Rucker shared the stage with such openers as One Thousand Horses, Brothers Osborne and Brett Eldredge.
He opened his set with “Lighter Up,” as a fire backdrop displayed on a giant televised screen. “Yeah,” he exclaimed. “How is everybody doing this beautiful night in New York?” he asked.
Rucker continued with “This” and claimed that the moment that he saw Jones Beach on his itinerary he was really excited, especially since it’s one of his favorite places to play. He was extremely fond of the fact that his show at Jones Beach was sold out.
It was followed by the feel-good and uplifting “Good for a Good Time” and “Radio,” which he incorporated as a sing-along. “Country music, people,” he said. “Thanks country radio for giving me a whole new life. How are you feeling out there?”
His piano-driven “Southern Style” was melodically-stunning and he continued with an “old school” tune from his Hootie & the Blowfish days entitled “Time.”
After introducing himself and his his band, he performed “All I Want,” where the stage was graced in white laser lights, and he accompanied himself on acoustic guitar.
He noted that “Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It” is a special song since it was his first No. 1 single, and it showcased his rich and raspy vocals. He praised Tim McGraw’s “Back When” for being a “great song” and delivered a neat cover.
Speaking of cover songs, his version of Blackstreet’s “No Diggity” was impressive, and he did their song justice.
“It Won’t Be Like This for Long” was poignant with a tender message to it, and he performed it in an acoustic fashion, backed by such acoustic instruments as dobro, mandolin, accordion and guitars. It subsequently earned him a standing ovation. “I’m having a blast,” he told the Jones Beach audience.
“History in the Making” was yet another noteworthy acoustic vocal, where many fans were dancing in the aisles. “Anybody want to turn it up a notch?” he asked, prior to playing the feed-good “Alright.”
“Only Wanna Be With You” was fun and memorable, since it made his fans nostalgic of his Hootie & the Blowfish days, and he continued with “East Bound and Down.” “C’mon, Jones Beach,” he said, prior to noting that he has been a musician for over 30 years.
“Let Her Cry” was moving and exceptional, and it garnered him another standing ovation. It is no wonder that it earned him the Grammy award for “Best Pop Performance by a Duo of Group with Vocal.”
Other highlight vocals included “Come Back Song,” “Hold My Hand,” “Homegrown Honey,” as well as his Grammy-winning country song “Wagon Wheel,” where everybody was singing along.
The Verdict
Overall, Darius Rucker was able to give his fans in Long Island a pleasant evening of country music. He interacted well with his audience, and his whole “Southern Style” tour was a success. He is highly recommended seeing live whenever he is in the area. It earned an A rating.
