Jon Pardi Celebrates His Album Release at Hammerstein Ballroom

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Singer-songwriter, Jon Pardi celebrated the release of his third studio album, Heartache Medication with a show at the historic Hammerstein Ballroom in the heart of New York City on Friday night. The 2017 CMA New Artist of the Year brought along fellow California-native and good friend, Tyler Rich.

As the floor was filling in for Jon Pardi, Tyler Rich entertained the crowd with a mix of tracks from his 2015 EP Valerie, his 2019 self-titled EP, unreleased songs and a variety of covers. Rich expressed that he has been to this venue before to see some of his favorite artists but there was no cooler feeling than performing on stage. He sandwiched a cover of Halsey’s “Without Me” in between his songs “11:11” and “Adrenaline” to start the show before playing a snippet of a slow, new song he did not reveal the name of. He followed that with an upbeat track in “Turn It Up.”

Rich, from Yuba City, California grew up just 55 miles from Pardi’s hometown of Dixon. Ironically, Rich’s uncle coached Pardi’s high school football team. Rich told him that the first time they met at a bar in Nashville. “And since that moment, Jon took me in as one of his best friends in Nashville and just showed me the entire town. And you guys bought tickets to support his new album that just came out but you did not just buy tickets to see one of your favorite country singers, you bought tickets (to see) a good-ass person; he’s one of the nicest guys I ever met.”

Rich then performed an unreleased song he has played at his shows before called “God Made You For a Small Town” which transitioned into a cover of The Beatles’ “Hey Jude”. “Feels Like Home” came next, another unreleased track. He closed his set with his current single “Leave Her Wild” and his hit “The Difference”.

NYCountry Swag caught up with Tyler Rich just before he hit the stage at Hammerstein for a live swag session with the rising artist. Tune in below to catch his acoustic performance of “Leave Her Wild” and interview.

Jon Pardi came out on stage to a new song called “Oughta Know That”, the first of ten songs he performed Friday night off Heartache Medication. He ditched the guitar to sing “Night Shift” off his sophomore album California Sunrise. Pardi told us that he idolized traditional country artists growing up such as George Strait, Dwight Yoakam and Mark Chesnutt, who are never seen without their guitars. Just like his heroes, that was the last song of the night he performed without a guitar in his hands. “Up All Night” from his debut album, Write You a Song was next.

He then played two new songs in “Old Hat” and “Ain’t Always the Cowboy” then went back to older stuff in “Can’t Put Down” and “She Ain’t In It”. Pardi surprised the fans for his next song, “Tequila Little Time” when he brought out an entire mariachi band on stage to perform with him. The audience loved the twist.

Many people believe that country music and The Big Apple do not go together but ask any country artist and they’ll tell you New York has some of the best country fans out there. “They asked me, ‘why would I go to New York City for an album debut?’ Because New York City is awesome; they love country music!” He praised the crowd for the energy they were bringing so far.

After “What I’ve Been Drinking”, he played two more new songs in “Love Her Like She’s Leaving” and album’s lead single “Heartache Medication”. This made the fans rowdier than before. A couple of songs later, Pardi thanked them and country radio for making this next song, “Head Over Boots” number one and really giving him a voice in the industry.

“Me and Jack” is the story of his love/hate relationship with the whiskey. He displayed that story in cartoon form on the screen behind him as he performed the new tune. Another new one, “Tied One Up” was followed by his big hit “Heartache on the Dancefloor”. Pardi talked about how his grandparents were the ones who got him into country music. He dedicated his next song and the final track on the album, “Starlight”, to them. He ended his set with his boot-stomping number one single, “Dirt on My Boots”. Pardi introduced his band, took a bow then walked off stage, concluding the fun-filled, high-energy night, leaving the crowd of country music traditionalists very satisfied.

We’ve seen Pardi as a supporting act on tours with Luke Bryan and Dierks Bentley in the past and if you thought he put on a good show then, you have to see him as a headliner. This Jon Pardi was even more animated on stage and even displayed a few dance moves that he’s kept hidden for us.

Pardi will continue the Heartache Medication Tour with special guest Riley Green starting with two sold-out shows at The Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. Find out if he is coming to a city near you by heading to his website.

To keep up with Jon Pardi follow him on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

Heartache Medication is now available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music here on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.

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Jason Aldean, Kane Brown & Carly Pearce Impress Fans at Jones Beach

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Country music fans piled into Jones Beach Theater in Wantagh on a cold, windy night to catch Jason Aldean’s Ride All Night Tour on Friday featuring special guests, Kane Brown and Carly Pearce.  Carly Pearce opened her set with “Careless” and “Catch Fire”, songs from her debut album Every Little Thing. She then switched gears and covered Garth Brooks’ “Ain’t Goin’ Down (‘Til the Sun Comes Up)”. Pearce released her most recent single, “Closer to You” over ten months ago, which she included in her set, but not before performing an unreleased song titled “Heart Going Out of Style”. We can expect the CMA New Artist of the Year nominee to release the track sometime in the upcoming weeks. “Thanks to the fans and country radio, you guys changed my life with this next song,” Pearce praised before singing her number one hit, “Every Little Thing”. Pearce closed her set with her other smash hit, “Hide the Wine”.

 

Kane Brown was next up, opening with the first track on his newest album Experiment, “Baby Come Back to Me”. Brown mentioned that the wind was knocking off his hat and blowing him all over stage but that wasn’t going to stop him and his band from putting on “a hell of a show”. The cheers grew louder when the crowd heard the opening guitar riff to Brown’s first number one song, “What Ifs”.

