Brantley Gilbert at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Nebraska on October 3rd, 2023.
Photos and Review by The Pit Magazine Contributor, Bob DeHart Photography
I don’t get a chance very often to cover country artists, but was excited at the chance to be able to cover Brantley Gilbert. I definitely was not disappointed. It’s also safe to say that Mr. Gilbert is not the same country music that my grandfather listened to. He definitely fits more under the country/rock genre. As he took the stage in Lincoln, it was non-stop energy, showing why he is one of country music’s fastest rising stars.
It was a great mix of country and rock through out the evening and a few cover songs thrown in too. My favorite being the Kenny Wayne Shepard song Blue on Black. If you were watching a live stream of this show without any audio, you may have thought that it was an arena rock act flexing their muscles. There was plenty of pyro, smoke, and lights to give any rock band a run for their money. Pair that with high energy songs and a band that was running all over the stage, the crowd had plenty to cheer about. And make no mistake, even with the rock songs mixed in, Gilbert is a country artist first and foremost. Brantley Gilbert gave lots of shout outs to his “redneck friends” in attendance. It was awesome to watch and experience. Anytime you get buy in from a crowd like that, you know it’s a good show.
As far as the genre mixing, I have to say that I like it. Country music has never been my first choice when it comes to listening. I’m not a hater, I can appreciate that other people have different tastes than mine. I like the idea of an artist not having to be tied to one genre. Brantley Gilbert knows who is and what he likes. I imagine if you he like what he does he’d say that’s great. If you don’t, I don’t think he would care too much. Having a strong following doesn’t seem to be an issue for him. Overall, a great show with lots of different styles and songs and a great tribute to those are and have served in our armed services, with the song One Hell of an Amen. I know he has been the opening act for other top touring rock and roll acts. Initially, it seems like a gutsy move, after you see the show, not gutsy at all. It’s a great fit for sure.
Photos by The Pit Magazine photographer, Bob DeHart Photography in York, Nebraska. ©2023.
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