Concert Recap: Hunter Hayes
Review by Isabelle Turner
Covering ground among all genres, Hunter Hayes took the stage in Charleston, South Carolina. With a sound like no other, Hayes’ raw talent and incredible stage presence made the concert a night for the books.
I had the pleasure of attending a show at the Charleston Music Hall where I was able to attend a show from Hunter Hayes and opener Loren Gray. The show was truly an exciting night that showed endless talent from all involved.
Newcomer Loren Gray opened for Hayes for the first part of the tour. With Charleston being her second show in her life, she performed with incredible grace and confidence. While there was some visible nerves, she did not let that hinder her ability to put on a great show for the crowd. Singing some of her hits and her new songs, the setlist had a great blend to it. Gray has a more pop sound, but she adapted to the audience by even including a cover of “Friends in Low Places” by Garth Brooks. Having an incredible stage presence, I was genuinely impressed with her inexperience to performing live and Gray was the perfect way to start the evening.
Hayes quickly took the stage after, starting with tracks from his latest album. He paused briefly to provide an introduction and talk about the show. Starting with songs like “High Tide” and “About a Boy”, he began with his more rock-oriented songs to start the crowd off with some high energy. Seamlessly incorporating his latest tracks with his classics, he kept the crowd’s attention flawlessly. While he is beyond talented on many instruments, Hayes’ vocals were incredible, sounding just like a studio recording. Moving into songs that fit into his more country sound, he played every song with passion and enthusiasm, showing his love for every stage of his life. Encouraging audience participating for songs like “Cry with You” and “Everybody’s Got Somebody but Me”, the audience sang along to these songs and many like them.
Everything about the show was carefully cultivated to create a perfect evening. He made thoughtful pauses throughout the concert, switching out instruments then giving a brief introduction to a specific era in his life. These small moments were brief, but meaningful, allowing the show flowed just as a story would. Ending on some of his earliest and most popular songs like “I
Want Crazy” and “Wanted”, the order of the set list allowed Hayes to show how far he has come as an artist and how much he continues to grow in both his genre and talent. Many fans left the show with teary eyes and feeling moved by the lyricism and talent from the artist. These elements combined made the show absolutely incredible and makes Hunter Hayes stand out as an incredible live performer.
If you have the chance to attend a Hunter Hayes show, I highly recommend you see the incredible live performance. He continues to tour around the country all throughout the summer so check out his website and social media for more information on upcoming shows. Be sure to follow the singer to keep up with upcoming projects and listen to his latest album, Red Sky.