After “Weekend”, Brown went back to another number one in “Good As You”. He noticed the crowd was really into it so he held the mic out and let the fans sing the second to last chorus. Just like he did at the PNC Bank Arts Center, Brown performed “Short Skirt Weather” karaoke-style, as the words were displayed on the side screens.

Brown substituted two new songs to the setlist from the PNC show, “Rodeo”, which was added to Experiment on July 12th and his collaboration track with EDM artist Marshmello, “One Thing Right”. Brown joked that most of the crowd probably never heard of Marshmello, being that this was a country crowd. In between those songs was his current single, “Homesick”, a song in which he dedicated to the military. “The first verse I wanted to dedicate to the military…Thank y’all for everything you do; I know y’all get homesick more than anybody.”

Brown closed his set with back to back number one songs in “Heaven” and “Lose It”. Lars Thorson displayed his skills on fiddle with an immaculate solo in between songs. Pearce, Brown and their bands provided enough energy to prepare the audience for the party Jason Aldean was about to bring.

Jason Aldean Jones Beach

Aldean came out to “Take A Little Ride”, fitting for the Ride All Night Tour, followed by “Tattoos on This Town”, “Fly Over States” and “A Little More Summertime”. Aldean took a break from the music to give the crowd a rundown of how the night was going to go: “So tonight we’re going to play you some songs from the Rearview album, we’re going to go all the way back to 2005 and play some songs off the very first album. There were about six albums in between and we’re going to play you guys some songs from all those albums tonight so it’s going to be a lot of fun, we’re going to be here for a while. We might have a new album coming out and we might play you some songs off of that tonight.”

Aldean kept the good time going with songs such as “Crazy Town”, “Amarillo Sky”, “Burning It Down”, “Big Green Tractor” and more before giving the fans what they were anxiously waiting for: the new Jason Aldean song. “Over the last album or two we put out a lot of slower songs…which is cool; I love those songs but I also love a little bit of rock n’ roll, you know what I’m saying?” Aldean then performed “We Back” for the rowdy Jones Beach crowd.

The next section of songs included number one hits such as “Night Train”, “When She Says Baby”, “Drowns the Whiskey”, “Lights Come On” and more. Aldean stopped again to tell the crowd his opinion on encores at concerts: “I for one, think it’s a complete waste of time and complete bull****. Here’s the way I like to do things and let me know if you guys are cool with it. I say we just play everything we got and when the show’s over, it’s just over. How does that sound?” The audience seemed to be okay with it as they cheered Aldean on as the three-time ACM Entertainer of the Year took a shot of tequila and continued his set. He continued that set with “My Kinda Party”, “Hicktown”, “Dirt Road Anthem” and “She’s Country”.

Aldean slowed it down one last time to perform “You Make It Easy” before going right back to a party song in “The Only Way I Know”. Aldean was on stage for an hour and a half, performing a total of 23 songs.

You can catch Aldean and company at various US cities up until October 11th, where he will play the final country show at Globe Life Park in Arlington before the baseball stadium shuts down permanently and the Texas Rangers get a new ballpark.  For the remaining tour dates head to https://www.jasonaldean.com/

To keep up with Jason Aldean, follow him on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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Brad Paisley Brings His 2019 World Tour to Jones Beach

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As we hang on to the last bit of summer, Friday evening (Aug 30.) New Yorkers headed out to Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater to kick off Labor Day weekend. Headliner, Brad Paisley brought his 2019 World Tour to the waterfront venue, featuring special guests Chris Lane and Riley Green. Check out highlights from the show on our Instagram story here.

Just as the sun was beginning to set, one of our 2019 Artists to Watch, Riley Green took to the stage. The rising artist exploded on to the stage with songs like “Bettin’ Man,” “In Love By Now,” and “Get That Man A Beer,” both upbeat tunes. Green took some time to show off his vocals and softer side, singing his next radio single “I Wish Grandpas Never Died”. The singer-songwriter explained “If ya’ll don’t mind, I’m going to play ya’ll a brand new song that I just had written. It’s one of my favorite songs that I ever wrote,” adding that the song would be his next single on country radio, and a track on his forthcoming debut album, Different ‘Round Here.

It was clear the audience did not mind as all, as fans both sang the words back to Green and nodded and danced in approval as they listened to his breathtaking vocals. He ended his enticing set with his first number one single, “There Was This Girl,” leaving fans wanting even more music from the talented singer. Check out our Live Swag Session with Riley Green below from last Fall where he performed and chatted with us months before getting that number one.

Approximately ten minutes later, entertainer, Chris Lane brought his high-energy set to the amphitheater, even mentioning that the venue was one of his favorites to perform at. Before he even took the stage, the stage lit up with colorful lights and eclectic music blared from the speakers. It was obvious that Lane was about to leave his heart and soul on the stage, keeping everyone entertained.

The country crooner made sure to sing fan-favorites including “Fix,” “I Don’t Know About You,” and “For Her.” The entire crowd showed their approval, singing along throughout his set. One of the highlights was when Lane introduced his newest song “Big, Big Plans,” the song he just so happened to use to propose to his now fiancé Lauren Bushnell last month. Lane humbly told the audience “Thankfully, she said yes.”

As always, the singer-songwriter made sure to bring his ’90s country flair to his performance, singing a medley of some popular country songs. Lane borrowed an American cowboy hat from a fan in the audience to get into character. The charming mash-up included “Should’ve Been a Cowboy,” “Boot Scootin Boogie,” “Check Yes or No,” among some other popular ’90s tunes. Lane ended his impressive set with “Take Back Home Girl,” which he sang as he ventured through the sea of fans in the audience as he made his away around the venue.

