"Brokenheartsville" is such a crowd favorite that everyone was singing along with Joe on this one. The party continued as he sang "She Only Smokes When She Drinks." For some reason Joe's performance on this was so emotionally charged I had a hard time fighing back the tears. When he ended that song he told the audience, "now it's time to get serious!" Joe pulled up the barstool and I knew what was coming next, "I'll Wait For You." At one point in the song he turned to the side of the stage and sang to his fiance Heather, waiting in the wings. It was a very tender and sweet gesture.
The gears would be slammed in reverse as he began the rowdy portion of his set. It began with the country classic "Country Boy Can Survive" followed by his own party song, "Let's Get Drunk And Fight" off the new album. I've heard this song a couple times this summer and it is a great kick start to any country party. The ever popular "What's A Guy Gotta Do" would complete the evening. The crowd remained on their feet yelling and chanting his name until he came back on stage to a three song encore set that started with the ultimate party song "Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off." There was no way this crowd was going to go home without hearing that one. The momentum continued when Joe sang "Long Haired Country Boy." The final song of the evening would bring everyone to a hushed silence as we sat back and listened to Joe sing "Blues Man."
Joe possesses the ability to take a song and turn it into something magical with his phenomenal voice. He makes you feel what he is singing. He can make you laugh and he can certainly make you cry with his wide range of emotions. He is able to reach in and touch your soul and draw out those feelings using that magnificent baritone voice. When he pulls up that bar stool or sits on the edge of the stage I know he will treat you to the reason he is quickly becoming known as one of the best ballad singers in the industry today. He possesses a vocal quality that is undeniable and very few ever achieve that level of excellence. He has learned from the masters; George, Keith, Hank Jr, Waylon, and Merle. He has listened to them, he has studied them for years. Joe was able to transform that knowledge and talent into a style uniquely his own. His current album Real Things is simply the best representation of country music out there. His popularity among the fans proves that this genre of country music is alive and well and loved very much by the fans of all ages. Tonight's concert was a glimpse into who and what he is; a extraordinary gifted, funny and lovable country singer. I can't imagine a more perfect way to end the summer than to hear my favorite male vocalist, Joe Nichols perform in concert.
