Chris Young had kept us waiting. Not for his arrival on
stage – for he was very prompt on Wednesday evening, coming on at almost
precisely 9pm – but for his arrival in the UK with it being almost a year ago
he announced his small UK tour and, without a doubt it was worth the wait.
Like London and Dublin, his Glasgow show was also sold out.
Having been to the O2 ABC many a time, I expected a fairly large queue when I
arrived about a half hour prior to doors opening but this queue was something
else. It literally – and I mean literally – wrapped around the venue. This
crowd was going to special, I thought then and like the man’s talent himself,
this crowd was special.
As I mentioned, Chris took the stage at 9 opening with AM, a
song which just like all the other songs he played that evening, the crowd sang
every word with him. The deafening reception he received after that first song
was deserved but it still seemed to completely take the man with numerous
number ones to his name, away. This proved to be a recurring theme and this
humbleness was one of many reasons to love this man even more. Another reason,
extends on this humbleness; the sign on the outside of the ABC may have read ‘Chris
Young – Sold Out’ but it felt like it should have read ‘Chris Young and Band –
Sold Out’. His band were a big part of the night, as they should be, and were
stars in their own right, with Chris stepping back at certain points to let
them have the spotlight – something that some artists rarely do, if ever – and it
was really nice to see the special bond these guys have on stage as they put on
a helluva show.
Lonely Eyes, Aw Naw,
Neon and current single I’m Comin
Over were just some of his set that lasted a good hour and forty-five
minutes as well as a stunning cover of When
You Say Nothing At All. His set may have lasted a little longer than
typical set time of an hour and a half but it was clear that if there wasn’t a
curfew then he could go all night long and nobody would have minded in
slightest.
Immediately after the show, Chris tweeted ‘we will be back’
and speaking on behalf of the some 1300 fans that packed the O2 ABC out –
Chris, please, please, please be sure you’re back soon!