We first caught up with Chris Lane nearly two years ago when he played Long Island’s Stereo Garden. Check out the interview below where he chats about hitting the road, music, and more.

Green and Lane definitely did their jobs, as fans were eager to hear from the headliner, Brad Paisley. Paisley not only brought his unique swagger and strong vocals to the stage, but his theatrics and background images were unparalleled, only adding to the whole ambiance of his almost two hour set.

The seasoned musician sang a mix of some of his greatest hits, new songs, crowd-favorites, and everything in between. His set began with the electrifying “Beat This Summer,” following it up with “Ticks,” “The World,” and “Perfect Storm.” Although Paisley delivered every song with conviction, one of our favorite moments of the night was when he sang a mash-up of his romantic ballads, “Then” and “Waitin’ On a Woman.” The singer-songwriter mesmerized each and every fan with the love songs. Later on in the set, Paisley showed his vulnerability yet again, singing “She’s Everything,” while the camera cut to real-time clips of adorable couples in the audience, catching them on the ‘kiss cam.’

Photo Courtesy of @bradpaisley on Instagram

Photo Courtesy of @bradpaisley on Instagram

Lane and Green joined Paisley back on stage, during the middle of his set to sing both Hank Williams Jr.’s “A Country Boy Can Survive” and “I’m Still a Guy.” Each vocalist sang a verse of the song, but it was the banter between the singers that really made the performance. Paisley poked fun at Lane’s style, laughing saying, “you have more bling around your ankles than I own,” and even stopped to take a selfie with fans. All joking aside, Paisley shared, “I’m the luckiest guy in the world to have these guys out. Chris Lane! Riley Green everybody!”

Paisley kept up the energy, singing both “This Is Country Music” and “American Saturday Night.” During the later, he made sure to thank the troops for serving our country and even brought four soldiers out on stage to honor them, encouraging fans to cheer and applaud. Concertgoers obliged, giving the soldiers a standing ovation and starting a ‘USA’ chant, making for another iconic moment of the night. [Shop here for your ‘USA! Chant’ gear.]

Photo Courtesy of @bradpaisley on Instagram

Photo Courtesy of @bradpaisley on Instagram

Paying homage to 90s country, Paisley made sure to gives fans his rendition of Alan Jackson’s “Chattahoochee”, but it was his cover of Van Halen’s “Hot for Teacher,” that surprised excited fans. Paisley ended his set, singing arguably some of his most popular songs, including “I’m Gonna Miss Her,” “Mud on the Tires,” and “Today.”

Of course, Paisley came back to the stage for an encore song, singing his Grammy nominated track, “Alcohol,” with Lane and Green. The trio’s performance was the perfect cap to a great night of country music.

This weekend wrapped up this leg of the incredible tour; however, Paisley will head to Europe for a string of shows in October. For tickets and more information head to bradpaisley.com.

To keep up with Brad Paisley follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

 

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Houston Bernard Band Impresses Fans at Rockwood Music Hall

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Houston Bernard Band

Houston Bernard Band brought a mix of traditional and modern-day country music influences to New York City’s Rockwood Music Hall on Saturday, August 24th. The Oklahoma-born frontman, Houston Bernard, and his band of New England powerhouse musicians have seen rising success over the past few years. First with their 2015 breakout album, Knockin’ Boots, and again with their critically acclaimed 2018 EP, Lucky Man. That’s where the journey at their intimate Rockwood show begins, with the soothing, two-steppin’ sounds of “Lucky Man.” It was the perfect track to kick-off an incredible night of country music, New York-style.

Before launching into the next song, they introduced themselves, and when the frontman inquired as to how the audience was feeling, he responded with, “Honestly, all I can think about right now is this drink.” It was the perfect intro to the next song, the romantic hangover anthem, “You’re All I Need (I Don’t Need Much).” This energetic track was further proof of how transcendent their sound is within the genre. Their wild country roots and hooky pop verses have graced stages alongside icons like Clint Black and Luke Bryan. And when you see Bernard in action, it’s no surprise he can measure up to the greats.

That vibrant energy carries over onto slower tracks like the uplifting ballad “What A Man Should Do.” On this quieter moment, Bernard showcased his slow-as-honey baritone via aching storytelling that reflects on the idea of making sacrifices for the one you love.

Then came the first cover of the night, a rock-fueled version of Bruce Springsteen’s ’80s classic, “Dancing In The Dark.” Those that hadn’t already hit the dance floor by this point made their way to it, entranced by the rocking beat and country flavor.

Before introducing his new single, “Never Grow Old,” Bernard treated the crowd to a story about his time living in New York. He spoke about how the city had always allowed him to follow his heart and encouraged the crowd to “keep following your dreams no matter how old you might be. That’s basically what this song is about.” The inspiring single encourages you to grab hold of your dreams, and shake your booty, all at the same time.

Houston Bernard Band

Next up the band launched into the sugary sweet, “Home Is In Your Arms,” showcasing their softer side effortlessly. Then came the cheeky fan-favorite, “We Made Out,” with its earworm chorus and danceable melody. Another fantastic cover arrived in the form of Chase Bryant’s “Take It On Back.” Not surprisingly, it kept the dance floor full right on through to the end.

Bernard paused between songs to share the chaos of their morning. The band had experienced not one, but two car accidents, on the way to the show that day. Of the second, Bernard said, “The second one I watched happen as I was having a cocktail across the street. When does that ever happen?” The New Yorkers could sympathize, having experienced the insanity of cab drivers daily. But needless to say, they understood his need for a little whiskey and relaxation.

