Music review: Kenny Chesney 鈥� 鈥楲ive in No Shoes Nation鈥�
There鈥檚 no doubt that Kenny Chesney knows how to throw a party. The country music megastar鈥檚 latest live album captures the heart-pounding excitement that is all part of attending a Chesney performance.
From Colorado鈥檚 Red Rocks to Foxborough鈥檚 Gillette Stadium and other various venues, 鈥淟ive in No Shoes Nation鈥� features 30 tracks recorded from a decade of touring. The album title refers to Chesney鈥檚 legion of dedicated fans committed to no shoes, no shirt and no problems as a daily practice.
The crowd is fired up and ready for a good time as the Tennessee native opens the festivities with a spirited version of 鈥淔lora-Bama鈥� from 2014鈥檚 鈥淭he Big Revival.鈥�
鈥淪ummertime鈥� follows as the crowd steps it up another notch by accompanying Chesney as he sings, 鈥淎nd it鈥檚 two bare feet on the dashboard/Young love and an old Ford/Cheap shades and a tattoo/And a Yoo-Hoo bottle on the floorboard.鈥� Yes, it is indeed summertime anywhere Chesney shows up.
The double-disc set contains wonderful moments of country music notables sharing the stage with Chesney. Appropriately, Taylor Swift is the first famous artist joining Chesney for a rousing performance of 鈥淏ig Star.鈥�
Other guest performances include Eric Church on 鈥淲hen I See This Bar,鈥� Mac McAnally with 鈥淒own the Road,鈥� Old Dominion serving up 鈥淪ave It for a Rainy Day,鈥� David Lee Murphy joining the party with 鈥淒ust on the Bottle,鈥� the Zac Brown Band helping with 鈥淓verybody Wants to Go to Heaven鈥� and Grace Potter gracing Chesney with her presence on a flawless performance of 鈥淵ou and Tequila.鈥�
For me, the high points come during a medley featuring Chesney covering Steve Miller鈥檚 鈥淭he Joker鈥� and Dave Matthews delivering Bob Marley鈥檚 鈥淭hree Little Birds鈥� from a show in Atlanta. Additionally, a haunting version of the Bruce Springsteen track 鈥淥ne Step Up鈥� released on Chesney鈥檚 2002 鈥淣o Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems鈥� is my personal favorite.
Since 2008鈥檚 鈥淟ucky Old Sun,鈥� Chesney has been channeling Jimmy Buffett and entertaining us with his signature style of carefree tracks detailing life as a happy beach bum with sun-drenched days full of white sand, cool ocean waves and plenty of liquid refreshments to keep the good times rolling seamlessly along.
Chesney returns to Pittsburgh for another appearance at Heinz Field on June 2. For now, 鈥淟ive in No Shoes Nation鈥� will serve as a viable substitute until Pittsburghers can wildly welcome Chesney back for a few magical hours of music, memories and a backyard party at its very best.
Clint Rhodes is the 缅北禁地 music reviewer. He can be reached at clinton43@me.com.