Four-time Grammy winner Joe Nichols brought his “Undone” tour to the Wilma in Missoula on Friday night, July 29, and reminded the packed house why he is just as popular today as he was back in 2002 when he released his first single “The Impossible.”
The night opened with Salt Lake City’s own Royal Bliss, who brought their rousing country rock music to Missoula for the seventh time. With a keen mixture of originals and covers, including a stunning rendition of Tom Petty’s “American Girl,” the Bliss got everyone into party mode, providing the perfect atmosphere for Nichols to take the stage.
Bliss was on fire as they turned in one of the best opening sets this reviewer has been fortunate to see, culminating in the deliverance of their big hit, “I was Drunk.” Lead vocalist Neal Middleton turned in a memorable performance, with incredible backing from Taylor Richards and Memphis Hennesy on guitar, Jake Smith on drums and Dwayne Crawford on bass. Check them out on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.
After a short 30 minute intermission, it was time for the headliner, who kicked things into high gear with his song “Freaks Like Me,” from his upcoming as yet untitled ninth studio album. Since he burst on the scene in 1996, Nichols has had 18 Top 40 hits and five of them have made it to No. 1, including two from his most recent album, Crickets.
Nichols’ set included 18 songs, culminating with a two-song encore of “Tequilla Makes her Clothes Fall Off” and “Sunny and 75.” Nichols also paid homage to Merle Haggard with a cover of the Hag’s “Big City,” which brought the house down.
The packed house sang almost every note of every song, including his latest single, “Undone.” They swayed to the songs, raising their phones and brews while keeping the rhythm of the music. Considering that most of the crowd were just teenagers when Nichols’ first song hit the airwaves, it was a most impressive sight.
One of the highlights of the show occurred during the first song of Nichols’ encore, when he left the stage and headed down into the audience to give them some personal attention. The crowd swarmed around him, singing along at the top of their voices. It proved once again that country artists understand their fans, and consistently deliver some of the best value for the entertainment dollar.
Keep your eyes and ears out for the release of Nichols’ new album towards the end of 2016. In the meantime, check out his website and Facebook pages, follow him on Twitter and Instagram, and subscribe to his YouTube channel.
Thanks once again to Chelle Stipe of Chelle-S Imaging for the photos, and thanks to Dan Torti of the Wilma for his professionalism and support.