Brad Paisley Perfects New Concert Trick
Forget the trapezes and zip lines. Country artists have a brand new concert trick, and it's gaining in popularity.
I saw Brad Paisley do it on Friday night (Aug. 7). He took his guitar and left the stage for "Catch All the Fish" and again during "Online." Where'd he go? Right down into the crowded floor seats. Right into a fan frenzy. And all I could think of was that this is a moment when everybody wins. The fans win because he's within touching distance, which is always a thrill even if you're watching it from another section of the arena. And the artist wins because he gets very positive feedback on his music. In fact, when Paisley talked about his unsuccessful attempts to be cool in high school, he joked "Where were you back then? There was no screaming. I needed to see this."
The last time I saw Darius Rucker, he did the same thing. He left the stage and milled around the crowd, microphone in hand. And I've seen Keith Urban do it a lot on his past couple of tours, singing and playing from up in the first tier of the arena, much to the delight of the fan whose seat he's stealing.
And even farther back, I saw Tim McGraw sit on an amplifier by the soundboard and sing the old Jerry Jeff Walker song, "She Knows Her Daddy Sings," then make his way through the fans to the stage. He did a similar stunt again when he toured with Faith Hill, where he hopped down off the stage and made his way through the crowd singing.
I think Garth Brooks pioneered this idea of getting closer to the fans. But he didn't really do it in this tangible of a way. I, personally, think this new stuff is a step in the right direction. But I guess it makes me wonder, what will the artists ever think of next?
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MEL says:
cooleeo
itchycorn says:
Hardly a new trick for a “star” to enter the audience while performing…I was a mere child when the lovely Tammy Wynette left the stage and made her way through the crowd and even before that I remember Donna Fargo shaking hands and sitting on laps while she sang. It was well accepted then and now!
KUrb417 says:
keith urban has been doing that forever!! and he’s the best at it!
keith country fan uk says:
i think the coment about garth brooks is wrong watch his dublin concert he bascily crowed sufred with them carrying him across the aduince druing the song ” The River”
tracy says:
Saw Brad on Saturday in Indy - he came out into the crowd and my 8 year old daughter was gone from my side so fast - she shimmied right past security and stood right next to her hero….that is a moment she will never forget - Thanks Brad for being accessible to your fans - and trusting us not to jump you.
truthteller says:
This is NOT a “new” concert trick. Keith Urban has been doing this for years much to the delight of his fans. Keith even walked around the entire rodeo arena in Houston to get up close to his fans. Keith is well known for truly connecting to his audience.
Maybe Brad should try and come up with a more “original” idea.
Denise says:
The fist time I saw this done was during the Dixie Chicks’ Fly tour in 2000, which won them the CMA entertainer of the year award that year!
Cathy says:
Springsteen has been doing this since the 1970s.
Redmaz says:
I first did it in the mid 80’s when I got my Nady 101..