CONCERT REVIEW: Thomas Rhett & Chris Lane

1|31|2015
Live At The Joe

Thomas Rhett & Chris Lane

Cotton Eyed Joe|| Knoxville TN

Prior to show…

I was lucky enough to be allowed exclusive access to Chris Lane's soundcheck a few hours prior to the big show. [and bring a cool TL inspired cookie cake. #TLlovesCL] 

It was cool to see just how much truly goes into setting the place up before a big show. I also loved being able to see Chris and his band on a more personal level. They share an incredible bond. After just a few minutes with them, you could tell they were much more than bandmates, they were brothers and friends.

Anyone who follows Chris Lane on social media will understand my excitement when I say these three words:
I  M E T   L O U!!!!!!!!!!!!
…and YES she is just as cute as she looks!!

And for those of you wondering who Lou is…read this and fall in love!! 

"This morning I was homeless and hungry. This afternoon I'm loved and cruising down the road on a big tour bus." 

#LouisianaLane #LouEasy #RescueLou

Chris Lane

Chris Lane has been one of the new artists on my radar for a while now. I had the chance to interview him [here] almost a year ago and I've been a HUGE fan ever since. When I found out he was coming to open for Thomas Rhett I literally jumped for joy. 
I'm willing to bet most of you all know Chris because of his single Broken Windshield View. I know that it had quite a bit of exposure here in Knoxville so I imagine y'all maybe jammed to the tune too without even realizing who the man behind the song was.

Chris Lane puts on an incredible show. I love the classic Chris songs and dancing along to Broken Windshield View, but I'm totally 'fangirling' over all the new tunes he's layin out.
This show made me even more excited for another EP/album!

This guy has an amazing heart and an incredible work ethic. Can't wait to see what the future holds for this guy!
Sidenote…Chris Lane looked pretty good in an orange TN shirt on stage. 
[even hours after we lost to Auburn]

Thomas Rhett

After Chris Lane got the crowd groovin' another artist took the stage.
Thomas Rhett. Ya ever heard of this dude? [if you say no, you live under a rock]

This was my first time seeing T Rhett headline and oh my goodness was it the greatest thing I've ever witnessed. 

First and foremost, is it even considered a bar concert if someone doesn't cover Friends In Low Places? 
Cause T Rhett checked that item off his concert list. 
And it kinda had me sayin' Garth who?
Seriously, the covers are worth starting the review with. We had Friends In Low Places obviously, but the highlight of the night for 99% of the crowd? Yeah, that'd be an Uptown Funk cover. With his fedora in place and his dance moves on point, T Rhett showed Bruno Mars what was up.

Favorite Performances /&/ Best Moment

We had a Parking Lot Party 
We talked about what to do with our hands.
We strived to get us some of 'that' 
And we considered what it would be like to throw back a can with the Man upstairs. 

While those performances blew me away, hearing the words "That Ain't My Truck" made my heart flutter and gave my belly butterflies. All my friends refer to me as the "90s queen". Seriously, was there anything better than the 90s? Anyway, Thomas's dad, Rhett Atkins, recorded this little ditty in '95 and it's constantly on repeat for me! Having T Rhett AND his dad sing that song on stage in my hometown really changed my life. I am currently still getting cold chills thinking about it. There's just something about hearing one of your current favorite artists sing a song with another artist whom you've loved for years and years. 
It just so happens that this time those artists are also father and son. 

[[quick recap]]

Thomas Rhett can do NO wrong in my book. 

Anyone who can give me chills, make me cry, and help me revive my love for 90's country deserves a sold out show…
THE BEST PART? 
I get to do it all over again this weekend.

Stay tuned...
T Rhett Round Two 
2|6|2015
Thomas Rhett & Chase Bryant
Cotton Eyed Joe || Knoxville TN

slideshow crowd photos provided by Q100.3 Country
header photo provided by Brad Parker edits made by The Tennessee Life

INTRODUCING EAR CANDY

WHAT YOUR EARS ARE LUSTING OVER

As a way to welcome in the NEW YEAR, I’ve racked my brain to find the dopest list of artists I truly believe in my soul will be taking 2k15 by storm.

