Even the weekend warriors looked weary, but Brad Paisley's Saturday night show was good for the soul after what was a difficult week for most of us in Florida. Paisley even mentioned thinking the show would have to be rescheduled, but thousands still packed the venue where the 44-year-old dedicated his song “The Perfect Storm” to all the ladies not named Irma.
Openers Lindsey Ell, Chase Bryant and Dustin Lynch all had the energetic crowd screaming, and Bryant acknowledged the difficult week most Floridians endured by proclaiming, “Irma didn’t kick your ass, you kicked hers.”
Paisley kept that party vibe going after a video board provided a glimpse of his past (an old driver’s license, graduation pictures, plus what appeared to be a school-aged Paisley dancing during prom) while his chest — covered by a Metallica 1987 European tour t-shirt — nodded at the old days, too. Hell, the cowboy even tipped his hat to the servicemen and women in the crowd by inviting some of them to receive a standing ovation (and a beer from the bar onstage).
The charity didn't end there, either, as one lucky boy in the audience was presented with the guitar off Paisley’s back.
"Learn to play it,” he told the kid, “I’ll be back in 10 years to open for you.”
The concert last night was exactly what country music fans in central Florida needed. No doubt some of the individuals last night are still without power, and most likely suffered some kind of loss in the wake of Hurricane Irma. However, last night everyone in attendance was able to put worries aside and enjoy a few hours of solid entertainment.
Just as Ell, Bryant, Lynch and Paisley thanked the fans throughout the night, we thank them for providing a few hours to take our minds off the reality of rebuilding our post-Irma lives.
