After a six-month hiatus, Trace Adkins returned to the stage with a full-force set that turned the Starland Ballroom into a downright honky tonk last night (June 5) in Sayreville, NJ. It was the first performance of his summer tour and the consummate entertainer was greeted by a massive roar from the crowd, prompting Adkins to hit the gas on a rockin’ night of big grins, hits, and new material. In his first show after his own personal setbacks, he acknowledged how happy he was to be back.
“It’s good to be back on the road. That’s what we do. That’s my life. I’d die if I’m not on the road,” said Trace, taking his hat off to the crowd.
He acknowledged his gratitude and the fans gave it right back when they stole the first chorus of “You’re Gonna Miss This.” The surprised singer and his band simply supplied the music as the crowd belted the lyrics on their own.
For the first time, he performed his new opposites-attract ode, “It All Adds Up To Us.” He told the crowd, “I’m having a good time! I’m not gonna tell you all my secrets tonight but I’ve been writing and have a new album coming out soon.” He laughed when promising, “I’m gonna space out the new songs, so you don’t get p#ss@d at me!”
Emotional moments didn’t get in the way of Adkins giving the audience a true-to-form rockin’, stompin’ set of both heart-wringers and tongue-in-cheek, sly-dog hits.
He warned fans, “I try to be decent…but don’t feel like being decent tonight,” as he launched into the naughty new “Maintenance Man.”
As promised, Trace circled back to catalogue cuts from his expansive career, saying “I’ve gone back and picked some favorite album cuts. If you listen to those albums, some of the songs that never ended up on the radio…those songs are who I am.”
With that, he introduced “Girl in Texas,” a song celebrating its 20th anniversary. Adkins said he wrote it right after moving to Nashville. “It’s the first song I ever wrote that was worth anything. It was a true story. You gotta write what’s true. This has become my favorite new old song.”
Other hits included “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk,” Every Light In the House,” “Ladies Love Country Boys,” “Chrome,” and he closed the show with another new, soon-to-be fan favorite, “Take It From Me.”
With a celebratory bow, Trace channeled King Kong when he beat his chest, threw his arms up, basking in applause and headed out to hit the road once again.
This weekend, Trace will perform at the Sherman Theater Summer Stage at Mt. Airy Casino Resort in Mt.Pocono, PA (Friday) and The Concert Venue at Harrah’s Atlantic City in Atlantic City, NJ (Saturday). He is backed by his band, the Sarepta Gentlemen’s Club, Wayne Addleman (steel guitar, guitars), Jon Coleman (keyboards), Mark Gillespie (guitars), John Richardson (drums), Brian Wooten (guitars), and session ace Mike Brignardello (bass).
2014 Summer Tour Dates & Venues
6/06 Mt.Pocono, PA Sherman Theater Summer Stage at Mt. Airy Casino Resort
6/07 Atlantic City, NJ The Concert Venue at Harrah’s Atlantic City
6/13 Niagara Falls, NY Seneca Niagara Casino Theatre
6/14 Fredericton, NB Countryfest
6/20 Biloxi, MS Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
6/21 Baton Rouge, LA Dixie Landin’ Summer Concert Series
7/05 Sarepta, LA Muddy Bottoms ATV & Recreation Park
7/13 Sault Ste Marie, MI Kewadin Casino
7/18 Sloan, IA Riverfest 2014 – WinnaVegas Casino & Resort
7/19 Prior Lake, MN Lakefront Music Fest
7/20 Peoria, IL Country Life Music Festival
7/23 Helena, MT Last Chance Stampede
7/24 Boise, ID Eagle River Pavilion
7/25 Eugene, OR Lane Country Fair
7/26 Wendover, NV Peppermill Concert Hall
8/01 Huntington, NY Paramount
8/02 Cohasset, MA South Shore Music Circus
8/03 Hyannis, MA Cape Cod Melody Tent
8/07 Clear Lake, IA Surf Ballroom
8/08 Ft Wayne, IN Headwaters Park
8/09 Washington, MO Washington Town & Country Fair
8/11 Beaver Creek, CO Vilar Performing Arts Center
8/12 Douglas, WY Wyoming State Fair
8/15 Mahnomen, MN Shooting Star Casino
8/16 Thunder Bay, ON Thunder Bay Community Auditorium
8/27 Woodstock, VA Shenandoah County Fair
8/28 Cincinnati, OH Horseshoe Casino
8/29 Elkhorn, WI Walworth County Fair
8/31 Nichols, NY Tioga Downs Grandstand
9/06 Hot Springs, AR Hot Springs Rally
9/26 Rohner Park, CA Weill Hall
(Photo Credit: Mark R. Sullivan/markrsullivan.com)
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