After a bit of real-life storytelling, a rambling guitar kicked off the summer-love inspired song, “Wait For It.” Whether with a kiss from the one you love or a glass of whiskey, this will remind you of the anticipation you get right before you decide to leave your worries behind for a moment.

The night came to an undeniably fun end with their 2015 single, “Knockin’ Boots.” The feel-good country song was the perfect nightcap to an evening full of whiskey, romance, and warnings about terrible drivers.

To keep up with Houston Bernard Band follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

“Never Grow Old” is now available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released music here on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.

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Hannah Ellis Opens Up for Gavin DeGraw at the Paramount

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One of our favorite independent artists and Swag Sessions alum, Hannah Ellis opened for Gavin DeGraw last night at The Paramount on Long Island, New York. She brought her charming and sassy personality and killer vocals to the stage, warming up the crowd for DeGraw, all while garnering many new fans.

Accompanied by her talented guitarist, Ellis performed for a sold-out crowd of over 1000 people. She exploded onto the stage with, “ILYSoWhat,” a catchy song about admitting your feelings to a loved one. Following the upbeat jam, the singer-songwriter shared that she was “so excited to be here,” with the crowd, before introducing her next song, “Your Woman”, which she released back when she was on the CMT Next Women of Country Tour.

The songstress gave the intimate details behind the story of the next song she played, entitled “Never in Love”. Ellis shared, “I love that someone decided to pay me to go in a room and talk about my feelings. That’s really nice. One day I walked in the room with my boyfriend and one of our best friends to write a song. My friend was going through a really bad break up at the time and even though I wasn’t, I still remembered that feeling of when the bottom drops out. Will I ever be happy again? Will I ever feel love again? And this song was born. It’s one of my favorites to perform.” The song was definitely a special moment for Ellis.

Continuing to shake things up, the Kentucky native performed a cover of the popular R&B song “No Diggity.” Of course, fans sang and danced along the whole time to the infectious tune. Her country twang really gave the song a new, but enticing feel – proving that she can sing just about anything.

With her set quickly coming to a close, Ellis had time for two more songs. First she sang her incredible ballad, “Home And A Hometown”, adding “It’s a song that kind of created its own life. It’s one that constantly reminds me that I if go in a room and write my truth, somebody’s going to find theirs in this.” The track reached Top 100 on the mediabase country radio charts, which the songstress proudly shared with the audience. Ellis finished her entertaining set with her most recently released song, “Friends Like These”.

Ellis truly gave her all to her performance and it was clear that by the end everyone in the room was in awe of her talent.

Shortly after Ellis’ impressive set, headliner Gavin DeGraw hit the stage, accompanied by applause and screaming fans. DeGraw sang songs spanning his entire career, and even mentioned that this was the 8th time he has played at this venue. Throughout his long-standing career, this singer-songwriter has released many hits, including “Chariot,” “Not Over You,” and “I Don’t Want to Be,” the One Tree Hill theme song. The former he played for the crowd in the middle of his set, while the other two he saved to close out his show.

DeGraw kept the crowd entertained the whole night, mashing his songs together like with “You Make My Heart Sing Louder” and “In Love With a Girl,” as well as, delivering impactful slower songs, such as “Soldier” and “Free.” The singer-songwriter took the audience on a ride through every emotion, which made for a unique, innovative, and impressive musical experience.

Although DeGraw may not be considered a country artist, his talent blurs genre lines effortlessly and his voice lends itself well to the genre. Most recently, the singer collaborated with Brett Young on his song “Chapters” off his sophomore album, Ticket to L.A. The entertainer also performed at CMA Fest this year, which makes us wonder what he has in the works.

You can catch Ellis on tour with DeGraw through August. For tickets and more information, head to hannahellismusic.com

To keep up with Ellis, follow her on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

 

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Dierks Bentley and Friends Entertain Long Island Fans

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With tailgate season in full swing, a crowd of country fans headed to Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater to watch headliner Dierks Bentley bring his ‘Burning Man Tour’ to the beach. For exclusive videos from the show, click here to head to our Instagram Story Highlights.

Photo by Justin Aharoni (@jaharoni) for NYCountry Swag

Before Hot Country Knights took to the stage, performing a parody of 90s country songs, VIP ticket holders were lucky enough to witness an acoustic set by Bentley himself in the VIP tent. The singer, supported by his band, sang bluegrass versions of some of his biggest songs, including “Woman, Amen”, “I Hold On,” and “Burning Man.” NYCountry Swag followers had the opportunity to win VIP access to the special performance on our Instagram giveaway contest. Congratulations to our winner, Catrina Cotrone!

Photo by Justin Aharoni (@jaharoni) for NYCountry Swag

The first true opener of the night was one of our Swag Spotlight alums, Tenille Townes. With her sassy attitude and killer vocals, the songstress spotlighted her fresh sound and honest lyrics on the big stage, proving why she’s one of our 2019 Artist to Watch. Kicking it off with her poignant love song, “White Horse” followed by “Where You Are,” Townes continued to win over new fans throughout her performance. She went on to sing “Jersey On the Wall,” which she added “This is one that’s very close to my heart,” and “Come As You Are,” but it was the end of her set that was her sweet spot. The singer-songwriter covered U2’s “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” as the audience sang along to each and every word. Townes ended her incredible set with her debut single, “Somebody’s Daughter.” For more about Townes and her undeniable talent click here.

