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a14 people & arts
Monday 4 July 2022
Song by song, country star Luke Combs grows into stadiums

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Jaime Davis, and then cut
Singer-songwriter Luke a duet he wrote with fellow
Combs is making big leaps superstar Miranda Lambert.
this year in his unprecedent- His manager, Chris Kappy,
ed rise to the top of country had never managed an
music, both personally and artist before he convinced
professionally. Combs to let him represent
The North Carolina-born him.
singer, who holds a Bill- "A lot of those band mem-
board record with 14 bers, a lot of those players
consecutive No. 1 coun- that are playing the stadi-
try airplay singles with hits um are the same ones that
like "Beer Never Broke My were playing the clubs with
Heart" and "Beautiful Cra- him at the beginning," said
zy," graduated from arenas Randy Goodman, chair-
to selling out football stadi- man and CEO of Sony Mu-
ums this year. sic Nashville.
But as the 32-year-old Goodman said when he
Combs was preparing to signed Combs, the young
sing in front of a packed- singer already had a strong
out Nissan Stadium during fan base who were pack-
last month's CMA Fest, he ing out shows.
had something more per- "What he had even in that
sonal on his mind. moment was a seasoned
Inside his truck parked at aspect of it, a maturity, a
the stadium was a hospital Luke Combs performs during CMA Fest 2022 in Nashville, Tenn., on June 11, 2022. self-awareness about his
bag, waiting for word that Associated Press instrument, his voice and
his wife, Nicole, was ready the songs that he was sing-
to deliver their first child. As the last decade concen- stressful, but also really ex- amount of success or how ing and the connectivity,"
it turned out, Combs be- trated on getting to where citing." many awards you have," Goodman said.
came a first-time dad with he's at now. But as he's as- His aptly titled new record he said. "You just appreci- This year's tour only fea-
the birth of their son, Tex cends a peak most country "Growin' Up," out now, ate being able to do it at tures three stadiums, the
Lawrence Combs, on Fa- artists will never reach, his shows Combs recognizing all." first shows in Denver and
ther's Day. mind is on the unknowns of what a transitional period What's kept him grounded Seattle earlier this year and
"When we walk off stage being a new parent. it's been for him. "Doin' This," despite scaling up is his one on July 30 in Atlanta,
tonight, it's like the next jour- "I've never operated in the lead song, is an auto- loyalty to the people who so it's become a test run
ney is being a parent, you any other way in the last biographical reflection on believed in him at the be- for what is likely many more
know?" Combs said, while 10 years besides trying to the idea that even if no ginning, as well as bring- stadium gigs to come.
backstage at Nissan Sta- be the best I can be at this one had discovered him, ing along those he felt de- Combs admits that he's
dium earlier in June. "That's thing I do now," Combs re- he'd still be singing in a bar served a chance in the big been more on the cautious
like my sole focus after this." flected. "So trying to figure in a no-name town on a Fri- leagues. He's the kind of side than some of his team
The reigning CMA enter- out the balancing act of day night. guy who records songs he when it comes to booking
tainer of the year has spent those two things is mildly "It was never about the wrote with his guitar tech, stadiums.q

Review: Imagine Dragons offer light at the end of the tunnel

AP Entertainment Writer which are wistful, confes- Not all the songs succeed,
If you were hiding under sional and owning weak- as one might suspect
your bed after listening to ness, but there is light at from such a stuffed al-
the last album by Imagine the end of the tunnel. Take bum. There's an uncooked
Dragons, it's time to come the eclectic, slightly de- quality to "Crushed," "Fer-
out. The second volume ranged "I'm Happy," a title ris Wheel," and "Take It
of "Mercury" is upbeat, of- that could never appear Easy," and a naïve quality
ten Caribbean-spiced and on "Act. 1," with Reynolds to "Tied" and "Continual,"
throbbing. It's the sound of singing "Even when I might while the regretful ballads "I
a band getting its arena fall down/I know my luck Wish" and "They Don't Know
groove back. come back around." You Like I Do" might bet-
"Act 1" in 2021 was all plucky Much of the album is ter off serve as therapy for
strings, seething beats and thankful for his partner, like Reynolds.
grand electronic synths the loving "Symphony" — But don't sleep on "Sirens"
as lead singer, songwriter a trop-rock ditty written and "I Don't Like Myself,"
and lyricist Dan Reynolds seemingly under a palm two mid-tempo, expertly
poured heartache, trag- tree — with the lyrics: "I'm crafted tunes that take the
edy and his struggles with the chord/ And you're the band in different directions.
sobriety into a raw, confes- melody." And on "Higher Ground,"
sional and searing album. The band hits new heights the band is really cook-
The cover depicted a man with "Sharks," a richly tex- ing, with lyrics that could
falling. tured, eerie anthem about sum the entire second al-
The cover of "Act 2" could selfishness, and "Bones," a bum up: "What a life/I live
This cover image released by Interscope shows "Mercury — Act
2," by Imagine Dragons. be of a man jumping, and banger with that reggae- until I die/Won't fail unless
Associated Press that seems to fit many of tinged, sing-along Imagine I try/Bleeding, keep on
the close to 20 new tracks, catchy magic. breathing."q