Kenny - Indianapolis - Lucas Oil Stadium

[brown_eyed_girl]

Here is the review from the Indy Star. I ended up getting tickets very last minute on Friday. I had not planned on going, but with it being his last concert for awhile I changed my mind. I was glad I did. There were no surprises of Payton Manning or other unexpected guests that I had hoped to see, but it was a good concert neverless.

Indy Star article************* ******************** ****
When Kenny Chesney's fans sang an a cappella chorus of "Anything But Mine" at Lucas Oil Stadium on Saturday night, his stubborn desire to play America's biggest concert venues made perfect sense.
The surging energy of 50,000 people is powerful stuff, and an experience Indianapolis didn't quite have when Chesney's 2008 tour visited the NFL stadium.


A closed roof and unforgiving walls and windows made last year's sound mix a literal headache, leaving many attendees out of the bigger-is-better loop.
But concert promoter Louis Messina made good on his promise of a dynamite do-over. Mother Nature allowed the roof to be open during the Zac Brown Band's 4 p.m. performance through Chesney's final encore, and curtains hung from the front to the back of the building translated into acoustics that ranged from tolerable to great.
Only slight echoes could be heard on the stadium's floor and 100-level seats. A pristine mix graced the mid-level 300 and 400 sections.
And the top-of-the-world 600s? You didn't get a video feed that matched the audio for your bargain ticket, but the chorus of Montgomery Gentry's "Hell Yeah" was comprehensible up there.
Familiar songs were easy to follow. Thankfully, Chesney has no shortage of hits.
Most rolled out in recursive loops of lyrics focused on nostalgia, tropical fun and landlocked fun.
Yet amid "Live Those Songs," "When the Sun Goes Down," "Summertime," "I Go Back," "Beer in Mexico" and "Keg in the Closet," Chesney carved out a serious streak with love/parenthood songs "Anything But Mine," "Down the Road," "Me and You" and "There Goes My Life."
Chesney's most personal moment arrived with show-closer "Better As a Memory," an emotional challenge he nearly lost -- perhaps because he's announced there will be no blockbuster summer tour in 2010.
His latest hit, "Out Last Night," stands apart from many of his formulaic anthems thanks to a relaxed pop arrangement that Neil Diamond could have crafted in the 1960s. It's an achievement worth building on.

[politowski5]

I really loved the concert from start to finish-
My husband on the other hand thought Kenny seemed off- tired, burned out.... He didn't feel he connected to the audience like usual. He also thinks when Kenny broke down at the end was ridiculous- he thinks he should have to surrender his man card. I must say that is what all the men were saying in the crowd as we were walking back to the hotel. I thought it was touching.
It is true though that he didn't just get chocked up- he was totally balling the whole sing and really only sang about 3-4 lines of the song Better as a Memory. He had tears pouring down his face- he was VERY emotional!

[laurajo521]

I wasn't there, but I have gotten some reports from the front lines. I know why Kenny is taking a year off (at least), and I completely and totally respect him for it. He deserves some time off to rest and reconnect.

I know some people thinks it's silly and ridiculous that he got so upset over this being the last show, but those people need to remember that since probably 1994 or so, Kenny has been on the road pretty much non-stop. He doesn't really know what else to do. And he seems to be an adrenaline junkie, I think he feeds off the crowds every night.

From what I heard, it was a pretty somber and emotional mood for everyone. Some of these folks have been out there since before that first headlining tour almost 10 years ago.

Anyhow, I'm sure his tears were real. He's always been kind of an emotional guy, so I'm not really surprised.

[politowski5]

I thought it was emotional and touching- but you know somw guys just don't get into crying.... like it is a man thing or something :)

So, are you going to tell us the real reason he is taking time away? It sounds like from your post it could be more than a year?

[laurajo521]

Oh, what he said is true. He's taking some time off to rest and regroup and be creative again. He has said a million times that he can't write good songs on the bus, and we've all sat here and wondered about the quality of his last few albums (although I love the Lucky Old Sun album). So, this gives him time to spend with family and friends and maybe go to the islands and write a few new songs. Figure out what's next. Who knows with him?

I have a feeling that after taking a year off his currency will be somewhat diminished. If he tours again, I don't think we'll see the all-summer-long, rock-star stadium shows that we've seen the last few years. I think he'll be doing a lot less shows in a lot smaller venues.

But he seems to already be missing it, so who knows what the future holds. I just have a feeling when he comes back, it will look totally different. I kind of wonder if he'll just be like Garth and do things on his terms.

[politowski5]

From what I saw in Indy- he is tired, but seemed to love the crowd and the interaction.... it seemed like he was really struggling with his decision to not tour next year at the end, so maybe a year will be all he needs.

[Ronnie]

Why is it that some guys think it is such a bad thing or unmanly thing to show emotions. To me it actually shows they do have feelings besides that it is sooooooooooooooooooo oooooo unhealthy for anyone to hold in their feelings.

[politowski5]

I agree- i thought it was touching, of course my husband thought it was un-manly....

[KristynI]

I too got last minute free tickets to the Indy show and was glad i went. Personally, the memory of him losing it during the final song has been rolling around in my head since Saturday. It seemed as if it was a really difficult decision for him to make, and i couldn't help but walk away feeling like it was something he felt he had to do, but wasn't really ready to do. Many of the people walking out were talking about this decision and how he was Saturday and all sorts of discussions about what brought upon this decision: health, family health, marriage, etc.

Personally, i thought it was one of the best shows of his i had been to. Even though he seemed tired, you could feel that he really wanted to cherish that last concert and he gave it all he had.

