YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Jason Aldean came out punching Friday night with a surprising guitar-rock sound. The country star’s band kept up the heat for its full 90-minute set, even mixing in some synth-y beats and waves.
Aldean was the headliner for the first night of the Y-Live concerts at Youngstown State University’s Stambaugh Stadium.
It was his first appearance in Youngstown, and it was easy to see why the local crowd loved him. Heavy and crunchy riffs by his guitarist, Kurt Allison, hung in the air all night.
Allison’s solos were also aggressive and clean, and even the rhythm chords had a rock edge.
Aldean’s set featured several cuts from his new album, “Songs About Us.” Two of the singles, “Anytime Soon” and “Don’t Tell on Me,” rollick when taken from studio to stage.
The past hits were also there. Aldean donned an American flag for “Try That in a Small Town,” stirring “USA” chants. The content of the song’s 2023 video received backlash when it was released, and Aldean pushed back against his critics, saying their misperceptions were dangerous.
Aldean had the crowd singing verses of other earlier hits, including “Big Green Tractor” and “She’s Country,” and rocking out to “Whiskey Drink.”
His set was a sharp contrast from that of his old pal, Travis Tritt, who preceded him on the stage. Tritt delighted the old-school country fans in the house with songs like “The Whiskey Ain’t Working.”
Tritt’s set started under a rainbow that followed the final drops from a passing cloud. It got him talking about his own good fortune, including the success of his last album, “Set in Stone.” Released in 2021, it was his first album in 14 years.
Tritt said he was worried if his fans would like it – or if they even remembered him – but the album debuted at No. 4. He played the album’s single, “Smoke in a Bar,” a slow lament about the better days of the past.
New Location
Y-Live moved back to Stambaugh Stadium this year, and it seemed like the return of an old friend.
The west grandstand and floor-level seats were packed for both Aldean and Eric Church, who was the headliner Saturday. The combined attendance for both shows was over 30,000, reported promoter JAC Live, making it the largest crowd count ever for a Y-Live weekend
Wean Park was the site of the past three Y-Lives. While the stadium could offer no similar grassy expanse to move around in, its tight fit made for a different kind of festival aura.
If the first night of Y-Live was a rocker, the second night was more of a slow burn, with Church’s steadier pacing and meaningful lyrics.
The contrast was sharpened by his background singers, especially Joanna Cotten, who is an integral part of the show. She punched up Church’s low-end vocal delivery with her powerful wails.
His signature dark sunglasses in place, Church played his set with an acoustic guitar strapped across his shoulder – his nickname, “Chief,” emblazoned on the leather strap.
His last visit to Youngstown was in 2012, when he played at Covelli Centre. Since then, Church developed a fondness for the city and the people who built it – calling them “the most important people in America.”
The artist felt quite at home on his drive to Youngstown as he meandered through the countryside. The roadside businesses and one-stoplight towns prompted him to add “Round Here Buzz” to the set list. “I grew up in a really small town in North Carolina that reminded me a lot of this,” he said.
Church closed with “Springsteen,” with its nostalgia-laced lyrics about how a song can take you back to the time of your life when it was popular. It had an extra dose of special meaning, because of Springsteen’s connection to Youngstown.
Pictured at top: Jason Aldean performs at Stambaugh Stadium Friday night.