Kenny Chesney brings summer to Missouri
By Shawn Davis, Corner Post staff

After only 46 minutes, the 15,061-seat Mizzou Arena was sold out due to the hype surrounding the CMA entertainer of the year, Kenny Chesney. On April 2, Chesney lived up to that hype by putting on a great show for Mid-Missouri during his “Somewhere in the Sun Tour.”

The concert featured an hour and a half set by Chesney and the opening acts of Uncle Kracker and Gretchen Wilson. Uncle Kracker hit the stage as many people were still entering the arena. Although Uncle Kracker isn’t an act you would expect to see at a country music concert, he still put on a good show. He performed his two biggest hits: Follow Me and Drift Away.

Gretchen Wilson, who is receiving a lot of recognition and popularity for her first major label release “Here for the Party,” hit the stage next to a crowd that was ecstatic and excited to hear her perform. With the backing of her band, she performed the “in your face, bad girl” country that has gained her so much fame as well as some softer songs people might not have expected. Her style of country music is very similar to Chesney’s, and when she left the stage, there was a buzz of anticipation in the air for him to come on stage.

A big curtain was lifted over the stage after Wilson’s set to get Chesney’s stage ready. The crowd waited impatiently until the curtain dropped. When it did, the band started playing Chesney’s song Keg in the Closet, but he was nowhere on the stage. That’s when a swing propelled from the ceiling of the arena carrying him over the audience to the stage. Chesney continued with his fast paced songs playing such hits as She Got it All, I Go Back and Young. The energy Chesney brought to the stage with these songs was incredible. He sang clear, ran across the stage and involved the audience like few other country singers do. His energy and passion rivaled that of a rock star.

Chesney then decided to slow things down, by singing Old Blue Chair, an acoustic ballad off his new album, which really showed his love of life in the islands.

The break was over after he sang “Back Where I Come From.” This song really showed an effort to tie in the community to his show as a video played featuring shots of Columbia and Mizzou landmarks. The audience was filled with exhilaration during this portion of the show. It showed that he took the time to find something out about the community.

During When the Sun goes Down Uncle Kracker helped him out while wearing a Mizzou sweatshirt. During Big Star Wilson helped him out while sporting a Jimmy McKinney jersey. Things like that are why he is such a great performer.

Amidst all the hype and expectations, Kenny Chesney’s “Somewhere in the Sun” tour was a huge success. Mizzou Arena was great for a big concert, with great acoustics and great lighting. Two big video monitors were hung so people could see detail, and what was happening on stage. Chesney’s preparation and set list was amazing and his energy really helped the crowd get involved and have a great time. It is easy to see why Chesney is revered as the best performer in country music.

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