Details, Details at the Kenny Chesney Concert
Good seats at a concert bring you much closer to the music. The pounding bass, the plucky mandolin and the cry of the steel guitar. But you know what else you get closer to? The details. And I've become obsessed with them lately. I spent seven hours watching Kenny Chesney and his pals perform in Chicago this weekend, and I was wrapped up in the little things like:
• Gary Allan took a swig of Jack Daniels between each song. Maybe he needed it for his voice. Or his buzz.
• Allan, Luke Bryan and Keith Urban all wore patch pocket jeans. Must be some kind of pact the Nashville stylists formed.
• The artists must've played about a dozen guitars between them, and that doesn't even include the ones in the bands. That probably makes the Takamine, Maton, Fender and Gibson musical instrument companies really proud.
• LeAnn Rimes performed in bare feet. She had a bandage around her toe, so I understand the no-shoe thing. Still can't get my head around the no-bra thing, though. It was a wardrobe malfunction waiting to happen.
• The bodyguard assigned to protect Keith Urban when he went into the crowd to sing was vigorously pushing fans out of Urban's way. That sorta takes the fun out of it, I think.
• One of Allan's guitarists played in an honest-to-goodness kilt and argyle socks.
• Chesney's tour manager came out to play harmonica on "Shiftwork." Talk about multi-tasking. And one guy in Chesney's brass section was actually a little boy.
• Urban was wearing a Boz Scaggs T-shirt that looks like it might've been in his dresser drawer since 1980, although it probably came from some high-end vintage boutique.
I know these seemingly irrelevant details have nothing to do with the music (which was very, very good, by the way.) But somehow, this is the kind of stuff that gets noticed by the fans down in front. Sure, people talked about the sound, the set list and the cover songs. But more of the fan chatter was about the extraneous. Like, why on earth must Chesney cut the sleeves off every single T-shirt?
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tonya brown says:
i just want to know every thing about country music singers. I just love them all,and i want to meet them all. Toni
toolman says:
I missed the concert(upset but will get over it). How was Gary Allan’s performance, i heard he sound just like his album’s
alyse says:
I think that’s cool that when you sit so close & have good seats, you can see all of those details. As for me, whne Kenny CHesney comes to Houston, I will be sitting nowhere near the front, but I still can’t wait for his concert.
far far away says:
I was there to and luckily the jumbotrons show everything–i didn’t know it was Jack Daniels Gary was drinking but I certainly saw him take swigs of something. As for LeAnn Rimes wardrobe choice that was very different for her. Shes usually all dressed up so this “comfortable natural” look was visible even from where I was sitting. Did you see her put a Bears jersey on toward the end, to cover up???
RnRChick74 says:
Anybody else notice that when Gary took a swig of his Rolling Rock, his bass player and drummer both drank from it after watching Gary drink from it? EEWWWW! LOL!
Leanne puts on a jersey of the specific football teams in the town that they are playing in.
Ashleigh Kaletka says:
Keith Urban is a great singer!!!!!!
jump20 says:
Saw Nicole on screen,as I was sitting in side seats. Wondered if she was actually on stage,for those sitting center and close?
(Alex!) says:
I’m in the seventh row away from Kenny Chesney when he comes to Evansville and i hope i can see all the details.
adam says:
I was in the sandbar right next to the stage when Gary was singing. His live performances do sound just like the albums. He had a show in Wisconsin the night before, so maybe he just needed to keep the buzz going. It was Jack Daniels that he was drinking… just a couple swigs now and then. The cool thing though was that the band member playing the slider guitar was using the open bottle to play. I got a great photo of him just sliding the bottle around on the guitar
Michelle says:
Yes, Nicole was on the right of the stage.
I’m absolutely convinced that Kenny must have a wardrobe person who cuts and sizes each and every t-shirt he wears. They ALL fit exactly the same. She cuts the sleeves off and does any required alterations so they are always the same length, width, etc.
marie says:
I just love country music, Kenny Chesney is my favorite of all.
JO says:
I didn’t get to go to this years concert. I was in the Pit last year and I think all those little extras are great to see! These are real people that have a great job of entertaining us! I liked being in the pit seeing those little extras. It makes the concert even better!
Anna says:
I love the way Kenny “cuts the sleeves off of every single T-shirt”!!!! It’s sooo sexy.
AnotherView says:
some other observations from being there…
Your observations were absolutely right on. I didn’t see the toe bandage however.
The sound was completely distorted if you were in the upper decks and in front of the speaker columns.
Kenny was way too clingy with Keith in their duet.
Leann is not Janis Joplin.
Keith Urban was the absolute best part of the entire show.
Chris says:
Kenny send me the sleeves off your shirts please.I can sell them and pay for the dr. and cemo I have to have this summer.I had to miss the balt. show because of being in the hospital.I only play your songs,and i write GAC if they go 3 or4 hrs without playing one of your songs.your 67 year xmom.
