This show was part of the “Guys With Guitars Under The Stars” series, and it was presented by the radio station My Country 96.1 FM. He shared the stage with fellow country stars Michael Ray, Canaan Smith and Jerrod Niemann, where they all rotated and sang a total of four songs each. DJ Deuce provided the entertainment for the evening.
“Y’all ready for some fun?” Drew Baldridge asked his Long Island fans. “How are we doing Long Island?” He kicked off his set with the uptempo tune “Train.” When he sang for the second time, he performed the laid-back and flirty “Burnt Toast,” where he made an allusion to the iconic Marshall Tucker Band in the lyrics, which was well-received by all.
Country star Jerrod Niemann introduced Baldridge as a “Top 5 Finalist for Macy’s iHeartRadio Rising Star” competition, and rightfully so. His fellow country musicians extended their love and support for him on stage, and encouraged their fans to vote for him. He continued with the song that changed his life, “Rebound,” and thanked 96.1 FM for playing it on their station. “This is the song that changed by life. It’s about not being anybody’s second choice. You don’t deserve to be anybody’s rebound,” he said, about the song’s meaning.
He closed on a fun note with the uplifting and liberating “Dance With Ya,” where he had the crowd on their feet, dancing along with him. He shared that he enjoys dancing, and so do his band members.
The Verdict
Overall, Drew Baldridge’s set was fun and upbeat at the Pennysaver Amphitheater at Bald Hill on Long Island. He proved that he deserves to be crowned winner of the 2017 Macy’s iHeartRadio Rising Star competition. His four-song set garnered an A rating. Well done.