Laura, i happened to be at one of Garth's final concerts as well, and felt the same way. It made me wonder if Kenny was going to be more like Garth in the future.

[politowski5]

I thought Kenny gave it all he had too- he just seemed to spend a little more time watching the crowd, kind of taking it all in then usually.

I must admit, selfishly I was hoping it would become one of those concerts where he just keeps on singing and singing because he wasn't ready for it to be over (it sounds like thats how indy was last year) but he wasn't in that "party" mood- he seemed much more emotional and resigned to be done- and there was really nothing different than the other shows he did this summer.

I think Kenny is great in concert- I have never been disappointed by one of his shows and I thiught this one was great as well....

[sanpedro63]

I'm glad to hear you guys had a great time. Po guy cried. Too sweet.

I'm sure Kenny will be back in some way, shape or form in the near future. Should be interesting to see what he's doing. There's a lot of new competition out there and by pulling back a bit, he can hold onto what he has. There's nothing better than leaving while you're at the top.

[cad]

I watched several of the Better As a Memory Indy videos on YouTube (Sorry Kenny, you may hate it, but you don't play everywhere and it does), I came away from watching them with the feeling he doesn't believe he'll tour like that again and he was only going to be a memory. It felt more like I'll never be here again.

I'd say if he is truly wanting something different, he's got the chance now to spend the time on an album without tours, schedules, interviews pulling him in 8 directions while he's trying to work on an album. If he's out to stretch the box borders of music, tour concepts, performance, then rest and stretch it. If it's expense of massive tour versus return, then there's way to figure how to cut down the costs. But if he's listening to the music city rumblings of past it or new era of bublegum country bull, and that's what prompted the no tour, then I'd say he should plant his butt on the cushion on his boat bow, listen to All I Need To Know and think of who bought tickets, cds, shirts, hats, posters, DVDs and put him as top tour act. Music City and those power pushers didn't put the smiles on a million faces in front of him a year and the millions more who only had YouTube, cds and never got to a concert.

[laurajo521]

I think if Kenny returns to touring (yes, I said "if") that it will be very scaled down. We won't ever see these big, giant shows like this again, although there are still rumblings of one last hurrah at Neyland at some point. Don't go booking plane tickets or anything, but I know that people are looking into it.

I think it is a combination of factors here. Nashville is changing, and Kenny is starting to look less like top dog everyday. I've always said he should go out on top like Garth Brooks did.

I think he's tired. I think he really feels like he's lost his creative focus and edge. I think for several years he's focused on these huge tours, and now he wants to focus on his music for a while, not to mention everything else he's neglected while he's been running 900 miles per minute.

I just feel bad because he made this decision very suddenly and the fans didn't really get any advance warning. Already here, I have heard many people say they would've gone if they realized that it was going to be the last tour for at least a year. And some of you all have seen him live but never got to experience of of the big "rock star" shows, and I just don't think there are many of those in his future, even if he does start touring again.

I know he already misses it. I am not sure if he can make it through a whole summer without hearing the thunder of the crowd and seeing the thousands of fans in front of him. That is a special time and place for him. But I'm sure if he changes his mind, we'll all be there when he does.

No one knows what the future holds for anyone, but I'm sure he'll be OK with whatever he does, because he puts 110% into everything that he does.

[politowski5]

I hope he gets his creative juices flowing again and puts out a killer album.... which will put him back on top and he will want to do stadiums again and people will want to fill them. His concert is not just a concert, but an event- in Cleveland, the parking lot is packed by 9am and it is just one big party all day.

Who is going to take over for him- Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus, and Carrie underwood?.... not paying to see any of them in concert :)

[cad]

We know he's booked two festivals for 2010 anyway, so he'll have two shows to hear the thunder.

[flybaby014563]

I was there and I don't remember the roof being closed at all. It actually got pretty hot in there.

[terrib]

Originally Posted by laurajo521

I think if Kenny returns to touring (yes, I said "if") that it will be very scaled down. We won't ever see these big, giant shows like this again, although there are still rumblings of one last hurrah at Neyland at some point. Don't go booking plane tickets or anything, but I know that people are looking into it.

I think it is a combination of factors here. Nashville is changing, and Kenny is starting to look less like top dog everyday. I've always said he should go out on top like Garth Brooks did.

I think he's tired. I think he really feels like he's lost his creative focus and edge. I think for several years he's focused on these huge tours, and now he wants to focus on his music for a while, not to mention everything else he's neglected while he's been running 900 miles per minute.

I just feel bad because he made this decision very suddenly and the fans didn't really get any advance warning. Already here, I have heard many people say they would've gone if they realized that it was going to be the last tour for at least a year. And some of you all have seen him live but never got to experience of of the big "rock star" shows, and I just don't think there are many of those in his future, even if he does start touring again.

I know he already misses it. I am not sure if he can make it through a whole summer without hearing the thunder of the crowd and seeing the thousands of fans in front of him. That is a special time and place for him. But I'm sure if he changes his mind, we'll all be there when he does.

No one knows what the future holds for anyone, but I'm sure he'll be OK with whatever he does, because he puts 110% into everything that he does.

Laura, I know that you are a writer, but that was a VERY nice post.

[laurajo521]

Thanks, maybe I need to dive into my writing a little more these days. Keep myself busy.

[gina43143]

This might be a stupid question and I apologize if it is!! But what happens to all the people who work for Kenny???? Our they now unemployed or is he going to continue to pay them until he decides to tour again if he does.