Love Chris Blevins
1026 Brinker Dr 201
Hagerston Md 21740
Ashley says:
I love kenny and he looks good with the sleeves of his shirts off. lol oh ya and all of the singers are great!
cierra says:
hey i love you so much i love your music and i love you
cierra says:
i love your music
katina says:
I LOVE COUNTRY MUSIC IT ROCKS
ESP KENNY CHESNEY BRAD PAISLEY TIM MCGRAW SUGAR LAND BLAKE SHELTON GEORGE STRAIT KEITH URBAN REBA MCENTIRE LEANN RIMES GARY ALLAN NEAL MCCOY TRAVIS TRITT TOBY KEITH KEITH ANDERSON CHELY WRIGHT VINCE GILL AMY GRANT CHERYL CROWE
LUKE BRYAN BRYAN ADAMS BRYAN MCCOMAS DARRYL WORLEY
THERE YOU GO BYE
Nikki says:
I was at concert
had great seats
all I can say is
Awesome all of them
Awesome!!!!!
Lindsey Villarreal says:
The Concert Was Great. I Loved Everything. I wasn’t that right in front but I Still got to see lots of Great things and Get Great Pictures. I just hope Kenny Chesney, Keith Urbin, and LeAnn Rimes come back soom. They will really show Chicago how Great Country Music is.
KELSEY says:
wow.i LOVE KENNY.SO LiKE iM FOURTEEN AND i WAS JUST RAiSED UP ON HiS MUSiX iM A BiG FAN AND i HAVE A HUGE CRUSH…..
LOVE YOU KENNY
manny says:
is kenny gay or what.if not i wish he was
Jennifer O’Dell says:
I can’t wait until Kenny comes to houston, TX cause I might get front row seat will close enough to get to the stage so that will be awsome. And I’m a huge huge fan of his.
I Love you Kenny!!!!!!!!!!
John says:
I cannot wait to see Kenny in two months!!! This is so funny reading this; when I was getting my Kenny tickets, a bouncer at a local country club talked about how LeAnne Rimes goes barefoot everywhere. He said even he wouldn’t go barefoot in that place. LOL. I saw Gary Allan last month and I noticed one of his band members wearing a kilt just like Alison posted. How many guitar picks did they throw out? I have yet to catch one. Oh and how many of ya’ll have seen George Strait, I’m dying to go.
Betty Reid says:
Kenny changed his whole style of dressing after he went on tour with his buddy, Tim McGraw. At that time, and sometimes still, Tim wears all his teeshirts with the sleeves cut off, and Kenny started doing it too. If you play some of Tim’s videos you will see that they have the same identical moves on stage. That’s the way a lot of new performers develop their schtick–they find themselves touring with someone they admire and really like and soon begin to adopt some of the things that made other artists successful–except for Keith Urban–he is a trendsetter and one of the most original people I have ever seen on stage. Back when he spiked his hair, almost every star in Nashville began to wear spiked hair–then after Golden Road he started parting it in the middle and wearing it long and wearing vintage tees and jeans with scruffy facial hair, and now Billy Ray Cyrus, Daryl Worley and many others have adopted that look. Keith has switched his part over to the side now, and he will probably change his hair color before too long. He is totally original and totally unpredictable and that’s what makes him fun along with the fact that he is one of the finest entertainers in any musical genre and blends in well with hard core rockers or hard core traditional country. Once you think you’ve got his musical style or even his appearance down pat, he changes it because he loves change and loves to take his music to different levels. He can take an old song and breathe new life into it whether it’s his or a cover. One of the most energetic and friendliest person on stage with that special charisma that only Elvis had. His interaction with the fans at a concert is priceless and completely amazing. Not only that but he is married to an international famous beauty and talented actress who supports his music and is just as big a fan of it as I am, and that’s saying a lot. Okay, I will get off my soapbox and stop gushing now (lol), but that’s my story and I’m sticking to it. Today is his second Wedding Anniversary, and this is my way of expressing my appreciation for his beautiful and inspiring music which has enriched my life and helped me through some rough spots. Happy Anniversary, Keith and Nicole! I hope you have the little Urban soon, and I hope it is a healthy baby and a blessing to you in every way in the years to come.
Jennifer McMurtry29 says:
Hello. I have never had the pleasure…and what a pleasure it would be, to see a live Kenny Chesney show. I am a die-hard fan though and am always listening to one of Kenny’s cd’s. I can relate to every message in his songs in one way or another
Kenny is “real” and that to me IS COUNTRY MUSIC! Kenny rocks, no matter what he’s doing.
I must comment on the sleeveless shirts. They ARE KENNY!!!
Tim may have been the role model who inspired the look, on stage. But Kenny is Kenny and those shirts are a huge part of who he is! And I can’t not mention the fact that I would love to be the lucky woman to tear the rest of those shirts right off of him!!!lol His tractor is only sexy because of the stud on top of it!
Kenny, I love you! You get sexier everytime i see you! If you ever need help with your wardrobe, you please let me know. I am certain that during our sessions, I could give you a look that you will NEVER WANT TO CHANDE!!!
Is it just me or is Kenny the sexiest man alive???
Oh, what I would do to that man!
Kenny, if you are ever looking for a hot, long-legged sex pistol…contact me! We will go on one hell of a “wild ride!” And yes, I just might break it on the wild ride!!!