Photo by Justin Aharoni (@jaharoni) for NYCountry Swag

Country crooner, Jon Pardi took the stage next, as fans came in droves, packing out the venue. Pardi brought the energy throughout his hour-long set, opening with his song, “What I Can’t Put Down,” followed by “My Next Broken Heart,” a Brooks and Dunn classic, which he lent his voice to on the record REBOOT. He continued the momentum, singing songs like “Lucky Tonight,” “Ain’t Always The Cowboy,” “Me and Jack”, and “Heartache Medication.” The latter are both said to be songs off Pardi’s forthcoming studio album.

Photo by Justin Aharoni (@jaharoni) for NYCountry Swag

Fans went crazy throughout his whole set, but the crowd was extra loud when Pardi sang his most popular songs, “Heartache on the Dance Floor,” “Head Over Boots,” and “Dirt on My Boots.” The singer even admitted in his set that “The more [he] gets out of Nashville, the more hardcore country fans there are.” Pardi succeeded in bringing true blue country music to New York, and fans loved every minute of it.

Photo by Justin Aharoni (@jaharoni) for NYCountry Swag

Shortly after, the man of the night, Dierks Bentley took the stage. Bentley left it all out on stage, singing his most vulnerable songs, his party songs, and everything in between, all while remaining humble and endearing the whole time. His set began with “Burning Man,” and “Up on the Ridge” featuring images of mountains in the background, which added to the ambiance. The backdrop quickly changed, during Bentley’s epic performance of “Somewhere on a Beach,” which he added fit the venue perfectly. The recording artist continued to sing fan-favorite song including the romantic ode to women, “Woman, Amen,” the endearing, “Black,” and of course, “I Hold On.”

The entertainer shifted gears soon thereafter, singing his party anthem, “5-1-5-0” and of course, his newest single, “Living.” Check out an exclusive clip from the performance on our Instagram in the video above. Bentley also brought Pardi back out to sing one of Bentley’s favorite songs by Pardi called, “Missin’ You Crazy.” The pair really played off each other’s energy and it was evident by the vibes in the room that fans approved of the duet.

Townes also came back on stage to sing a mesmerizing rendition of “Different For Girls” with Bentley. The headliner sang his praises for Townes, adding that she’s “paving the way,” for women and comparing her talent to likes of Patty Loveless and Martina McBride. While on stage, Townes proved that she knows her 90s country, singing some of both “Strawberry Wine” and “Man! I Feel Like a Woman.”

Photo by Justin Aharoni (@jaharoni) for NYCountry Swag

Although we loved the duets, one of our favorite moments of the night was when Bentley sang his beautiful song “Riser.” Before performing the song, he shared his appreciation for law enforcement, firefighters, volunteers, the military, and those who serve us every day. Bentley added “I like to think these songs are for people that are no longer here, what they would say now. I feel like, they would say, don’t just go through life being a survivor, go through life being a riser, make the most of every day.” His statement and performance of “Riser” surely brought chills to each and every fan there.

Soon thereafter, Bentley kicked off the acoustic part of his set, as he made his way to the B-stage to sing some of his more vulnerable songs. Of course, in typical Bentley fashion, he made sure to shotgun a beer with a fan on stage first. The singer-songwriter went on to sing, “Come a Little Closer” and “Say You Do.”

Photo by Justin Aharoni (@jaharoni) for NYCountry Swag

Keeping fans entertained, Bentley made his way back to the main stage, singing an electrifying version of his song “What Was I Thinkin’” and brought DJ AyDamn on stage to sing “Sideways.” Of course, Bentley came back to the stage after the song to sing two songs for his encore. In true Bentley fashion, he came back to the stage dressed in a full-pilot getup to sing “Drunk on a Plane.” The superstar ended his set with “Free and Easy (Down the Road I Go),” the perfect song to end the exhilarating night of music on a high note.

Dierks Bentley with NYCountry Swag Founder, Stephanie Wagner

For exclusive videos from the show, click here to head to our Instagram Story Highlights. Looking for the perfect captions for your pictures from the show? Check out our list of 10 best Dierks Bentley Lyrics to use for your Instagram captions.

Bentley, Pardi, and Townes will continue playing ‘Burning Man Tour’ shows through the rest of the summer.

To keep up with Dierks Bentley and the tour, visit dierks.com and follow on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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Subscribe to our Weekly Round-Up here 
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Abby Anderson Opens for Rob Thomas in New York City

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Rob Thomas Abby Anderson

The incredibly talented singer-songwriter Abby Anderson took the stage last night in the Big Apple to open up for Rob Thomas at the Beacon Theatre for the second night in a row. The firey Texas native was recently named Music Row’s “Next Big Thing for 2019” and her infectious personality lit up the stage.

Wearing a pair of badass tied up black high heel boots and a colorful, stylish ensemble, she said, “Thank you so much for coming to the show on a Tuesday, and thank you to Mr. Rob Thomas for letting us open for him on this tour.” Anderson has a loyal following that sang and danced to all of her songs. She has an incredible way of connecting with the audience, and in between getting everyone energized for Thomas, she gave insight into how she became an artist.

Abby Anderson Rob Thomas

 

Anderson shared her musical influences saying, “I grew up listening to all kinds of music, whether it was R&B, rap, and lots of country, and jokingly said, “I don’t know if you could tell by my accent.” She explained it was her Dad’s love for country music and growing up hearing it played in his truck that really influenced her. For more on her backstory check out our Swag Spotlight from last year.

