Kenny Chesney, Dan + Shay, more bring stadium-size joy to Milwaukee

Kenny Chesney tried to course of what it meant to lastly be on stage in Milwaukee Saturday night time. But it surely was clear no phrases would do justice.

“It’s unattainable to clarify all of the vitality you’re feeling,” Chesney informed 40,000 followers at American Household Subject.

Actually, he didn’t have to say a factor. Throughout a two-hour set, you might see the immeasurable gratitude on his face. And you might really feel the deep appreciation from his screaming, singing followers. 

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These are all the sector, amphitheater and stadium concert events occurring in Milwaukee in 2022

They have been supposed to collect collectively right here on April 25, 2020, again when the Brewers stadium was generally known as Miller Park. However then, after all, COVID. 

Saturday was the primary Milwaukee stadium live performance since Billy Joel in April 2019. It was Chesney’s first live performance within the metropolis since April 2018. 

So a few songs into Saturday’s present, Chesney vowed that “each soul on this stage” was going to provide the followers and this present “each cell of their our bodies.”

That was already obvious. The present kicked off with “Beer in Mexico,” the customary, feel-good, sun-and-booze-loving Chesney show-opener. I’d say it was similar to followers remembered it — besides it was higher. Chesney’s band, which this yr welcomed robust new additions Danny Rader on guitar and Nick Buda on drums, historically flexes throughout the music, however they have been clearly so thrilled to be again on stage that the large rock end actually ripped. 

And Chesney, in fixed motion from the beginning, appeared essentially the most excited of all. By the fourth music “Right here and Now” — the title monitor for Chesney’s newest album, and the identify of his tour — his arms have been glistening in sweat, and his tank high was drenched. Even throughout the breezier bits of “No Footwear, No Shirt, No Downside,” Chesney was so energized he was swiftly shifting all around the finish of the catwalk. 

The primary time he was stationary behind a mic stand was for “Something However Mine” — and that was 12 songs and a full 55 minutes into the set. Even throughout that transient respite, he made positive to maintain the vitality alive, bringing out Matthew Ramsey and Brad Tursi from opener Outdated Dominion for a subsequent efficiency of “Save It for a Wet Day” — after which was again to operating all around the stage for “When the Solar Goes Down.” 

There have been a few songs from the most recent album in Saturday’s setlist. “Right here and Now” opener “We Do” had a reception that rivaled the setlist requirements, though Chesney appeared nearly apologetic whereas performing the slower new single “Figuring out You,” thanking the gang for indulging him, though it’s licensed platinum. 

He is aware of folks wished to listen to the older hits, and followers and celebrity each relished having the ability to hear them reside once more.

The group singalong for “I am going to Go Again” was so daring that Chesney virtually leaped 10 toes, and, by the top of the music, had dropped to his knees. After “American Youngsters” wrapped, Chesney was so moved by the gang reception he was virtually misty-eyed. And a few songs that appeared like easy, escapist fare earlier than — “Get Alongside” and “All the pieces’s Going to Be Alright” — felt extra nourishing reside within the wake of the collective trauma we have all skilled from COVID-19.

The present ended, as at all times, with “She Thinks My Tractor’s Attractive” and Chesney doing a marathon autograph session for followers within the pit. One fan he introduced onstage to provide an autographed Brewers helmet appeared so elated it seemed like she was about to blow up. After which earlier than leaving the stage, Chesney promised the Wisconsin department of his No Footwear Nation fan base that he would see them quickly. 

Once more, that would have gone unstated. There is no approach he’ll let one other 4 years go by earlier than enjoying a stadium present in Wisconsin once more. 

Dan + Shay deliver the love songs and Bucks love 

Nation-pop duo Dan + Shay performed an enormous Milwaukee present simply eight months in the past, promoting out Fiserv Discussion board. Instantly previous Chesney with a 70-minute set Saturday, Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney obtained to play for a fair bigger crowd in Brew Metropolis. 

Besides it wasn’t utterly their crowd. So the musically milquetoast, moon-eyed ballads met with large singalongs on the town final September have been greeted largely with disinterested chatter amongst Chesney followers throughout the stadium. 

However Dan + Shay wouldn’t be deterred, buttering up the gang with flattery and a “Bucks in seven” shoutout from Mooney. In addition they took a threat enjoying “Glad You Exist” with a lone acoustic guitar; it paid off. And their greatest hits — “10,000 Hours,” “Speechless,” “Tequila” — had the gang’s undivided consideration, with Mooney closing out the latter with a stirring vocal word as robust as a shot of Patrón.