I love you Kenny, you sexy, sexy man! You wear those shirts well, a LOT BETTER than Tim Mcgraw EVER HAS, baby. That’s YOUR LOOK and you look sexy! Pass it on to keith Urban because his look is not sexy and could use all the help it can get!
The other man i would love to get my claws into is Alan Jackson! Move over Denise, I want a shot at that!!!
Abe says:
I was at this concert, on the floor..it was great! They were all awesome. It’s also a cool touch to the show when Kenny pulled his father and uncle out for a brief hello as well as Jim Edmonds of the Cubs and Nick Swisher of the Sox. Go CUBS
bedford says:
hay when are you coming to play in omaha neb
Kathy P. says:
It was fun to be at the concert. There was so-o-o-o much beer drinking and no visible brawls. The whole crowd seemed to have a great time. The three in my group had main floor seats - Section F. It was a difficult to see over everyone’s head. We went up to the concession area several times so to SEE Gary, Luke, Leanne, Keith and Kenny play/sing their music.
Baker says:
I was at the show and I thought that Gary Allen’s sound was awesome he was my favorite. I was standing to the left of the stage and shook all the artist hand but Gary. It was definately the BEST SHOW EVER.
Shar says:
Kenny is Kenny, no matter what he wears or what he sings. Saw him from the crowd just feet from the stage, what a rush! There is a reason he is and has been the reigning ACM entertainer of the year… because he rocks! And on the subject of Leann’s clothing, could that just be jealousy in the comments? I think she is a very sexy lady who can sing most of todays singers into the dust. If you don’t like what you see on the stage, don’t go to the concerts and just enjoy the music safely at home on your couch.
Janet says:
Has anyone sat in the sandbar for Kenny’s concert? I was wondering if those tickets were worth getting? and any suggestions on which side to pick if so?
Thanks
Bob Fly says:
now here’s a guy who REALLY has little talent, if any, but as Tim M. did, who also has littel talent, surrounded himself with people who could “get ‘er done” and is a lucky man today.
Turn off the Pro-tools Ken and show us how you REALLY sang!!!
Just like Tim, NOT very good!
Thank Buddy Cannon, because with him and his daughter you’d be changing oil at Minute Lube with Gretchen Wilson!!!
Bob Fly says:
and 1 more thing, most of you country music fans are REALLY clueless! Go back to your Wal-Mart jobs and hope Obama doesn’t raise YOUR taxes!!!
Or make YOU pay 12 a gallon for fuel!!!
Shar says:
Bob, I would like to let you know that I for one, do NOT work at Wal-Mart, never have, never will. Not that this would be a bad thing, but don’t label me just cuz I enjoy music that inspires and speaks to me and where I am in MY life right now. Don’t really know where you are in your life, but you are obviously not very happy to trash Country Music like that. What exactly are you doing on a Country website if that is how you feel about the genre? More than half of the appeal these singers have is the charisma and charm they bring with them to the stage. I pay to be entertained. And they do it so very well! So to you, get off our Country websites and take your opnions back to whatever “better” music it is that you listen to, and leave us in peace. And keep the politics out of it altogether. Again, I am here to be entertained. Politics is anything but entertaining these days.
Yellow says:
I went to the concert in chicago and well need i say anything more that it was amazing…
Gary Allan was my Favorite and wow was good sounds just like his cd…Leann Rimes was very good…and Keith Urban was Great…Kenny well need i say anything though the sound was a little bad you cant expect it to be perfect…but he was Great anyway…i thought that this was the best concert ever…I Love Gary Allan and cant wait till he comes Back To Chicago…
Jennifer McMurtry29 says:
Bob Fly,
Sounds like you may have a touch of envy for kenny?
Kenny is sexy, very talented and so is Tim!!!
Go back to your bar, BAR FLY and sulk in your beer! Has a girlfriend confessed her love for Kenny to you?
Is that why you are so freakin’ bitter?
I bet you have no talent or sex appeal, that’s why you try to compensate with sarcasm and hatred!
Jealous???
Jen
Jennifer McMurtry29 says:
Bob,
Shar sais a mouth full!!!
Way to go girl!!
Jen
Jennifer McMurtry29 says:
Kenny,
I would love to make you an offer… the best night of your life is waiting for you if you contact me.
I love you, Kenny! You are so sexy and I would give my right arm for a night with you!!!
Jennifer McMurtry
215 Beauty lane
Whitesboro, Texas
76273
At least think it over!
Jen
Jennifer McMurtry29 says:
Kenny,
Come take a wild ride with me!!!
Jen
Trouble says:
Gary Allan :) Jack Daniels :) Mmmmmmm!!!
Did CJ fret his steel with the JD bottle?? Irresponsible. Juvenile. But so much fun!!
Melissaa says:
I was wondering how long the concert lasts? I am trying to make plans for an after concert event but did not know what time to start it… I have heard the concert is really long with long set changes in between artists. Can anyone provide me with the time it started and the time it finished?
Allie says:
When does Kenny come on stage? I can only get a babysitter for a small amount of time, so I’d like to gofor just that time.
Valerie says:
lol