Author: Bridget Benevides
Love of country music is one of those things that a lot of people tend to keep hush hush. Millennials these days will say statements like “I listen to all kinds of music… EXCEPT COUNTRY.” Now, in all fairness, there are positives and negatives of all genres in music, but to write off an entire genre because it falls under the blanket term “country” is just silly. I went to the Showbox SoDo on Saturday, April 21st, to see my first ever country concert, though I have been a closeted fan of country for years. I saw Walker Hayes and Kelsea Ballerini and was pleasantly surprised with the quality performances I witnessed.
Walker Hayes opened for Kelsea Ballerini, starting the night promptly at 7:30 PM (I am a big fan of punctuality). He is a 38-year-old country artist, and honestly one of the most handsome men I have ever seen. He sang very literal and comical songs about simple things in life like shopping at the dollar store and his four-year-old son Beckett. He encouraged the crowd to get involved and told anecdotes about his life on the road, about his family and about the making of his music.
Kelsea Ballerini began her show with an audio clip that played loudly to the anticipating audience. She talked about love, loss, and finding oneself through hardship, and this, she said, is livingUnapologetically(the name of her latest album). She appeared on stage wearing many black sparkles and a big smile and was met with cheers from her adoring fans, many of whom were teenage or young girls, and even families! She began with songs she described as “sassy” which includes lyrics about ex boyfriends, and heartbreak. After the first two songs she told us she was singing the entire Unapologeticallyalbum, start to finish, so we could really understand the story and the emotions of her journey.
After an outfit change, and a minor technical difficulty where her shirt got caught in her hair, Kelsea bounded back on stage. She giggled from backstage but continued to sing her lyrics before saying, “I’m not gonna lie, y’all, but my hair is caught backstage” and then continued singing and dancing and laughing at herself. The next few songs were about finding yourself after heartbreak, and the importance of doing so. She regularly engaged with the crowd by crouching down to touch their hands and sing with them, which was a special touch especially knowing how excited many of her young fans were to be there.
The third stage of Unapologeticallywas about finding love again, even after Kelsea thought she never would. She is now engaged and head over heels in love, she said, so hearing her songs and knowing they were based off genuine and strong emotions was moving. Her lyrics were poetic without being hard to understand, and her vocals were clear, crisp and beautiful. She looked like she was having the time of her life. She told us how special Unapologeticallywas to her, and how it was really inspiring for her to see her fans there for her.
After she commenced the songs on the Unapologetically album, she sang her more notable songs like “Peter Pan”, “Love Me Like You Mean It”, and “Dibs”.
Kelsea Ballerini was a radiant performer and woman, and I respect her courage to create the art/album that she did. I think she can be a very influential and important role model to many young girls, with her strength and dedication to self-love.
You can connect with Kelsea Ballerini on her official website, here.
BRIDGET BENEVIDES | We were legends | KXSU Music Reporter