9/23/16
Kick. The. Dust. Up. Pam and I went to see Luke Bryan at the Forum. Luke Bryan is another of the modern country performers that we had never seen. It’s not that we do not like modern country, with its genre blending R&B and Hip Hop influences, it’s just that we prefer the last generation of country stars like Alan Jackson and George Strait, guys who wore cowboy hats instead of baseball hats facing backwards and played music with more traditional country influences like slide guitars, steel guitars and fiddles instead of ear splitting bass drums and driving beats.
When Pam asked me about seeing Luke Bryan, she mentioned two things that grabbed my attention. The show would be in the Forum and one of the opening acts would be Little Big Town. I love the remodeled Forum. I love its intimate size and awesome acoustics. I love Little Big Town. I do not know all of their music, but ever since I heard Karen Fairchild sing Girl Crush the first time on the radio, I have been hooked for life. In fact, Girl Crush, with its stripped down sound and twistedly unique lyrics, may be one of my top ten favorite songs.
I was aware of Luke Bryan. No country music fan could not be. He has been a top star for almost ten years, having released several albums and having earned a whole roomful of awards. I knew his music, though I have never purchased any of his songs, most likely because they contain sophomoric themes and lyrics that do not inspire me. I mean no self-respecting, well educated, sixty something professional living in West LA can really get inspired by lyrics like Country girl shake it for me, Kick the dust up, Huntin, fishin, lovin every day or Rain makes corn, Corn makes whiskey, Whiskey makes my baby feel a little frisky. I do not mean to imply that his songs are not well written, they are just a little too poppy for me. If I had my way, I would only listen to the county outlaws like Billy Joe Shaver, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson and David Allan Coe, with a generous dose of folky Americana singers like Robert Earl Keen, Joe Ely, The Old 97s and Pat Green thrown into the mix. But those guys are either too old to sing any more or they don’t come to LA very often. So if I want to see country music, I have to embrace change and listen to the current country stars.
Pam and I arrived at The Forum just as the opening act, Dustin Lynch, was about to start. I kn
ew we were in for a loud night when the pre-show music was playing so loud it hurt my ears. Dustin Lynch is not a big country star, but he has some great songs, including Cowboys and Angels, Small Town Boy Like Me, She Wants a Cowboy, and Seein’ Red. Modern songs that still sound country. And then there is She Cranks My Tractor with lyrics that rival those of Sugar, Sugar by the Archies. Despite the sparse crowd, Dustin played a high energy opening set. At times, though, I had to put my finger in my ear, it was just so damn loud. His performance has made fans out of Pam and me, even if he did look a little like Justin Bieber in a cowboy hat.
Little Big Town was the second act, and they were amazing. The quartet of lead singers, two male and two female, evoke memories of the Mamas and the Papas and Fleetwood Mac. And just like the Mamas and the Papas had Cass Elliot and Fleetwood Mac had Stevie Nicks, Little Big Town has Karen Fairchild, a gifted singer who blends in yet at the same time defines the group. Little Big Town is just fun to listen to. They are all musically amazing, and they did a great job delivering great songs, including Day Drinking, Pontoon, Little White Church, Boondocks, and The Chain, a Fleetwood Mac co
ver. Frankly, I heard and loved all those songs, but my interest soared once the first notes of Girl Crush filled the Forum. Girl Crush is a simple song musically. The instruments provide background sound at best. The song works because of the quality of its lead singer, Karen Fairchild. And she delivered the other night. I cannot tolerate singers that can only produce quality songs in the studio. The real test for me, is how they sound live. Karen Fairchild did not disappoint. She was amazing.
Then it was Luke time. As far as I was concerned, my night was already complete, so I really did not care if Luke Bryan put on a mediocre show or a great show. I was blown away, though, because Luke Bryan put on a great show. I mean a really great show. He was incredibly entertaining. He was unbelievably fun to watch. He sounded great. His songs are party songs, and he threw a great party. He swiveled his hips. Let me repeat that. He swiveled his hips. Not in a sexual way like Elvis, but, as Pam put it, in a teddy bear you want to cuddle sort of way. I interpreted that to be like Ted, the Seth Macfarlane character, though I doubt that is what she had in mind. And boy, did the women in the audience want to cuddle, and they outnumbered the men by a substantial margin. He sang for about two hours, and much to my chagrin, I spent most of that time standing. I really had no choice, as everyone around me was standing and every woman was dancing, including Pam. Of course everyone was singing, too. Even the guys. I learned that Luke Bryan can sing ballads. His mostly acoustic version of Drink A Beer, an homage to loved ones that have passed away, was my favorite song of his set.
I became a real Luke Bryan fan that night. So did Pam. We can’t wait to see him again.