A sell-out crowd poured into the amphitheater at the Florida State Fairgrounds to watch Luke Bryan make it rain at his second-to-last Dirt Road Diaries tour stop.
Entering the amphitheater was like entering a completely different world with big curls, daisy dukes and cowboy boots as far as the eye could see. Beyond these generic conventions was the true spirit of country music—everyone was in high spirits and ready to watch Luke Bryan turn Tampa into Suntan City.
Regardless of Thompson Square’s absence, Florida Georgia Line’s catchy songs and crowd-engaging personalities created the perfect atmosphere and pumped up the crowed for Luke Bryan’s set. Their well-loved hit “Cruise” had the crowd screaming at the top of its lungs.
Despite the excitement created by Florida Georgia Line, nothing could have prepared the audience for when the lights dimmed. Deafening yells accompanied the opening notes of “Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye” as Luke Bryan slowly surfaced to the stage.
Those initial energy levels never dropped throughout the concert. The set list included upbeat foot-stompers such as “That’s My Kind of Night” and “I Don’t Want This Night to End.” Bryan incorporated his famous hip-swiveling moves, especially in “Country Girl (Shake It For Me).”
After establishing his slightly buzzed and partying cowboy front, Bryan proved his soft, sweet country boy side in gentler love songs like “Do I” and “Someone Else Calling You Baby.”
Bryan’s show achieved the trifecta: a killer setlist, charisma and crowd-engaging antics. But he didn’t stop there. His vocals were on point, and he further proved his musical talent by playing both the guitar and the piano.
Perhaps Bryan’s best achievement that night was the fact that he was completely invested in the audience. He wasn’t just viewing the audience as another sell-out city on his mega-tour; Bryan was committed to putting on a good time for the people who paid to come and see him.
After attending one of the Dirt Road Diaries shows, it’s easy to see why Luke Bryan was named the 2013 ACM Entertainer of the Year, and rightfully so. Regardless if you’re a fan of country music or not, you’re guaranteed to have a good time at Luke Bryan’s show, which at times feels more like a party than a concert. His own lyrics rang true—if you weren’t there to party, you really did pick the wrong Friday night.
