Morgan Wallen kicked off a trio of sold-out shows at Nissan Stadium in Nashville on Thursday evening (May 2) with an explosive, Entertainer of The Year-worthy performance that was nothing short of a visually stunning spectacular. The show serves as the first of three shows in Music City on Wallen’s One Night At A Time World Tour.
As the crowd buzzed with anticipation and Wallen’s viral hit “Broadway Girls” flooded the stadium speakers, the massive screens filling the stage showed a live video of the 30-year-old singer/songwriter making his way to the stage accompanied by his friends, comedian Theo Von and Tennessee Titans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins.
Exploded Onto The Stage To “Ain’t That Some”
Upon arriving to the stage, the video faded to black, and a wooden wall complete with his initials (MW) appeared center stage. Wallen then exploded onto the stage, breaking through a wooden barrier to the fan-favorite tune “Ain’t That Some,” a fitting entrance for an award-winning country superstar and one of the most epic entrances to the stage that fans have ever witnessed.
“Nashville, what’s going on baby! It feels good to be home, man! I really appreciate that warm welcome…” Wallen told the capacity crowd. ”Me and the boys, we’ve had this one circled on the calendar for a long time. This is a special show for us. We got a bunch of family, a bunch of friends and people who worked with us for a very long time in order to make something like this happen. So thank you very much for being here. It’s an honor and a privilege to be singing in Nashville, Tennessee tonight.”
He then took a moment to salute his tour crew for their hard work and dedication to making his show what it is.
Delivered Captivating 25-Song Set In Nashville
Backed by a stellar live band, composed of Mark Taco Annino (Drums), Luke Cowboy Rice (Bass/Guitar), Tyler Tomlinson (Guitar), Dominic Frost (Guitar/Vocals), Tony Aichele (Utility) and Chris Gladden (Utility), Wallen effortlessly powered through an impressive 25-song set, showcasing his ability to captivate an audience with his undeniable charm, vocal talent and electrifying stage presence.
The set list took fans on a journey of Wallen’s catalog of hits and included songs from his debut studio album, If I Know Me, as well as his record-breaking second and third studio albums, Dangerous: The Double Album and One Thing At A Time, respectively.
A vast majority of Wallen’s set featured songs from his record-breaking third studio album, One Thing At A Time, where the tour takes its namesake, including “Ain’t That Some,” “I Wrote The Book,” “One Thing At A Time,” “Everything I Love,” “You Proof,” “Thought You Should Know,” “Sunrise,” “Thinkin’ Bout Me,” “‘98 Braves,” “Whiskey Friends,” “Last Night,” “Man Made A Bar (sans Eric Church),” and “Cowgirls.”
Held Nearly 70,000 Fans In The Palm Of His Hands
Wallen had the crowd of nearly 70,000 fans in the palm of his hands throughout the duration of his set, and each song prompted a massive sing-along.
At one point during the show, the East Tennessee native ventured through the crowd to a b-stage in the back of the stadium to create a more intimate setting, reminiscent of the earlier days of his career when he was playing in bars and clubs.
“One of the things I miss about those days is I could walk into a building and I could look at pretty much every single person in the room in their eyes when I was singing. So, this is just my attempt to at least try to recreate some of that and try to get some of that feeling back from that day when we were playing those smaller places. I just wanted to come back here and tell you thank you for being here, it means a lot to me.”
On the b-stage, Wallen delivered a four-song performance that included the fan-favorite “Cover Me Up,” a tribute to his mother, Lesli, with “Thought You Should Know,” “Sand In My Boots,” and an unreleased new song “Lies Lies Lies.”
Unbreakable Bond With His Fans
The sold-out crowd, full of some of Wallen’s most diehard fans, proved their loyalty to the singer when they sang along to every word to “Lies Lies Lies,” an unreleased tune that Wallen teased on social media and shared an acoustic video performance of as part of his Abbey Road Sessions series.
The unbreakable bond that Wallen shares with his fans was prominently displayed throughout his 2-hour set, as he made sure to engage with them with every opportunity he got. From taking selfies and granting the wish of a fan who beat cancer, to signing autographs and acknowledging signs that fans made, Wallen made sure to let fans know how grateful he is for their support with heartfelt interactions. He also recognized those in the crowd proudly donning his tour and exclusive Field & Stream merch by pointing them out as well as making heart gestures in response to fans, further showcasing the strong connection he shares with his loyal fan base.
Another highlight of Wallen’s set was the collaborations. The current ACM Entertainer of The Year nominee joined forces with Bailey Zimmerman and ERNEST for performances of “Up Down” and “Cowgirls,” respectively.
Jaw-Dropping Production That Rivals Even Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour
The One Night At A Time Tour production was a force to be reckoned with and featured breathtaking 3D visuals, pyrotechnics, lasers, a dazzling light show and a massive stage that extended to the 50-yard line with an MW-shaped catwalk. It even included several aspects that paid tribute to his Tennessee roots with baseball flags from his high school, bleachers (a nod to his days as a baseball player), and a replica of his late Mamaw Boots’ house (which also appears on his One Thing At A Time album art).
The show’s jaw-dropping production was on par with the biggest names in music, rivaling even Taylor Swift’s critically acclaimed Eras Tour.
Overall, Morgan Wallen’s One Night At A Time World Tour is more than just a concert, but an experience that will stay with fans for many years to come. Without a doubt, the concert ranks among the best concerts that fans will be able to experience on the road this summer.
The trek will visit stadiums through August 2024. Visit MorganWallen.com for tickets and details on his upcoming tour dates.