Outdated Dominion honor Taylor Hawkins

Outdated Dominion was the one opener connected to the lineup when the Chesney present was first introduced in 2019 to really carry out Saturday. In addition they should be Chesney’s favorites — this was their fourth opening gig for him in Wisconsin since 2015.

Don’t be shocked in the event that they get the prime opening slot subsequent time. Outdated Dominion scored the primary stadium-wide singalongs throughout their hour set with “Break Up With Him” and cheeky new single “I Was on a Boat That Day,” with guitarist Trevor Rosen rocking an accordion on the finish of the catwalk.

It was considered one of a handful of curveballs that distinguished the band from serviceable units of the previous. Brad Tursi busted out some smoking blues guitar licks main into “Can’t Get You,” and relished frontman duties for a canopy of Keith City’s “Wild Hearts,” a music he co-wrote. 

And frontman Matthew Ramsey led the band by a hovering cowl of Foo Fighters’ “Study to Fly,” a tribute to not too long ago handed drummer Taylor Hawkins, whose image flashed on the large display screen on the finish. 

Carly Pearce units a excessive bar

Anybody who made it to their seats on time was rewarded with one of the best songwriter and singer of the night time, Carly Pearce, the reigning ACM and CMA feminine vocalist of the 12 months.

Her voice sounded excellent in that large stadium, however it was the phrases she was singing that have been so hanging. The half-hour set primarily targeted on her terrific 2021 album “29: Written in Stone,” which partially chronicles her divorce from fellow rising nation star Michael Ray. 

Below the nice and cozy solar from that massive stage, she turned emotionally bare gems like “What He Didn’t Do” and her Ashley McBryde-featuring “By no means Wished to Be That Woman” into cathartic, reassuring anthems. Her real pleasure — she talked about reaching her lifelong goals, and going from cleansing Airbnbs to being a Grand Ole Opry member — doubtless contributed to the emotional shift reside.

The set additionally recalled one other promising feminine nation artist who had that first Chesney opening slot on this identical ballpark a decade in the past. That was Kacey Musgraves, who’s since turn into a culture-shifting, arena-headlining celebrity. Saturday’s efficiency steered Pearce may find yourself in an identical place.

The takeaways

• After ready greater than two years for this night time to lastly occur, it was solely proper that Chesney and his followers have been blessed with impeccable climate Saturday for all of the tailgating and the present itself, the place the roof of American Household Subject remained open the entire time.
• That marathon autograph session that Chesney does on the finish because the band rocks out lasts six full minutes, or at the least it did Saturday. There was no method to hold rely of the variety of shirts, hats and flags he signed. Then after sporting out his wrist, he posed for an image onstage along with his band and crew and a canine who was approach chiller about being on stage at a live performance in a baseball stadium than my canine (and doubtless your canine) would have been. 
• Proper after their opening music “Make It Candy,” Outdated Dominion frontman Matthew Ramsey tossed his electrical guitar 10 toes to a roadie — who dropped it. However Ramsey simply laughed it off. 
• Favourite fan interplay: A man in my row dropped his baseball cap over the railing on the membership degree. With assist from his pals, he managed to get somebody’s consideration under, who tried tossing the again up. Gravity fought again however after a number of makes an attempt the man managed to seize his hat, and patted his hand on his chest in gratitude. 
• This was the primary stadium live performance in Milwaukee since Billy Joel in April 2019 — however the Brewers are making up for misplaced time this yr. With Eric Church Might 28, that is the primary time Milwaukee has had two stadium concert events in a single month since June 1975. And Motley Crue and Def Leppard are arising at American Household Subject on July 17.

Kenny Chesney setlist

1. “Beer in Mexico”

2. “Actuality”

3. “Til It is Gone”

4. “Right here and Now”

5. “Summertime”

6. “We Do”

7. “Pirate Flag”

8. “No Footwear, No Shirt, No Downside”

9. “Someplace With You”

10. “I Go Again”

11. “Get Alongside”

12. “Something However Mine”

13. “Save It for a Wet Day”

14. “When the Solar Goes Down”

15. “Figuring out You”

16. “All of the Fairly Women”

17. “Dwelling in Quick Ahead”

18. “Younger”

19. “Noise”

20. “American Youngsters”

21. “Setting the World on Hearth”

22. “All the pieces’s Going to Be Alright”

23. “Out Final Night time”

24. “How Perpetually Feels”

Encore

25. “She Thinks My Tractor’s Attractive”

Contact Piet at (414) 223-5162 or plevy@journalsentinel.com. Comply with him on Twitter at @pietlevy or Fb at fb.com/PietLevyMJS.