Anderson sang her catchy single “Good Lord” that she recently performed at our LIVE Swag Session as well as on The Today Show. And before singing one of her newest songs, she said, “This one goes out to anyone out there with a special someone, tell them how much you love them and she sang the fun love song “Guy Like You.” Watch the Swag Session below.

The rising artist told the crowd, “I’m just a young woman myself growing up right now- the more I learn, the more I know my worth.” She continued, “All my ladies tonight, I hope you know you’re a queen, and I hope you’re getting treated like one, this song is called ‘Make Him Wait.'” Anderson also impressed the audience with songs “Dance Away My Broken Heart,” “Naked Truth,” and “I’m Good.”

She said “New York City, I am the luckiest girl,” and Anderson is definitely that. The sassy, talented young woman is making a name for herself in country music and has a bright future ahead of her. She wowed the crowd with her gentle voice, fearless energy, and unique artistry and proved herself to be one heck of an entertainer last night at The Beacon Theatre.

Rob Thomas Beacon

Next up was none other than the headliner, Matchbox 20’s frontman Rob Thomas. Although still a part of the most popular pop-rock band in all the history of music, Thomas has blurred genres over the years as a solo singer-songwriter. Even with a rocker’s edge, some of Thomas’ songs have a little bit of country flare. Thomas told the crowd, “You guys are here for us as much as we are here for you. This is not about us coming up here and playing music and you guys listening, this about a shared experience, this is about what music is about. It’s about celebrating life, it’s about celebrating being human with other humans, it’s about having a very good time and doing it together. And if you do it right, we all walk out of here into the streets of New York City and we feel like we shared a moment tonight together.” And what a moment everyone had. Thomas kept the crowd on their feet the entire show singing fan favorites such as, “3 A.M., the infamous Santana duet, “Smooth”,  “Lonely No More,” “Unwell”, “Ever The Same,” and his newest single “Can’t Help Me Now.”

You can catch Anderson opening up for Thomas’ Chip Tooth Tour throughout August. For dates and more information go to www.abbyandersonmusic.com.

To keep up with Abby Anderson, follow her on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

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Clare Bowen Impresses Intimate Crowd at City Winery NYC

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Clare Bowen

On Monday night, New York country fans kicked off the week at City Winery NYC with the uber-talented, Clare Bowen. To no surprise, her beloved “Nashies” came out in full force to support the singer-songwriter playing the opening night of her US Tour, which is continuing this week. Giving fans exactly what they wanted, she performed a mix of songs from the TV show Nashville as well as music from her newly released self-titled debut album.

Kicking off the night, Bowen ran up on stage looking stunning wearing a silk white top and a long flowing white skirt with her signature features in the hair and of course taking part in a tradition she has been doing for years, performing barefoot. Ready for the night the crowd gave her a huge warm welcome cheering as she jumped right into her song, “Lijah & The Shadow.” After the first song, Bowen took a moment to talk to the crowd saying, “It is such a pleasure to be here with you all here tonight! This is wonderful we’ve all traveled the whole world touring this album…we started in Germany then we went to the UK, Australia, and now we are here. I can’t tell you how wonderful it is to be here with you tonight, it is such a pleasure and if you don’t mind I will sing the very first song I ever sang for the show Nashville.” Singing a fan-favorite and one we will never forget, she took the crowd back to the days of Scarlett O’Connor singing “If I Didn’t Know Better.”

With the night just getting started Bowen continued her set telling personal stories to the crowd while making jokes in between to lighten the heaviness. Before going into her next song, she wanted to take a moment to tell the crowd how she grew up in a hospital while being diagnosed with terminal cancer when she was four years old. Almost losing her life to the battle, she is still standing strong today and is here to tell her story to the world. Making this moment extra special she had her brother Timothy Bowen up on stage with her performing alongside her on the guitar. She wanted to dedicate a song to their parents saying, “Mom and Dad are two of the strongest people…they made a childhood that could have been real scary into one I wouldn’t change for the world, this is for them.” Singing her song “Door and Corridors” off her debut album, there wasn’t a person in the crowd who wasn’t in complete awe of the singer-songwriter.

As the night continued, the Bowen performed a mix of songs off her debut album, “Aves Song,” “Little By Little,” and “Lullabye,” while incorporating Nashville’s fan-favorite “Black Roses,” “It Ain’t Yours To Throw Away,” and “When The Right One Comes Along.” She even switched things up, handing over the spotlight to the people she loves on stage with her. Mentioning that she isn’t the only singer up there while taking a moment to talk about how wonderful the experience of being on a TV show like Nashville was. Before handing the spotlight over, she said “One of the best parts for me was watching my brother Timothy get to write this song that Deacon sang on the show. I would just love to hand over the stage to him right now because it’s a very special song and I do love to hear him sing it.” Giving Bowen a chance to be the audience she took a seat on the floor while she watched her brother sing an unbelievable rendition of “From Here On Out,” showing that she isn’t the only one in the family with incredible talent. In addition to Timothy taking over, she handed the stage over to her husband, Brandon Robert Young to sing one of his very own songs, “Hate It For You.” Bowen continuing to sit on the floor provided harmonizing backup vocals while watching in complete awe of the love of her life. Young showcased his pure talent and insane vocals with the crowd, making everyone watching fall for the artist.

