Luke Bryan Brought a Country Party to a Sold-Out Crowd in Saint Louis Saturday

 

–by Sean Derrick

 

Country superstar Luke Bryan made a stop in the Gateway City and thew a party for 20,000 of his fans at Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre in Maryland Heights on a pleasant Saturday night.

Bryan, a country megastar and American Idol judge since 2017, is known for his electric live shows with his winning persona that wins over the ladies’ hearts and guys’ envy. It also doesn’t hurt that he has a treasure trove of material laden with catchy hooks and choruses that fans of other genre’s can get into.

The 47-year-old is returning to co-host this year’s CMA Awards with Peyton Manning in November is not just sitting on his laurels. He released a new single “But I Got a Beer in My Hand”, a preview of a new album to come, and performed it for the excited crowd.

Bryan has his hands in several endeavors, from his own label: 32 Bridge Entertainment, his own multi-level mega entertainment facility in Nashville called Luke’s32 Bridge Food + Drink and is about to drop his 2nd collaboration with Fendt tractors with a sale of peanuts August 30 at Noon EST at boldlygrowngoods.com.  A portion of the proceeds will go to the National Future Farmers of America Organization.

But music has always been his first passion. And on Saturday he brought the crowd to their feet with the first banjo notes of “Kick the Dust Up” and they would stay there for the next 2 hours.

Warming up the crowd fell to a trio of artists, and first on the list was Tyler Braden, a former firefighter from Montgomery, AL who mesmerized the crowd with his soulful gritty vocals. His quick (25 minute) set included his powerful ballad “Try Losing One”.

Conner Smith was up next. The 22-year-old from southeast Missouri had family in the crowd and donned one of his four Cardinal jerseys he dons for every show. This night he was repping his favorite team with a Yadier Molina cream Saturday home jersey. (Good choice)

The handsome kid with the healthy hair drew swoons from the ladies with his boyish charm and high energy performance, especially on “I Hate Alabama” and the infectious “Creek Will Rise”.

Jon Langston, the first artist to sign with 32 Bridge Entertainment rounded out the support acts with a solid 25 minute set.

The three were brought back onstage to help Luke Bryan sing “Buy Dirt”, the massively popular collaboration between him and Jordan Davis.

Staying put for most of the show at the edge of the runway that jutted out from center stage Bryan was in fine vocal form, cruising through hits like “All My Friends Say”, “Play It Again”, and “Country Girl (Shake It for Me)” without any discernable effects from an ailment he had which forced him to reschedule a few shows earlier in the month.

His attitude and goofy persona were on full display as he strutted, swayed, and joked with the crowd. At one point he even did some animated stretching after asking the crowd if they were ready to rock as the opening bass lines to Aerosmith’s “Sweet Emotion” filled the air. Bryan provided the first verse before taking a break to sign autographs while the band kept playing and the crowd kept singing.

It wasn’t the only rock song Bryan delved into as he touched on a bit of  Metallica’s “Sad But True” before closing the night with “That’s My Kind of Night”. I also loved at the end of the final chords of “That’s My Kind of Night” where the band ended with the final 6 notes of “Sad But True”. Throw the horns up! (Though I am not sure how many in the crowd caught that haha)

It was a terrific show from the 5-time Entertainer of the Year Award winner.

Be sure to check out the rest of the photo gallery after the setlist below.

 

Luke Bryan Setlist:

Kick the Dust Up

Knockin’ Boots

Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye

What Makes You Country

But I Got a Beer in My Hand

What She Wants Tonight

Huntin’, Fishin’ and Lovin’ Every Day

Sunrise, Sunburn, Sunset

Games

Country On

Down to One

All My Friends Say

Light It Up

Strip It Down

Drunk on You

Crash My Party

Drink a Beer

Buy Dirt (Jordan Davis cover) (joined by Tyler Baden, Conner Smith, and Jon Langston)

Sweet Emotion (Aerosmith cover) (1st verse)

One Margarita

Rain Is a Good Thing

I Don’t Want This Night to End

Country Girl (Shake It for Me)

Play It Again

Encore:

Sad But True (Metallica cover) (1st line)

That’s My Kind of Night