Brothers Under The Sun Tour At Tampa Stadium: Kenny Chesney, Tim McGraw, Jake Owen, Grace Potter

"BETTER AS A MEMORY"    KENNY CHESNEY

The Brothers Under The Sun kicks off today at Tampa Stadium.   Kenny Chesney, Tim McGraw, Jake Owen, and Grace Potter plus who knows what guest stars will drop in for the big event.  After each of the four solo sets, Kenny and Tim will be playing a 40 minute set during which they'll be playing each others songs, rock covers, anything goes!  Luckily, I was able to get club level tickets at the last minute!   

Kenny released a 3-D concert film in the summer of 2010.   Here's a version of "Better As A Memory" from the last day of the tour when Kenny's emotions took over.   The crowd sang almost the entire song for an unforgettable concert moment.

 "SOMETHING LIKE THAT"   TIM McGRAW

My first big country music concert was Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, and a relative unknown Australian opening act at the time named Keith Urban in the mid 90's.   I didn't know much by Tim but knew all of the big Faith Hill crossover hits.   Wow!   What a fun experience! Keith's guitar skills blew us away.  Faith Hill came next and Tim joined her for songs like "It's Your Love".  When Tim McGraw hit the stage to close the show, the crowd went insane.  "I Like It, I Love It, I Want Some More Of It" and "Something Like That" were incredible.  Always loved the line - "she had a BBQ stain on her white t-shirt, killing me in that mini-skirt, heart can't take something like that!"

"EIGHT SECOND RIDE"   JAKE OWEN

Florida has been the breeding ground of many country music superstars and the next to join this elite club is Vero Beach's Jake Owen.   I saw Jake open for Keith Urban last summer and he's unbelievable live!   Jake has a rock n' roll energy, movie star looks, and songs that will get you singing along the first time you hear them.    Yes, the double entendres in "Eight Second Ride" are laughable but the song rocks!  

"PARIS (Ooh La La)"    GRACE POTTER and the NOCTURNALS

Blues rocker, Grace Potter, is the fourth member of the Brothers Under the Sun tour.    Hmmm, watching Grace jamming on her guitar, sexy legs shimmering under her short skirt, I'm not sure she fits the "Brothers" tour theme.   Grace teamed up with Kenny Chesney for the beach themed ballad "You And Tequila (Drive Me Crazy)"  and I'm sure that will be a highlight of the concert set having the two pair up for the duet.   This version of her hit, "Paris", comes from the Ellen DeGeneres Show (a big fan of Grace).

 

New Music Tuesday : Gym Class Heroes, Safetysuit, Grace Potter, and Alan Jackson

"ASS LIKE THAT"        GYM CLASS HEROES with NEON HITCH

Following up "Stereo Hearts" with Adam Levine, Travie McCoy is back with a more rock infused track for the second hit single off their new CD.   Featured here, the recurrent theme of an artist on the road and distance taking a toll on a relationship.  UK singer / songwriter, Neon Hitch, shines in the video as Travie's love interest and sings the memorable hook, "Get your ass back home!"   

"SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO LOVE ME ANYMORE"  ALAN JACKSON

Alan Jackson is the master of singing songs that cut to the emotional heart.   Whether it's songs of 9/11, tributes to legends like Hank Williams Sr, memories of the start of a new love, to this raw, sensitive track about ending a relationship.  The guitar solo perfectly blends with Alan's lyrics of broken hearts and opportunities lost.  Tear in your beer country music songs have been around for years and it's great to hear Alan Jackson keeping "real" country alive and well.

 


"THESE TIMES"              SAFETYSUIT

Great video!  Christian rock artist, Safetysuit, debuts a relevant new anthem about although life can be tough and current economic times are depressing and hitting so many hard, "these times will pass".  Everyone has their own issues crippling them at times (as the video demonstrates) but the hopeful conclusion to the video shares an uplifting, enduring message of recovery.  Think of when you were at the lowest moment of your life, then think of NOW, those bad times do pass.   

"DEAR PRUDENCE"                   GRACE POTTER

From her iTunes session live, Grace performed her bluesy hits like "Paris"  but also took on the challenge of covering two of the biggest musical artists of all-time, The Beatles and Madonna.  Her "Like A Prayer" rocks harder but on the White Album classic, Dear Prudence, Grace treats the classic with reverence and adds her feminine touch to the Beatles masterpiece.   Love the simple line:  "the sun is up, the sky is blue, it's beautiful and so are you, dear prudence, won't you come out and play"!