What a lineup on this powerhouse of a tour. I can hardly hold back my excitement about what I just witnessed. I found myself back at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, on Friday night for an absolute monster lineup on the Grammy-nominated Old Dominion’s How Good Is That World Tour. It was a packed house for this magnificent show. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: I absolutely love coming to Mohegan Sun. The ambiance of the casino alone is spectacular, and the arena itself is marvelous. The arena seats around 10,000 people and has boasted many national acts and iconic artists such as Taylor Swift, Billy Joel, Prince, and Lady Gaga. I had this show in bold on my calendar and couldn’t wait for it to arrive. Coming to this venue is super easy. Parking is free. Yes, free. That is a major benefit of going to any concert in America. Everything here is so convenient. You have restaurants everywhere that will satisfy all your dietary needs, and plenty of gaming and shops that cater to anyone coming to the show. I often arrive hours early to a show to get dinner and hang out with friends. If you ever have a chance to come to Mohegan Sun for a show, I cannot recommend it enough. Go see a show, and if it’s an Old Dominion show, even better. You will be in for a treat.
The arena itself was jam-packed, pretty close, if not actually sold out. Hitting the stage first in support was Redferrin. I have been a massive fan of this artist over the past year or so. His voice definitely reminds me of Morgan Wallen. Although similar, the style of his songs is completely different. I would classify Redferrin as more of an outlaw version of Morgan Wallen. His tunes are very catchy, with a voice that fits perfectly for country music. He is gritty, and his lyrics are fearless. He doesn’t really fit into Nashville’s mold. He is authentic and unapologetic. I love everything about this artist, and his performance matched the energy he gives off right from the start. There couldn’t have been a better supporting act for an Old Dominion tour. Redferrin’s style of country music is slightly different from Old Dominion’s, and it works. His performance absolutely blew me away. His voice is exactly like on the album, and he delivered a perfect set. His backing band was solid, and, coupled with the uniqueness of Redferrin’s voice, it was an all-around stellar performance. He played all the songs fans have come to know from him. My two favorite songs that stood out during this performance were “Jack and Diet Coke” and “Just Like Johnny.”
The world will be blessed if he continues to grow and we see him on his own arena tour someday. It was a nice touch having the whiskey kegs on stage as props. This is an artist to look out for.
The next artist to hit the stage was Grammy-nominated ERNEST. Not everyone may know him by name; however, you absolutely know indirectly about ERNEST. He has written songs recorded by Morgan Wallen, Jake Owen, Florida Georgia Line, Thomas Rhett, Chris Lane, and Jelly Roll, all songs that I know you know by heart, easily. He has over a dozen number-one hits. He may go down as one of the most iconic songwriters coming out of his hometown of Nashville. I feel blessed to have seen him live, as he is iconic to country music. He is a bit calmer than Redferrin while performing. ERNEST played a few of his original songs while hitting us with a handful of cover songs, including songs by Morgan Wallen, Toby Keith, Post Malone, Kris Kristofferson, and Jelly Roll. Just as expected, ERNEST had a killer set. He was entertaining and kept the crowd engaged with his stories about the songs. His voice is so powerful, and yet soft. It just feels country. He created an atmosphere that felt like a backyard get-together with your buddies rather than a 10,000-seat arena. I don’t know how he is able to do that, but he accomplished it. The crowd went wild when the covers started playing. Some of the songs fit the same style as Old Dominion, which set the stage for them. ERNEST finished with “I Had Some Help,” the song made famous by Morgan Wallen. An excellent songwriter and an even better performer, Old Dominion really knocked it out of the park with their selections for support.
Finally, after your ears were blessed with two great supporting acts, it was time: Old Dominion. New to the band? Old Dominion is a staple in country music. In 2007, the group formed in Nashville as a group of songwriters who penned songs for Luke Bryan, Blake Shelton, Kenny Chesney, and The Band Perry. In 2014, they released their self-titled EP. You must have heard at least one of the chart-topping singles they’ve released over the years. Their first number-one hit was “Break Up with Him” in 2015.
They went on to create ten chart-topping hits, including releasing six albums. They went from songwriters to building a legacy within the country music industry.
It was time, and Old Dominion, from the jump, was on fire. The amount of energy they brought to this show was explosive. I really wasn’t expecting this level of enthusiasm and the burst of energy that came with this performance. From the minute they got on, they understood their assignment: it was to deliver the best show they possibly could. They did not disappoint. I found myself grooving immediately. The whole crowd was dancing, recording on their cell phones, or screaming the lyrics. There wasn’t a bored soul in that arena. The crowd was an expected mix of people. We had our millennials all the way down to the miniature young kids. I love seeing parents bring out the little ones to experience live music—not just live music, but great live music. The fans were treated to musical perfection at this show. I think the biggest highlight of the night for me was a woman who was in her 80s dancing like crazy. It was so wholesome, and I hope I am doing that at that age. It was truly remarkable and adorable.
The lighting was bright, the music was loud, and the crowd fed off that positivity and threw it right back at the band. It was a perfect relationship. The only downside to the night was having the show end. I wanted more, the fans wanted more, and I know the band didn’t want the show to end. This show hit differently than many others I have been lucky to experience. This felt like therapy. You had to leave with a smile on your face and joy in your heart. Concerts have a way of doing that to people. This concert went above and beyond. Matthew Ramsey’s voice is intoxicating. It gives off a great, feel-good vibe that you cannot help but dance to. He checked in with the crowd after every song with messages of positivity and love. Musically, this band is just top-notch all the way around—never missing a beat, never misstepping, and never letting the crowd down.
I can’t express in words what last night’s show was like. Let me try. I’m not even kidding—this show might’ve just toppled into my top 10 concert rankings. That is a lot of concerts under my belt. I don’t even know how it’s possible to hit every single note perfectly; the bands all sounded exactly like their respective recorded albums. No shortcuts, no off moments, nothing but perfection. The energy in the arena was insane. I expected nothing less due to how fun each artist’s music is anyway. It was upbeat and electric the whole night. Everything clicked right: the bands, the crowd, the lighting, and the vibe were all on par with a perfect production. It was one of those rare shows that checks every box on the “perfect concert” list. Old Dominion is a band not to be underestimated. They are a perfect act, and they deserve every accolade they have ever received. They can add being top-notch live performers to their growing list of achievements. If you want a perfect show, a show that will absolutely hit your top ten of concerts attended, then welp, here is the band for you. Look no further than Old Dominion. Head to wherever you purchase your tickets and BUY. THE. TICKET.
