Old Dominion Reveal New Songs During Country Jam Colorado Set [PICTURES]
Old Dominion played no fewer than three new songs during a headliner-quality set at Country Jam 2017 in Grand Junction, Colo., on Saturday (June 17). The country group proved they're worth the buzz to everyone seeing them for the first time.
There were plenty of Old D first-timers amongst the thousands that packed Jam Ranch to the concession row. Three well-known songs opened their set with Matthew Ramsey, Brad Tursi and company creating a wall of sound from the sunset-lit stage. There was barely time to get a drink until Ramsey stopped to talk about one of the new songs they hoped to try out.
"Shoe Shopping" is a flirty, looking-for-love song in that classic Old Dominion style. One recognizes the smile Ramsey sings with from songs like "Break Up With Him" and others on Meat and Candy. Happy Endings (Aug. 25) promises more of that signature sound.
"If you're shoe shoppin' try me on for size," he sings in the chorus. Later they'd try another new song called "Be With Me" out on the fans. The response was positive, but as per usual, the crowd leaned with full emphasis into the songs they could sing along to. Few artists do a sing-along like Old Dominion. "Said Nobody," "Beer Can in a Truck Bed" and their version of Sam Hunt's "Make You Miss Me" (co-written by Ramsey) filled the Grand Valley as the sun went from yellow to a deep orange.
Even their classic rock cover was straight down the middle. John Mellencamp's "Pink Houses" was perfect beneath a now-pink sun. Old Dominion's secret is their ability to craft songs that are artistically satisfying while still giving fans what they want. They don't overthink their music or live show. It's doubtful you'll ever hear a song that didn't make the radio as their chosen cover. They're crowd pleasers.
Of course, this is easier when you're talented enough to own even the most middling song in a way that's original. Tursi, Geoff Sprung, Whit Sellers and Trevor Rosen are all talented players, with Tursi getting the most chances to show off his under-appreciated skills on guitar. "Can't Get You" was his moment and the normally low-key guitarist and songwriter unleashed.
The band slipped their reggae-influenced single "No Such Thing as a Broken Heart" into their set like they'd played it for years, and closed with "Song for Another Time." Somewhere in between Ramsey encouraged the crowd to appreciate a sun that was now deep purple, but it didn't quite set on this group of veterans. Response to the new music shows it's unlikely to soon.
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