentioned, my heart broke right in two. Knowing how difficult this last year must have been for Gary, I honestly don't know how he performs this song without breaking down.. Gary acknowledged how difficult things have been and went on to say that although originally this song wasn't to be a single, he found himself playing it over and over and decided it would be the first single released. It's a beautifully written haunting song given the circumstances.
Pleased with the response he was getting from the crowd, Gary proclaimed he would play all night for us if we were nice to him. We were, and he did. Breaking right into his current album, See If I Care,we got to hear "Tough Little Boys," "Nothin On But The Radio," "Can't Do It Today" and one of my favorites "Drinkin Dark Whiskey." Gary also took the time to sing "Happy Birthday" to 15-year band member Jake Kelly adding a second verse to the song and wishing for Jake to "Get him Some.....................Cake and Ice Cream. "It is a family show" Gary said as the audience roared with laughter.
As the evening was coming to an end, Gary invited the fans to rush the stage and move in close. Feeding off their energy Gary broke into "Run Away" the old classic. It seemed as though everyone young and old new the words and was up dancing away. Thrilling fans with high fives, it looked as though Gary was having as much fun as we were. Saying a heartfelt thank you, he left the stage returning shortly with an encore that included "Man Of Me." Gary thrilled the audience once again as he made his way from beginning to end of the stage shaking hands and signing autographs. He also had been throwing more pic's into the audience than I have ever seen anyone do. As he made his way off stage, it seemed as though it was over before it began. How had the three hours of performances gone by so quickly?
Set List:
- Right Where I Need To Be
- Tough All Over
- Alright Guy
- Songs About Rain
- Man To Man
- Tough Little Boys
- Smoke Rings In The Dark
- Guys Like Me
- Best I Ever Had
- He Can't Quit Her
- Her Man
- Putting Memories Away
- No Damn Good
- Nothin On But The Radio
- Can't Do It Today
- Run Away
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Encore:
- Drinkin Dark Whiskey
- Man Of Me
Sugarland's Concert Review | Gary Allan's Concert Review