Chesney delivers what folks want
Minus the instruments’ sound, music is all arena hair metal in 10-gallon dressing
Sun, cold beer and buff bodies; check.
Add songs about the aforementioned lyrical holy triumvirate, a tune about a truck and you have attended Kenny Chesney’s The Big Revival Tour.
Thursday night, Chesney’s road show, with Jake Owen and Chase Rice, opened this season’s Ambleside Live series.
The first road trip by the Knoxville, Tenn., twanger since 2013 moved a million-plus tickets before a single y’all was uttered. Impressive stats.
That’s what 26 No. 1 songs — including the latest mega single, Till It’s Gone — gets you.
West Vancouver being the country music mecca it is, the well-attended show was likely composed of the bridge-and-tunnel crowd.
They came to party in a park where walking around with your ice-cold cans of Corona Lite is fine and apparently smoking isn’t treated like murder. No, it’s not legal here either.
It’s just that this municipality’s police seem to have better things to do than hang out en masse at concerts bumming out the mood.
So it was merry from the opening notes of Rice’s set.
This would never work in Vancouver without a barricade and phalanx of bylaw enforcers.
By the time the former college footballer and NASCAR crew prospect got around to his signature hit, Shakin’ the Wheels, the singalong had started.
A predominantly female audience jockeyed for position as barefoot hunk Owen skipped out on the promenade and got Beachin’.
His band rocked — particularly the harmonica player. Folks roared when he took selfies off the stage with their phones. Keep an eye on the web for those at #theBigRevivalTour.
Perhaps the introduction video that started off Chesney’s set featuring a Jamaican MC and a host of celebs such as Willie Nelson and Vince Vaughn giving their two thumbs up to the No Shoes Nation is up on the site, too. The clip got fans on their feet as the band kicked into Reality from 2010’s awesomely titled, Hemingway’s Whiskey.
His backing sextet sounded great, although Chesney’s voice was struggling through the initial mix.
By the opening notes of The Road and the Radio’s Beer In Mexico — all good. Right down to a collective chorus/toast.
As the band introduced itself with a succession of solos, Chesney began what would be an endless parade of hand-slapping, blowing kisses and general hee-hawin’.
Guess those entertainer-of-theyear awards matter for something.
That and the fact that — minus the instruments’ sound — the music is all arena hair metal in 10-gallon dressing. Chesney is totally mass appeal and if you missed a favourite chorus; no problemo. You heard it again and again. This is song factory assembly line C&W. It’s hard to argue, however, with wanting a pirate flag and an island girl. Elton John liked them.
No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problem; You & Tequila (“dedicated to everyone addicted to someone that’s bad for them”); American Kids — the set showcased almost all his biggest singles, a portion of The Big Revival and some well-decided covers.
AC/DC’s Whole Lotta Rosie (sung well by bassist Harmoni Kelley McCarty) was a highlight.
All told, a well-produced gig that delivered what people wanted and all in a setting even the headliner noted was his kinda place.
What’s next, Ambleside Live?