As I'm sure many of you know, Jason Aldean is my favorite singer. No matter how many times I see him, I still can't get enough. Needless to say, I was counting down the days until I would finally get to see him again. I couldn't believe it when Thursday, January 20th, finally got here!
I had driven to Annie's house in Indiana on Wednesday night, and we left for Little Rock, AR, at around 6:30 in the morning on Thursday! Of course it was snowing, and though it wasn't really sticking on the roads too bad, we were still forced to drive slow to avoid any problems. It made the drive an extra long one, as we didn't arrive in Little Rock until around 5:30. That long in a car can make a girl say some delusion things. Pretty sure we had lost our minds at that point. Ha! Anyways, we headed to the airport to pick up Christine, then it was off to our hotel.
Our first night in Little Rock was a BLAST! We had so many laughs. I have truly been blessed with some of the most amazing friends ever as a result of Jason and his music, and I can't thank him enough for that.
Friday was the big day: opening night! After getting some breakfast, we headed over to Verizon Arena at around 12:30. We got to hear Jason soundcheck "See You When I See You" and "Wanted Dead or Alive," the Bon Jovi cover he is doing on this tour. Both sounded amazing, as was expected after they had been rehearsing allllll day the day before. We completely froze our butts off in line (literally almost to the point of hypothermia), but it was worth it when we got our spots right in front of the stage, on Kurt's and Jay's side! The pits appear to be a lot smaller on this tour, and we were told that only 70 pit tickets were sold for Little Rock. We still think he must have meant 70 per side, as our pit was pretty full, but that explains why many people may be having trouble getting pit tickets on this tour.
The show was sold out (we were told it holds about 15,000 people!) and the audience was rocking! While we were waiting for the JaneDear Girls to come out, we rocked out to the tunes that DJ Silver (the DJ that Jason has invited along on the tour) was spinning. He definitely plays better music than what we had to listen to before. Haha!
The JaneDear Girls hit the stage at around 7:30 and sang 4 songs (all up-tempo). I have never been a big fan of their music, but their live show is a lot better than I expected it to be. Their tunes are catchy, and I think they did a pretty good job getting the audience ready for Eric Church!
Speaking of Eric Church... this guy will absolutely blow your freaking mind! I have always been a fan of Eric and have seen him numerous times before, but the live show that he puts on for this tour is like nothing I have ever seen before. He puts so much heart and passion into his performance, and he won't leave that stage until every single person is on their feet, screaming and enjoying themselves. He has no problem doing just that, either! His 45 minute set is non-stop, playing songs such as "Guys Like Me," "These Boots," "Sinners Like Me," "Ain't Killed Me Yet," and, of course, "Smoke a Little Smoke." He told the audience that it was his mission to "kick our asses" and he did just that... even kicking his own ass, as he appeared exhausted after his set was over. I can't say enough good things about Eric and his performance abilities! He truly BRINGS IT every night, and I think he's the perfect opener for Jason on the My Kinda Party tour!
At first, I have to admit, I was kinda worried for Jason. Eric put on such a good show and the crowd absolutely loved him. I knew that if Jason didn't put everything he had out there on the stage, that many would have thought that Eric was the shining star instead of Jason. Jason's show kicks ass, though, and he did a wonderful job on opening night!
Though there were a few glitches and he didn't seem as energetic as he normally is (probably because he was nervous), the show really lived up to all expectations that I had, and then some! The set list is great, adding songs such as "See You When I See You" (which he sings absolutely flawlessly) and "Don't You Wanna Stay" (with Kelly Clarkson appearing via video). He works the stage a lot more this tour, signing "The Truth" on the right side of the stage, "Crazy Town" on the left side, and "See You When I See You" out on the catwalk. He really tries to reach every possible part of the audience, and he does a great job at it.
This tour also showcases the true talent of Jason's band. Rich Redmond, Jason's drummer, performs an excellent solo near the end of the show, demonstrating what passion and love he has for his instrument. Kurt Allison, lead guitarist, also has several guitar solos, including one during the Bon Jovi cover "Wanted: Dead or Alive" that will absolutely blow your mind. Kurt has always been one of my favorite guitar players, but you really get to see just how talented he is during this tour. Jack, rhythm guitarist, also has a solo that is executed near perfectly. Each of these guys are so talented in their own right, and it makes the show that much more enjoyable to watch.
Speaking of the Bon Jovi cover, Jason picked a great song to cover live! I must admit that I don't enjoy it as much as I enjoyed seeing him perform "Cowboy" by Kid Rock, but this song showcases his vocal talents in a way that we don't get to see or hear very often.
I think Jason truly put on a wonderful show, and this tour is going to be one to remember! The next night, in Fayetteville, AR, the nerves were all gone and he ripped that stage to pieces! I don't think I have ever seen him perform so flawlessly as he did in Fayetteville.
Major props to the JaneDear Girls, Eric Church, Jason, and the band and crew for putting on a hell of a show! If you are able to, I highly suggest that you go out and see a show SOON! Trust me, you don't want to miss this one!
