Jason Aldean
May 7, 2016
Merriweather Post Pavilion- Columbia, MD
Columbia MD; For the first time through the endless rainy days, the sun finally came out! It was a Saturday night which was a good night to be outdoors. So why not spend time outside at Merriweather Post Pavilion’s “First Country Show of the Season” according to their Twitter and Instagram posts. To me it seemed as if the show was a sold out show for the anticipated Jason Aldean’s “We Were Here” tour here in Columbia, Maryland. And let me tell you, not a single artist on this tour disappointed me.
The night started with DeeJay Silver, a DJ who also played in between each of the act’s sets. The music was non-stop all night long. There was dancing, drinking and excitement all night long, despite the muddy lawn and chilly night.
Opening up the night was a band called A Thousand Horses, who hit the stage looking like a true Southern rock band. Which they were. As an opener usually most attendees aren’t in their seats yet but there was a surprisingly good amount of people in the pavilion to catch their set. They played songs off their most recent album, Southernality, as well as their most recent hit single, Smoke. A band who are a quite similar to The Black Crowes, performed a cover of their song, Hard To Handle.
With an intermission set from Deejay Silver, Thomas Rhett was due next on stage and looking around you, the crowds started flowing in. Rhett, being the heartthrob he is with his southern charm and very catchy songs, he is definitely ready to jump off of being just a support act to hopefully headlining a tour of his own. Rhett definitely got the whole pavilion heated by such an energetic set which he played his most hit singles, Die a Happy Man, T-Shirt and a cover of Joe Jonas’ band, DNCE‘s hottest hit Cake By The Ocean. The best part of Rhett’s set wasn’t just the hit songs the crowd seemed to know word for word, but his dancing on stage, that consisted of the robot and just dorky dance moves he seemed to throw together. As his set ended it seemed to be a full house and everyone was ready for Jason Aldean to take the stage.
Concluding Deejay Silvers final spin and chance to get the crowd pumped up, Jason Aldean arrived on stage to the screams and cheers of the crowd, as he opened with Just Gettin’ Started. During most of the opening song, he took the time to high-five, handshake and fist bump with the fans in the GA Pit. Aldean was dressed in his usual button down shirt, flared jeans ripped at the bottom, cowboy boots and his signature light toned cowboy hat. Aldean’s energy on stage seemed to get everyone off their feet as the crowd swayed along, tipped their hats, and waved their cups of beer in the air. The crowd beyond the general admission pit gave off yells and cheers but very faint, but they were still there and ready to sing along.
Most fans spoke too soon when it came down to the weather, meaning that the 3rd song in of Aldean’s, the bipolar weather gave the fans in the lawn a very wet and muddy Jason Aldean concert experience , but that didn’t stop anyone from having a blast.
Throughout the night Aldean belted out hit after hit such as his most recent hit single, Lights Come On. Not only did he sing his more newer songs on his 18-song setlist, he also sang older fan favorites such as Big Green Tractor, Amarillo Sky, She’s Country and Tattoos on This Town. In between songs Aldean would interact and talk to the crowd before mixing in a medley of Asphalt Cowboy/Why and Kelly Clarkson’s, Don’t You Wanna Stay. ‘Twas a good night overall. Jason Aldean, being the first country show of the season at Merriweather Post Pavilion, definitely left huge expectations to live up too behind for other country artists that will be hitting the stage at Merriweather later in the summer.
Review by: Alyssa Howell
Jason Aldean
Thomas Rhett
A Thousand Horses
