Page 25 - ION Indie Magazine MayJune 2018 Issue

The headliner for the event was Josh Turner.
Turner capped off a fantastic evening with his
dynamic show, keeping it country while
sporting a simple red plaid shirt and his faded
blue jeans. Accompanying Josh Turner was his
talented band made up of 6 musicians who
demonstrated their supreme musicianship,
playing various instruments. Josh performed
a 90-minute set that truly showcased his deep
rich voice and signature style. Having sold
more than 8 million albums, Turner holds the
distinct honor of being the youngest member
of the esteemed Grand Ole Opry.
Josh Turner’s show began with a retro-feel
introduction that was both thrilling and
heartwarming. It allowed my imagination to
develop its own interpretation while a
narrator from the Grand Ole Opry conveyed
the message through the mighty P.A. system.
He spoke for a few minutes about the many
artists that have come through the Opry’s
doors and performed on that venerable stage.
This culminated with the narrator
introducing Turner, which was met with a
deafening sound that reverberated from the
sea of fans, letting all within earshot know that
this man is the real deal. The noise that
heralded Turner’s arrival, filled the Tucson
Expo Center and rivalled the din of any heavy
metal concert.
Let me tell you -- Josh can sing. He delivers his
songs with clear emotion and integrity. He
also apparently possesses an impeccable
ability for writing and picking hit songs. This
evening Josh performed a repertoire of many
of his self-penned songs, along with many of
his multi-platinum hits.
Josh was within reach of me most of the show.
There were several other photographers in
the pit, but none were fortunate to capture the
intimate quality of photos as I did – which I
attribute to my foresight to scout out a prime
vantage point earlier in the day. Throughout
his knockout of a concert, both in song and in
storytelling, Josh personalized his remarks
and made jokes that were especially geared
toward his Tucson fans, creating a warm and
amiable relationship with his adoring fans in
attendance.
Josh has become one of the most consistent
hit-makers in the country format and has
established himself a sound that both radio
stations and concert-goers have
wholeheartedly embraced. From “Long Black
Train” to “Your Man” to “All Over Me,” Josh’s
songs have proven they have huge staying
power long after they have come off the
charts. Josh exhibits a youthful exhilaration in
concert and he sings with a commitment like
few other artists can. It was a memorable
mixture of sounds that radiated from the
Tucson Expo stage. Josh spent a generous
amount of time on individual introductions
and often provided hilarious commentaries
for each of his songs. His scintillating show
resonated powerfully with his Tucson fans
while showcasing this impressive young man
with a religious background, handsome face,
and a blazing smile whose brilliance is only
rivaled by his baby blues. This is a man well on
his way to legendary status – the type of artist
that one could reasonably expect to someday
be memorialized in the Country Music Hall of
Fame.
Turner continued to deliver the goods,
performing hit after hit: “Deep
South,” “Hometown Girl,” “Me and God,”
“Backwoods Boy,” “Your Man,” among many
other great songs on his set list for the night.
He ended the evening with “Long Black Train”
and “Would You Go With Me” -- leaving more
than one female admirer wishing that they
could.
Tucson fans, young and old, were on their feet
throughout the show, dancing and singing
along with every word and getting lost in
Turner’s sounds, leaving no doubt that Josh
loves doing what he does best -- and that is,
embodying the best of country music. He
honors the genre by giving of himself to his
fans through his music -- and you can bet that
he always leaves them wanting more.