Show goes on for FGL without Rexha
people bought a ticket to Florida Georgia Line’s Summerfest show, many already knew what the highlight would be.
Bebe Rexha was custom-booked for this appearance — which meant the pop singer and country-pop duo were almost certain to perform their blockbuster crossover collaboration, “Meant to Be,” with a rare live joint appearance.
But that didn’t happen: Rexha fell ill and canceled her gig Saturday morning.
But you better believe FGL did that tune — and, judging by the singing, dancing masses in a packed American Family Insurance Amphitheater, it still was a peak moment.
It also showed just how far FGL has come since quickly finding fame as the poster act for the bro-country movement — before that subgenre began to wane and threatened to pigeonhole the group.
FGL — made up of co-frontmen Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley — have proven themselves to be among the most marketing-savvy acts in country music, and effective salesmen, even when they’re pitching seemingly contradictory things.
Saturday at Summerfest, they performed “It’z Just What We Do” accompanied by footage of private jets and rock star living, then immediately segued into “Round Here,” where they positioned themselves as down-toearth country boys dancing in the dust with the radio up. Based on the audience enthusiasm, the fans were buying ’em both.
FGL’s smartest play of late has been to complement their criticized, twodimensional frat-boy country songs with more sensitive, romantic material that’s currently in vogue, thanks to Sam Hunt and what’s been dubbed the country gentlemen movement.
That was the vibe during “H.O.L.Y.” from 2016’s “Dig Your Roots.” It’s an acronym for “High on Loving You,” and it was preceded by a speech during which Hubbard paid respect to strong women.
And it was followed by another romantic “Roots” track, “God, Your Mama, and Me,” accompanied by footage from Hubbard and Kelley’s weddings and vacations with their wives.
Yes, there was pyro Saturday, too, for those older testosterone-drenched hits like “This Is How We Roll” and “Anything Goes.” And FGL still gave fans a special moment, inviting one of Rexha’s replacements, up-and-coming country artist Canaan Smith, to take the stage for a joint performance of Morgan Wallen’s hit “Up Down,” which featured FGL.
Hubbard also gave one fan a special souvenir — the sweat-drenched Summerfest tank top he wore Saturday that he ripped at the end of the night.
For his own last-minute opening set, Smith faced a daunting task, performing a half-hour in a large amphitheater on a hot night with just a twoman acoustic set.
But he seemed to relish the challenge, zestfully strumming through a stripped-down country chart-topper
“Love You Like That,” and drawing cheers as he happily hollered, “Summerfest, I’m having a hell of a time.”
Pop singer-songwriter Rachel Platten, though, was the hardest-working performer at the Big Gig Sunday: She did her own half-hour opening set in the amphitheater just an hour before taking the stage for a headlining slot at the BMO Harris Pavilion.
The amphitheater gig was a more low-key affair — keys, acoustic guitars, no drums — ensuring she’d have some gas in the tank. Platten didn’t skimp on passion, though, belting out empowering anthems “Fight Song” and “Broken Glass,” and even slipping in a cover of Maren Morris’ “My Church” for the country crowd.
And she brought some genuine surprises, premiering a spirited new song she just wrote, “Against the World” — which, honestly, probably would do well on country radio. And she did a perky acoustic cover of Snoop Dogg’s “Gin & Juice,” complete with her own impressive beatboxing.