Clare Bowen City Winery

Before going any further in her set, she took a moment to say, “I’m so grateful for all the Nashies for sticking around and all the new people for coming along, it’s just a lovely big room of love this evening, I’m really enjoying it thank you.” Bowen continued to openly show her emotions throughout the night sharing her personal stories while keeping positive and showing the light at the end of the tunnel. She couldn’t continue her performance without dedicating one song to the children who weren’t so lucky and lost their lives at the hospital, where she spent her childhood. Telling the crowd, “This is the final one on the record, it nearly didn’t make it, we weren’t sure what to do with it and I wasn’t sure if I was brave enough to put it out…I know now that every time I walk on stage they are right here with me I know that and I love them for it…This is for everybody out there, this is “Warrior.” The singer-songwriter was a beam of pure light and hope, showcasing her talents and speaking words of encouragement to show everyone just how precious they really are. To learn more about the writing process behind “Warrior” watch our Swag Session interview below.

The singer-songwriter wasn’t done yet, she had a few more songs to share, one of which is her second favorite song from the show Nashville sung by the talented Lennon and Maisy Stella. The singer-songwriter did not disappoint singing a beautiful rendition of the song “Sanctuary” while everyone in the audience quietly sang along. Stepping up the energy she picked up her tambourine performing the lead single off her self-titled debut album, “Let It Rain,” as well as a cover of “That’s Alright” by Mystery Train. Getting the crowd moving, she danced on stage showing off her wild side. Before running off stage, she said “We love you very much, thank you for having us this has been absolutely magical. Thank you for being the first amazing first show of the US Tour that I could have dreamt up!”

Everyone was cheering, knowing that the show wasn’t over just yet, she came back running out on stage to perform a two-song encore. For the first time ever she sang the song “Forever,” that her character Scarlett sang on Nashville. With just one song left everyone knew exactly what it would be, the song that became one with the show Nashville and its true essence. Before going into the song everyone was waiting for she said, “People ask me all the time and I just gotta commit to it because it’s all about how we get to do all this cool stuff, we got to play the O2 arena, we played the Ryman Auditorium, the Grand Ole Opry, and we play here. That’s the thing for me there’s no difference between standing in front of 20,000 people or whether I’m standing in front of 300 beautiful people, this is so special. It just shows you don’t have to have much to have a life that’s good so thank you.” Making it a moment to never forget she brought back out her entire band, and opener Imogen Clark to sing her favorite song “Life That’s Good.” The entire audience was ready for this moment and sang back every word without hesitation, harmonizing beautifully in unison.

Bowen didn’t miss a beat, showing that she is not only a force to be reckoned with but that she is a passionate, loving, and hilarious individual on and off stage. Keeping the crowd fully entertained the entire time, she shared personal stories showcasing her ability to speak openly as well as sharing her beautiful vocals with the world.

To keep up with Clare Bowen, follow her on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

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Dierks Bentley Brings His “Burning Man Tour” to PNC Bank Arts Center in NJ

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According to Dierks Bentley himself, “Jersey never disappoints and always brings the energy.” That is an extremely accurate statement to describe his stop of the Burning Man Tour at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, New Jersey. Joined by Tenille Townes, Jon Pardi, and even Hot Country Knights, Bentley’s alter-ego’s 90’s country band, the show was definitely a night to remember.

Burning Man Tour

Hot Country Knights set was up first. Once on stage, the band was met with some skepticism from the audience, that was until they figured out who the lead singer truly was. Although average concert-goers may have missed it, the singer with the animal print muscle tee, high waisted bootleg jeans and mullet was none other than Dierks Bentley himself. This set was really a sight to see, as Bentley’s band joined him by dressing up in 90’s outfits and wigs and playing music that sounded like it came straight from that decade. The 20-minute set ended too quickly, as the audience, and even members of the band erupted into laughter and applause.

Tenille Townes Burning Man Tour

Next up was the first true opener, country singer-songwriter Tenille Townes. Opening with “White Horse,” The 25-year-old Canadian native shocked the audience with her power vocals and poignant lyrics. As her set went on, it was clear that the audience was getting more and more into her music. With each song, more people stood to their feet and swayed along. After performing “Jersey on the Wall,” Townes told the audience that this was her first time playing at PNC, and it definitely lived up to the hype. She went on to cover, U2’s, “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For,” and ended her set with her debut single, “Somebody’s Daughter.” For more about Townes and her incredible talent click here.

Jon Pardi Burning Man Tour

Jon Pardi was next to take the stage– and he for sure brought the party. Opening with “What I Can’t Put Down,” followed by a Brooks & Dunn cover of, “My Next Broken Heart,” which was featured on their album REBOOT fans knew they were in for a treat. He continued by playing a few songs off of his 2016 album, California Sunrise. Eventually, he got to “Heartache Medication,” his current single off of his new album which is due September 27th. Being that he was playing to a Jersey crowd, Pardi would’ve been remiss not to honor a song to a New Jersey icon. So that’s exactly what he did by playing Bon Jovi’s, “Wanted Dead or Alive,” which was sung word for word by the audience. Pardi ended his high energy set by playing three of his classics– “Heartache on the Dance Floor,” “Head Over Boots,” and “Dirt On My Boots.”

Dierks Bentley Burning Man Tour

After two, well, technically three amazing openers, it was finally time for Bentley to take the stage. Starting with “Burning Man,” Bentley captivated the audience with his simple stage set up and powerful presence. After performing his hit song, “Somewhere on a Beach,” Bentley paid homage to the Jersey Shore and even did a call-response with the audience to see where they were from– the choices being north, south, or central Jersey– central being met with the loudest response. Bentley followed with “Black,” and “I Hold On,” two slow and deeply meaningful songs. Those were then contrasted by the upbeat songs “5-1-5-0” and “Living,” Bentley’s current single. It was refreshing to see those two sides of Bentley, both the serious and lightheartedness of his personality was really able to shine through.

