Chesney brings stadium-size joy to Milwaukee
Musician performs his 1st show in city in four years
Kenny Chesney amps up the crowd in Charlotte, N.C., on April 30. Photos weren’t available for most of the performances at Saturday night’s Chesney concert at Milwaukee’s American Family Amphitheater.
Kenny Chesney tried to process what it meant to finally be on stage in Milwaukee Saturday night. But it was clear no words would do justice.
“It’s impossible to explain all the energy you feel,” Chesney told 40,000 fans at American Family Field.
Honestly, he didn’t need to say a thing. Across a two-hour set, you could see the immeasurable gratitude on his face. And you could feel the deep appreciation from his screaming, singing fans.
They were supposed to gather together here on April 25, 2020, back when the Brewers stadium was known as Miller Park. But then, of course, COVID.
Saturday was the first Milwaukee stadium concert since Billy Joel in April 2019. It was Chesney’s first concert in the city since April 2018.
So a couple of songs into Saturday’s show, Chesney vowed that “every soul on this stage” was going to give the fans and this show “every cell in their bodies.”
That was already apparent. The show kicked off with “Beer in Mexico,” the customary, feel-good, sun-and-boozeloving Chesney show-opener. I’d say it was just like fans remembered it — except it was better. Chesney’s band, which this year welcomed strong new additions Danny Rader on guitar and Nick Buda on drums, traditionally flexes during the song, but they were clearly so thrilled to be back on stage that the big rock finish really ripped.
And Chesney, in constant movement from the start, seemed the most excited of all. By the fourth song “Here and Now” — the title track for Chesney’s latest album, and the name of his tour — his arms were glistening in sweat, and his tank top was drenched. Even during the breezier bits of “No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problem,” Chesney was so energized he was swiftly moving all over the end of the catwalk.
The first time he was stationary behind a mic stand was for “Anything But Mine” — and that was 12 songs and a full 55 minutes into the set. Even during that brief respite, he made sure to keep the energy alive, bringing out Matthew Ramsey and Brad Tursi from opener Old Dominion for a subsequent performance of “Save It for a Rainy Day” — and then was back to running all over the stage for “When the Sun Goes Down.”
There were a couple of songs from the latest album in Saturday’s set list. “Here and Now” opener “We Do” had a reception that rivaled the set list standards, although Chesney seemed almost apologetic while performing the slower new single “Knowing You,” thanking the crowd for indulging him, even though it is certified platinum.
He knows people wanted to hear the older hits, and fans and superstar both relished being able to hear them live again.
The crowd singalong for “I’ll Go Back” was so bold that Chesney practically leaped 10 feet, and, by the end of the song, had dropped to his knees. After “American Kids” wrapped, Chesney was so moved by the crowd reception he was practically misty-eyed. And a couple of songs that seemed like simple, escapist fare before — “Get Along” and “Everything’s Going to Be Alright” — felt more nourishing live in the wake of the collective trauma we’ve all experienced from COVID-19.
The show ended, as always, with “She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy” and Chesney doing a marathon autograph session for fans in the pit. One fan he brought onstage to give an autographed Brewers helmet seemed so elated it looked like she was about to explode. And then before leaving the stage, Chesney promised the Wisconsin branch of his No Shoes Nation fan base that he would see them soon.
Again, that could have gone unspoken. There’s no way he’s going to let another four years go by before playing a stadium show in Wisconsin again.
JILL TRUNNELL
For reviews of opening acts Dan + Shay, Old Dominion and Carly Pearce, along with a set list and more, go to jsonline.com/music.