Jeans, flannels, and cowboy hats; there is no style like southern style. Country music fans flocked to Darien Lake Friday night for Darius Rucker’s Southern Style tour. The crowd “fell in love with the beat of the music” when Brett Eldredge performed a set that was worthy of a co-headlining slot rather than simply an opener.
Darius hit the stage around 9:00 PM playing to an audience that was still in good spirits from opening act Brett Eldredge. Rucker was ready to have some fun as he told the crowd “you guys are always good for a good time.” The former member of Hootie and the Blowfish took time to thank country music radio for giving him a new life before playing a crowd favorite “Radio.” While grateful for his new start, Rucker often stopped to pay homage to his past. At one point the singer told the crowd he was going “to take it back in time,” leading to multiple fans screaming “HOOTIE” as he segued into Hootie and the Blowfish’s “Time.” As the night progressed Rucker reminded fans that he is not just a summation of his past, when he yelled to the audience “My name is Darius Rucker and this is my band and we play country music!” However, as the show went on Rucker displayed his versatility covering Tim McGraw’s “Back When” and Blackstreet’s “No Diggity.”
Throughout the night Darius Rucker made it quite clear that he is a jack of all trades musically. After a sassy performance of “No Diggity,” Rucker and his band came together at the front of the stage to give an emotional rendition of “It Won’t Be Like This For Long.” Acknowledging the influence his music has, Rucker thanked couples who used his songs during their weddings for allowing him to be part of such a special day. It’s clear that everything Darius does is for the benefit of his fans. As the night wore on it was clear Rucker was a bit tired but made a full effort to put on the best show possible for his fans. He continued to dance around and sing his songs with a commitment that showed just how much he loves performing. As the show was coming to a close, Rucker was joined on stage by his opening acts as they sang “Hold My Hand,” allowing each act to take a verse and put their own spin on it. The show ended with one of Rucker’s hits “Homegrown Honey,” and a two song encore “So I Sang” and “Wagon Wheel” by Old Crow Medicine Show.
The Southern Style tour acts a comprehensive look at Darius Rucker’s career through the old, the new, and the out of the blue covers that you didn’t know you were missing before you heard them. For Hootie and the Blowfish and Rucker fans alike, this show never skipped a beat.
Setlist:
Lighter Up
This
Good For A Good
Time (Hootie & The Blowfish song)
Radio
Southern Style
Time
All I Want
Dont Think
Back When (Tim McGraw cover- medley)/ No Diggity (Blackstreet cover – Medley)
It Wont
History
Alright
Only Wanna
East Bound & Down (Jerry Reed cover)
Let Her Cry (Hootie & The Blowfish song)
Comeback Song
Hold My Hand (Hootie & The Blowfish song)
Homegrown Honey
Encore:
So I Sang
Wagon Wheel (Old Crow Medicine Show cover)
Photos by BackstageAxxess Correspondent Nick LoVerde.
We would like to thank Ashley Ball from Live Nation for her assistance in obtaining the credentials for BackstageAxxess to review the show.
