Page 32 - IONIndieMagazine Vollume 41 Nov/Dec2017

JAKE OWEN

With Mitchell Tenpenny

“Beachin’ It at the Ballroom”

Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom • Hampton Beach, NH • September 15, 2017
www.casinoballroom.com

Concert Review by Erika Cannavino
Photography by Daniel Johnson
www.facebook.com/dagdaphotography

The party had parked itself at Hampton Beach, NH on September 15, 2017. A festive “beach-themed” tour
bus, wrapped in bright blue and adorned with pink flamingos, was sitting in the back parking lot of the
Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom -- heralding that Jake Owen had indeed “made shore” and was ready to
serve up an evening of exceptional country music.

Once we rounded the corner you could hear the constant chirp of the electronic ticket scanners as the staff
at the ballroom checked in fans. The lines at the bar were already stretched to the dance floor as Mitchell
Tenpenny took the stage to open the night.

The crowd roared with laughter as Tenpenny asked, “Is there any else in here who is tired of bitches? That’s
what this next song is about…an ex of mine.” Mitchell’s voice flowed through the speakers as smooth as spun
silk. Coupled with the catchy lyrics, it was impossible to not sing along to the chorus, “I don’t deal with bitches
no more.”

Tenpenny closed out his set with the modern country version of a Cinderella story “If the Boot Fits,”
enchanting the crowd into a “fairy tale as good as it gets” moment. He wrote the song, which was made
popular by Granger Smith with Andy Albert and Jordan Schmidt.

The stage was quickly transformed into a tropical island, complete with a palm tree and flamingos. The
saxophonist, drummer, bassist and guitarist filtered onto the stage taking their places. These were just a few
members of the seven-piece band that Jake Owen “beaches it” with on stage.