By Amy Dolkas
Beloved country star Luke Bryan played to a sold out crowd in Chula Vista on Friday night to close out the concert season for the year at the Sleep Train Amphitheatre. I went into this show as a long time fan of Luke Bryan’s music. Admittedly, I saw the singer as the frat boy of country music with enough spring break party songs to keep us dancing all night. Once he came on stage, I realized the injustice I had done him. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that Luke Bryan is a man of tremendous musical talent and depth.
Luke Bryan delivered a unique show filled with a variety of different song styles. He impressively performed a set list that balanced fun dance songs with heartfelt, stripped down tracks that went straight to the heart. Bryan even managed to mash up his country hits with popular pop songs like “Dynamite” and “All About that Bass”.
A particularly great part of the show was when Bryan hopped on the piano and played a series of songs without his band accompaniment, which showcased his voice and diverse musical capabilities. His voice sounded phenomenal- again I did not realize before seeing him in concert how well he can sing. He hit all his notes and his voice never faltered, even in the moments where he was running all around the stage.
Also showing off their talent Friday night were Cole Swindell and Lee Brice. Swindell was one of the most endearing performers I have seen- it was clear from the look on his face that he was living out his dream. He was extremely grateful and happy to have the chance to perform his songs for a crowd. Swindell may not receive enough credit for his songwriting skills. He penned Thomas Rhett’s hit “Get Me Some of That” and co-wrote Luke Bryan and Florida Georgia Line’s tremendously popular song “This Is How We Roll”. Lee Brice tried extremely hard to put on the best show possible, and came off very genuine. Like Swindell, he showed appreciation and graciousness for being able to do what he does.
It’s clear Luke Bryan has reached superstar status in the country music world, but when he individually brought out his openers Cole Swindell and Lee Brice to perform songs that they had written, it showed his willingness to share the spotlight. He recognized their talents as songwriters and vocalists and wanted the crowd to appreciate their abilities as well. It was an endearing gesture that enhanced the quality of the show. I was surprised to learn that Lee Brice had written the Eli Young Band’s chart topping hit “Crazy Girl”. Brice and Bryan performed a rare duet of the song with Bryan on piano and Brice on guitar which mesmerized the crowd with its raw emotion.
Bryan showed vulnerability to the audience when he played his hit, “Drink a Beer”. The track is about remembering loved ones he had lost, and he paused halfway through the song to encourage the crowd to remember loved ones they used to share a beer with. With his eyes tearing up, Bryan finished the song beautifully singing acapella.