Here’s to these artists. The one’s who produce that sound that make our ears yearn for more.

>>inhale the ear candy<<

 

So let’s call “dibs” on a new year full of amazing memories. “kiss me when I’m down” and let me “love you like that”. Get me in your old truck with that “broken windshield view” and dream for “wayfarer weather”. We’ll rock some “Levis” and some “hooker shoes” if we feel like it. It’s okay, no one will judge us. We’ll just “blame the whiskey”. Because at the end of the day, if we ain’t “hurtin’ in the morning” we ain’t feelin good enough tonight.

 

Yeah, “tell me” that just happened…

”boom”.

 

 

Tell Me || Jackie Lee

Boom || Cole Taylor

Dibs || Kelsea Ballerini

Hurtin’ In The Morning || Dylan Scott

Hooker Shoes || John King

Love You Like That || Canaan Smith

Broken Windshield View || Chris Lane

Blame The Whiskey || Carly Pearce

LEVI’s || Ryan Griffin

Wayfare Weather || Chase Bryant

Kiss Me When I’m Down || Ryan Kinder

 

 WELCOME TO 2K15...THE YEAR THESE ARTISTS TAKE OVER.
HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM THE TENNESSEE LIFE!

 

VENUE INTERVIEW: THE GIN

A little about the man behind The Gin:

My name is J.D. Groover. I’m 28 and I’m from a little town called Kingsland, GA that resides in Camden County, GA. I went to school at Valdosta State University. Worked at the famous Flip Flops! That’s where i learned the business and my love of music grew. A typical day for me is always different. Different days bring up different things. I do more than unlock a door though!!

T H E    G I N

Location:

Tifton || Georgia

When did your venue open and how did it come to happen?

I opened The Gin in March of 2010. It was my first business venture on its own. I noticed while living in Valdosta, Ga that a lot of people from Tifton, Ga would drive 45 minutes down to party. I knew there was a college there called ABAC and it always amused me they would drive. The thought hit that they must not have anywhere to go or anything to do. I took a scouting trip up here and that was very evident that it was a sleepy little town. I knew if 100 people were driving every weekend 45 mins to party that there were way more who didn’t want to drive, so I came to them!

Describe your venue/bar in three words.

We have a saying “ The Gin always Wins” so “It always wins” This place can take down professional drinkers. Ask Cole Taylor. hahaha

You have been labeled the number one nightlife establishment in South Georgia. What sets your venue apart from others?
I think it’s a couple of things. We have grown as the town has grown. Some people come in drop a lot of money and flop in the bar business. We catered and grew. I always say Tifton and I grew together. Haha. In this part of the state no one offers the entertainment or can throw a party consistently like we do. We take pride in our service to our customers. Also, ask anyone who has played my venue we take care of them. My job is to not only keeping customers happy but also staff and entertainers. You keep the entertainers happy they wanna come back again and again and give it their all!

Big names in country music like Florida Georgia Line, Sam Hunt, Chase Rice, and Cole Swindell have graced the stages of The Gin. How did you build relationships with them and attract them to Tifton?

This is one of the questions i get all the time! Our track record is unbelievable and
i work hard at it. I do listen to some mainstream people but i try to stay ahead of the curve. We took a chance on FGL. Paid them 700 dollars and then two weeks later Cruise is on the radio. The following Friday, Parmalee. Then it seemed like everyone on XM radio thought we were a good luck charm. I work hard. I study hard and sometimes i get lucky. Now with Cole, me and him go back for years so that was an easy one. He actually played my place a couple time’s acoustic just to get out of Nashville before he was big. I wish i could list all the people, but it would take forever!

What moment in the time you’ve been open has been your favorite?

