Nichols was able to get the country party started by accompanying himself on the upbeat “Brokenheartsville,” as the crowd as singing along with him.
He showcased his sassy side on the up-tempo and witty “What’s A Guy Gotta Do.” It was great to hear the inclusion of the inspirational ballad “The Impossible” in his set, as the stage was graced in orange lights.
The Arkansas native shared that being old school makes him a “freak” sometimes. “New York, I hope you’re a freak like me,” he said, prior to breaking into his single “Freaks Like Me,” which resonated well with the audience.
Nichols covered Tom Petty’s “Runnin’ Down A Dream,” which was equal in excellence to the original recording, and he was able to give it his own country twist to it. He also tipped his hat to Hank Williams Jr. with a neat version of “Family Tradition.”
The highlight vocal of the evening was his infectious rendition of “Gimmie That Girl,” where everybody was waving their hands up in the air, and singing the tune at the top of their lungs.
He closed with the fun “Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off,” as the fans were clapping along. “C’mon let’s all have some tequila after this show,” Nichols said, and he paid homage to Billy Joel, by altering the lyrics to “them panty hose ain’t going to last too long, if the DJ puts a Billy Joel record on.”
While it was freezing cold outside, he warmed things up, by returning for his encore, which was his chart-topping country single “Sunny and 75.” “We can make it Sunny and 75 in here tonight,” he said, and the response was raucous, as the fans recited the lyrics verbatim. “Thank you so much Long Island, New York,” he said. “I had a great time with ya’ll tonight. Hope to be back here.”
The Verdict
Overall, Joe Nichols was phenomenal at Mulcahy’s Pub & Concert Hall in Wantagh. He interacted with the crowd well, and his baritone vocals were warm and rich. His show garnered 5 out of 5 stars.