About halfway through the set, Bentley brought Jon Pardi back out onto the stage to perform, “Missin’ You Crazy,” Bentley’s favorite song by Pardi. This was followed by Tenille Townes coming back on stage to teach Bentley a little something about female country singers. She sang a tidbit of “Strawberry Wine,” belted out some of “Man! I Feel Like a Woman,” and eventually joined Bentley in singing his massive hit, “Different for Girls.” Next, while singing “Am I The Only One,” Bentley made his way through the amphitheater and crowd to tiny B-stage near the back of the venue.

Dierks Bentley

Once on the B-stage, Bentley pulled a fan onto the stage, swiftly shotgunned a beer, and began a quick acoustic set which consisted of “Come a Little Closer” and “Say You Do,” before returning back to the main stage to finish out the show. Although nearing the end, the crowd was still as rowdy as ever while singing along to “What was I Thinkin’” and “Sideways.” These were the last two songs before the encore, as Bentley thanked the crowd for another amazing and unforgettable show. Walking out to do the encore in a full-on pilot getup, the audience already knew what was coming, as “Drunk on a Plane” was sung in unison by the whole crowd. Bentley played “Free and Easy” to end what was an exhilarating night at PNC.

Dierks Bentley’s Burning Man Tour will be around all summer so make sure not to miss it. The tour will also be stopping at Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater on August 2nd, so get your tickets now!

To keep up with Dierks Bentley and his Burning Man Tour make sure to follow him on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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Lori McKenna and Hailey Whitters Wow Fans in New York City

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Hailey Whitters Lori McKenna

On a beautiful summer night in New York City, an intimate group of fans were treated to an unbelievable night of music by singer-songwriters Lori McKenna and Hailey Whitters. Nestled in the heart of downtown Manhattan is a beautiful venue called Subculture, where fans gathered to witness the 15th-anniversary tour of McKenna’s record Bittertown.

Making her New York City debut, Whitters took the stage first, winning over the audience with each and every witty statement, heartfelt anecdote, breathtaking vocals, and songs. She began her set with her song “The Days,” a beautiful ballad about making the days of our lives count. Afterwards, she paid homage to her Iowa roots, singing a song called “Heartland,” which she mashed up with the classic track, “Take Me Home, Country Roads.” The crowd went on to sing each and every word back to her.

Slowing things down a bit, Whitters addressed the audience, sharing her experience with Nashville and the song-writing process for her emotive track, “Ten Year Town.” “Writing this song felt like a lot like therapy for me,” she shared, adding that she thought to herself, “I see the Opry billboard and I’m like is this ever going to happen for me.” Of course, Whitters went on to share the exciting news that she will be making her Opry debut on August 7th.

Another poignant moment of her set was when she sang her song “One More Hell,” which was inspired by her brother, who passed away. Although a heart wrenching personal story, Whitters somehow made the song feel relatable and touching all at the same time. Fans at Subculture truly fell in love with Whitters at that moment, which continued throughout the rest of her captivating set.

Lori McKenna

Next up, the woman of the night, Lori McKenna took the stage. Armed with an unmatched presence, a comedic personality, and an extraordinary voice, it was easy to see why she’s had such an incredible career thus far. As she tuned her guitar, McKenna laughed, while talking about who she was, when she wrote Bittertown, “Lori McKenna was real sad 15 years ago.” In celebration of that record, McKenna sang just about every song off her 2004 album, sharing that’s it’s been an interesting journey getting to bring these songs back to life.

She opened up her set with “Bible Song,” and “Mr. Sunshine,” and later sang her songs, “One Man” and “Stealing Kisses.” Early in the night, McKenna introduced the first song she wrote that was cut by another artist, “The thing about this record is I didn’t know Nashville yet. I didn’t have- I never had a song, I never co-written a song, I never had a song cut by somebody […] I was just hopeful thinking you know […] This was the song that Faith [Hill] found me and I found faith in that way.” The song, of course, was the mesmerizing “If You Ask.”

McKenna went on to sing songs inspired by her life with her husband, Gene, including, “Only Man,” and the sassy reminder to other women to stay away from her man called “My Sweetheart.” During the former, the songstress showed her appreciation for the fact that the song still reigned true for her as her husband and she are still together and going strong.

Some crowd favorites included, “People Get Old” and “Monday Afternoon,” but arguably the biggest highlight of the night was when McKenna sang her monumental songs, “Humble and Kind,” which was made famous by Tim McGraw and Little Big Town’s mega-hit, “Girl Crush.’ The former was a solo write by McKenna, which she shared that she wrote in her pajamas at home. Both songs marked McKenna’s first Grammy wins for ‘Best Country Song.’ She found even more success with these two gems, becoming the first woman to ever win the CMA award for ‘Song of the Year’ two years in a row. Luckily fans at Subculture got to witness McKenna’s incredible renditions of her beautiful tracks last night.

Throughout the night, both McKenna and Whitters delivered raw emotion, quirky humor, authenticity, and stellar vocals which only added to the spectacular ambiance of their performances. McKenna shared that “Bittertown brought [her] to Nashville,” and she feels that she is, “the luckiest person you’ve met in your whole life, and that’s partially due to many things, but due to the fact that I get to write songs for a living,” but we argue that witnessing her talent live was one of the most profound musical experiences that fans in the audience were lucky enough to be apart of.

To keep up with Whitters, follow her on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

To keep up with McKenna, follow her on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

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Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC & Beyond!

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