It’s really hard to choose. For a while, I would have told you that it was the 2 year anniversary party. There was a guy in the bar that told me when we first got open that we have a cool place but it wouldn’t last 3 months and I kinda got drunk on the mic and told that story and popped a bottle of champagne. But now its when artist from XM come and already know me and know the gin and tell me they wanted to play here for awhile and they respect my reputation in Nashville. Gives me Chills.

Busiest night/largest crowd?

Hands Down Feb 15th 2014. Sam Hunt. A lot went to pushing that show. He was still a “nobody” but I seen it coming. I had seen it October 2013. I pushed that show like no other and it took off and so did he.

With the calendar year coming to a close, what can we expect fro 2015 from The Gin?


Man we have a lot in store. Old Dominon. Adam Sanders. Dylan Scott. Canaan Smith. Chris Lane. Joey Hyde. John King. Ricky Young. And a few of the usual suspects Cole Taylor. Jon Langston, Jordan Rager, Travis Denning, Highway 55, Ray Fulcher and many many more! Make sure to follow us on twitter and instagram at @thegintifton and on Facebook at GIN TIFTON!

C O N N E C T

TWITTER || FACEBOOK || INSTAGRAM 

What I'm Listening To Wednesday: Broken Windshield View

{BROKEN WINDSHIELD VIEW}
CHRIS LANE

It's summer! It's beach season! It's time for the perfect June/July playlist! What song is on the top of my list? Broken Windshield View by Chris Lane!

This is a HUGE new single for Chris! It is SO relatable and SO southern. This is a song I could see everyone in my little hometown jamming to on the lake, down a little backroad, or while sitting around a bonfire. 
If you love country music then you will love Chris Lane and his new single Broken Windshield View. 

Preview this single here and purchase it on iTunes!

{LYRICS}

I grew up here where there ain’t much blacktop

The headlights on the interstate don’t stop

Any man worth his weight plows a straight row

And all the money is the grain in the silo

And there’s just enough home grown pretty girls

Growin’ up around here that like to sip cold beer

It’s a blink and you miss it kind of town

The kind of place that makes the world go round

{CHORUS}

My wheels have rolled all this red dirt

My hands have got scars from the hard work

Me and my friends unwind on the outskirts

Our Friday nights might get a little black and blue

I’m out here ridin’ high on a lift kit

I see the world through a crack where a rock hit

I am who I am I do what I do

Lookin’ at life from a broken windshield view

A truck bed’s got a half roll of barb wire

A bale of hay and a patched up spare tire

Cross on a chain hangin’ from a rearview

Fifth in a brown paper sack packin’eighty proof

Well sun droppin’ off into that cornfield

Thunderhead lightnin’ comin’ right behind it

These two lane roads ain’t paved in gold

Man flyin’ gravel’s all I know

{CHORUS}
My wheels have rolled all this red dirt

My hands have got scars from the hard work

Me and my friends unwind on the outskirts

Our Friday nights might get a little black and blue

I’m out here ridin’ high on a lift kit

I see the world through a crack where a rock hit

I am who I am I do what I do

Lookin’ at life from a broken windshield view

Yeah, c’mon

Yeah, It’s a blink and you miss it kind of town

The kind of place that makes the world go round

{CHORUS}
My wheels have rolled all this red dirt

My hands have got scars from the hard work

Me and my friends unwind on the outskirts

Our Friday nights might get a little black and blue

I’m out here ridin’ high on a lift kit

I see the world through a crack where a rock hit

I am who I am I do what I do

Lookin’ at life from a broken windshield view

I am who I am I do what I do

Lookin’ at life from a broken windshield view

From a broken windshield view

{CONNECT WITH CHRIS LANE}
Follow Him On Twitter: @iamchrislane
Like His Facebook Page: Chris Lane
Follow Him On Instagram:@iamchrislane 
Check Him Out On Youtube

And don't forget that you can get to know Chris Lane a little better RIGHT HERE ON MY BLOG! 
He was featured on a New Music Monday post here!