"This backwoods boy's gonna be an uptown deal" rings true for Nichols in 2008.
Joe Nichols fans gathered early in the Fort Worth stockyard at local restaurants such as Riscky's Steakhouse for dinner before heading to Billy Bob's Texas for a night of honky tonking featuring their favorite country music superstar, Joe Nichols.
There were so many Nichols fans in attendance at Riscky's tonight, the steakhouse should consider a special thanks to Nichols for all the business he brought their way.
After dinner, we walked over to Billy Bob's to meet up with even more Joe Nichols fans. Everyone was buzzing with excitement and anticipation waiting to see Joe's performance this evening. It had been several months since Nichols last performance due to what he refers to as a "vacation" he took at the end of last year and fans have been feeling Joe's absence.
Nichols has some of the most dedicated and wonderful people for fans that I've ever had the opportunity to meet. It was such a pleasure to see and talk with so many of them again tonight. At Billy Bob's, we found that we had seats at the front of the center table, thanks to our friends, Carlene and Dave. Then we headed to the meet and greet line and to visit with more Joe fans.
Everyone was lined up with gifts and special Joe pictures for Nichols to sign. During the M&G session, Joe joked and hugged his fans as he showed his appreciation for everyone coming out to see him. Fran the Joe fan was wearing her Fan of the Month shirt which was abbreviated as "JN FOTM" Oct 2007. Nichols showing that he hadn't lost his wonderful sense of humor teased her by phonically reading it as "jaa--nnnna foo tummmm."
We also had a special gift for Nichols, a Serenity Cross with the full length Serenity Prayer on a hand-made card. Carlene presented Joe with this special gift to show our support for his healthy life style changes. Nichols was very grateful for the thought and support shown by all his fans.
When it was my turn, I asked Joe to sign a copy of an article on the Mike Nichols Fund Of Hope published in the Everything Respiratory Magazine. Nichols was very touched when Melissa presented him with his own copy of the magazine.
After our meet and greet, we hurried to our seats arriving only a few minutes before the six guy band walked onto the Billy Bob stage taking their places in the new stage set up Nichols acquired for his 2008 touring season. The guys launched into Nichols introduction song "Why The Hell Do You Think I Drink," an iTunes bonus track from Nichols 2007 Real Things album.
The Billy Bob crowd roared and cheered coming to their feet as Nichols strutted onto the familiar stage. He filled his song set with his own songs and fan favorites such as his # 1 single "Brokenheartsville," plus "Size Matters" "She Only Smokes When She Drinks," and "Cool To Be A Fool." This set list fulfilled the wish of many Nichols fans for more of his own songs.
Nichols shared the important of the next song to him explaining it has a special meaning for him that's why he put it on his Real Things album but now "My Whiskey Years" has taken on an even more important meaning for him. Wrapping his hands tightly around the microphone and closing his eyes, Nichols uses his deep rich baritone voice to tell us a story that wrap us up in his genuine emotion as he shares a piece of his soul while reminiscing within the song about the man's "wilder days" making the song a personal experience he was sharing with his audience.
Next, Nichols fans joined him singing along to his current single "It Ain't No Crime," then "What's A Guy Gotta Do" and "The Impossible" before Joe sat down on the edge of the stage to sing the beautiful love song "I'll Wait For You." The song was obviously dedicated to his lovely wife, Heather. Joe's emotional expressions brought Mrs. Nichols to the stage where she handed her husband a rose and stood up the stage holding his hand as he expressed his love for her through this song.
In between songs, Nichols showed he still had his sense of humor with snappy and quick witted one-liners that had the audience cracking up.
Then, Joe rocked the house with another Real Things song about a couple wanting to have a good time partying and fighting called "Let's Get Drunk and Fight." Keeping the crowds energy high, Joe sang "Country Boys Can Survive" and his #1 single "Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off," before leaving the stage sending the crowd into screams for more.
After a few minutes of yells and chants, Nichols and his band reappeared on the stage to close out the night with Charlie Daniels' rebellious "Long Haired Country Boy," and then pb["Blues Man" and "Comin' Back In A Cadillac."
Nichols' fans had high expectations for his return and once again to their delight, Nichols delivers. To quote Nichols while singing the chorus of "Comin' Back In A Cadillac," "this backwoods boy's gonna be an uptown deal," and if tonight's performance is any indication of what we can expect from Nichols in 2008 this lyric is right on the money.
Set List:
- "Why In The Hell Do You Think I Drink"
- "Brokenheartsville"
- "Size Matters"
- "She Only Smokes When She Drinks"
- "Cool To Be A Fool"
- "My Whiskey Years"
- "It Ain't No Crime"
- "What's A Guy Gotta Do"
- "The Impossible"
- "I'll Wait For You"
- "Let's Get Drunk and Fight"
- "Country Boys Can Survive"
- "Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off"
- Encore:
- "Long Haired Country Boy"
- "Blues Man"
- "Comin' Back In A Cadillac"