Country singer-songwriters Mitchell Tenpenny and Ryan Hurd opened for him, as part of his “Ride or Die” tour.
“New York City,” Lynch screamed, as he and his band-mates took the stage, and the “Big Apple” crowd went nuts. “I need everybody on your feet. Here we go!” he exclaimed, and immediately broke into his opening song “Here We Come,” as green lights dimmed from the stage. “Welcome to the Ride or Die Tour,” he said, graciously. “You’re look good,” he complimented the audience.
“Let’s go!” he said, and continued with the vivacious and liberating “Hell of a Night,” where he got the fans to put their hands up in the air. “Mind Reader” was expressive and nonchalant, and towards the end of the song, he personalized the lyrics to “New York City Mind Reader,” which resonated well with the audience. “Thank you guys,” he said.
The Broken Bow recording artist went on to sing the sultry “I’d Be Jealous Too,” where his voice was smooth as silk, as blue lights dimmed from the stage. “Welcome to the Ride or Die Tour,” Lynch reiterated. He went on to celebrate with a toast. “Cheers,” he said, and his raised his glass to each of his opening acts, Mitchell Tenpenny and Ryan Hurd, respectively. Lynch also revealed that if anybody told his five-year-old self that he would be selling out the PlayStation Theater one day, he would have never believed it.
Lynch praised the crowd for being “amazing,” and he inquired as to whether or not this is real life. “Thank you all for this,” he said. “All that matters in life right now is the present moment. Tonight’s about singing and dancing. Can we do that New York City?” he asked, and the answer was a resounding “yes.”
He continued with “Where It’s At,” which featured its infectious “yep, yep” hooks. “Y’all got it going on right here,” he said, and incorporated the song as a singalong with the audience, where everybody was reciting the lyrics verbatim.
“Let’s keep the party going,” he said, and he threw in his own distinct version of Flo Rida’s “My House,” which was a real treat. “New York City. C’mon,” he said.
During the song “State Lines,” a highway backdrop played on the giant televised screen, and the song has a neat reverb on the chorus, which produced a cool echo effect.
The highlight performance of the night was his stellar rendition of “Cowboys and Angels,” his breakthrough radio single, where he accompanied himself on acoustic guitar. He personalized the lyrics to “New York City girls and guys like me,” which was met with a raucous response from the fans, especially the females in the audience. “This song is the reason I was first invited to come to New York City back in 2012,” he said, prior to adding that it is about his grandparents’ love story, who have been married for 62 years. To this day, this tune is this journalist’s personal favorite Dustin Lynch song, and rightfully so. It was a wonderful sight seeing all the New York fans in the audience captivated by “Cowboys and Angels.”
He continued with “Love Me or Leave Me Alone,” sans Karen Fairchild of Little Big Town, as a fire backdrop graced the stage. His vocals were haunting and sultry, where the listener could recall John Mayer.
Lynch noted that over the past four to five years, he opened for other country artists, which was a great learning experience for him, however, they would have to tell him what time he would get off the stage. With Lynch as headliner now, the tables have turned. “We get to tell us when we get off the stage,” he said, prior to tipping his hat to the artists that have allowed him to open for them.
He sang a 10-minute medley in their honor, starting with Brad Paisley’s “Mud on the Tires,” where green lights dimmed from the stage, and he continued with Keith Urban’s “Somebody Like You.” “Keith Urban was the first guy that ever believed in me,” he said. He continued with the upbeat “Play It Again” by Luke Bryan, as well as Florida Georgia Line’s “H.O.L.Y.”
“This is so freaking cool. How in the world is this possible?” he asked. “It’s because of all of you,” he added, and he raised his glass for everybody in the PlayStation Theater venue that supports his music.
Lynch introduced the new song “New Girl,” which is off his latest studio offering Current Mood, and followed it up with another album cut, “Why Not Tonight,” prior to taking his fans on a trip down memory lane to the late 90’s with Lit’s “My Own Worst Enemy” and the catchy Blink-182 classic “All The Small Things.”
His refreshing, chart-topping single “Small Town Boy” became the theme song of PlayStation Theater, and he closed with the spitfire “Seein’ Red.”
The Verdict
Overall, Dustin Lynch put on a phenomenal live show at the PlayStation Theater in New York City. He commanded the stage for the entire 75 minute duration of his set, and showcased his warm and humble personality (aw shucks demeanor) throughout the night. His passion for his craft was evident, and he proved to be a natural entertainer. The whole production was brilliant, and his band was equally talented and awesome. Lynch certainly deserves a nomination for “Male Vocalist of the Year” at an upcoming Academy of Country Music (ACM) or Country Music Association (CMA) ceremony. It is safe to say that the future of contemporary country music is in good hands, Dustin Lynch’s hands. His high-octane performance at the PlayStation Theater earned five out of five stars.
His latest studio album, Current Mood, is available on iTunes, and on Spotify. Veteran country producer Mickey Jack Cones produced three of the tracks.
To learn more about country star Dustin Lynch and his touring schedule, check out his official website.
Read More: Digital Journal chatted with Dustin Lynch this past July.
