A year ago if you asked me who my favorite country music act was I would have just laughed and said “I don’t listen to country”. Ask me today and with great excitement I will answer “Florida Georgia Line”.
Without a doubt in my mind Florida Georgia Line are the number one country band in existence today. Even though my familiarity with country music is limited I know they are top musicians because of their unique ability to bridge the gap between rock and hip-hop while staying true to their country roots. Opening the show at the ShoWare Center in front of 7,000 screaming fans was the first glimpse of this genre cross over. Grinding into the song It’z Just What We Do Florida Georgia Line got things underway with a country rock song. Lead singer Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelly might have the country boy voice but their stage presence is all around rock. Armed with wireless mics the two singers spent most of the night running around the front of the stage slapping the hands of their cowboy boot wearing fans. Not hiding behind a mic stand or guitar. Most of the night they were right in front singing their hearts out right in the face of their fans. Of course the entire night could not have been run out like that. For a couple of the slower paces and full on country tracks both BK and Hubbard played their respective instruments. But like the country-rockers they are, when not needing to be behind the mic singing they were right back in front of the crowd.
Having seen and heard Florida Georgia Line for the first time live in concert in April 2013 I was blown away. Their performance, sound, and stage lighting was phenomenal. Just 9 short months later their performance, sound, and stage lighting had improved ten fold. With a 20 foot video screen, confetti blasters and unreal lighting designs this final show of 2013 for Florida Georgia Line was tops! After only their first record everyone will be looking for these guys to fail. But I highly doubt that will happen. No chance.
Colt Ford
