I wish I could tell you it wasn’t a good show so you could save your money, but I just can’t. Have you ever been at a show and you felt as if you had slid into another dimension? That is this show. Everything else in life didn’t matter for these 3 hours. Everyone was in the moment. It’s a shared experience of a lifetime, and it was all happening on the shores at Lake Chaubunagungamaug in Webster, Massachusetts, for Jake Owen’s “The Driftwood Ramble Tour.” I absolutely love covering shows at Indian Ranch. I swear it’s not just because it’s mostly 1pm start times and I am getting old. This spot seriously stands out for obvious reasons. It’s not just your typical concert venue. Indian Ranch is actually on a lake. You can literally roll up in your boat and catch the show from the water. The venue is a more traditional amphitheater-style with mostly general admission seats. Season pass campers have a special section just for them. The atmosphere here is super relaxed. It’s a campground that hosts music. It’s as unique as it gets. It’s earned the title of "New England's Home of Country Music," and it lives up to that statement. Country music legends like Johnny Cash, Tammy Wynette, Willie Nelson, Blake Shelton, and Brad Paisley have all rolled through this tiny Massachusetts town to play here.
I’ve been lucky enough to have attended many shows here. I’m obsessed with Indian Ranch. From the setting, the seating, the atmosphere, and the staff. All top-notch. The ranch seats around 3,000 people, and that number always throws me off. It seems much smaller with that small-town flavor. Every time I come here, I am running into someone I know and chit-chatting. Small-town feel but not small-town talent. The venue lets you tailgate for a few hours before the show, so you already know the place turns into a party before the music even begins. They also offer a side stage that showcases local country artists. I love that they do this. The spotlight needs to be on up-and-comers these days. Kudos to the venue for that. Love this place.
Opening up, we had the legendary Uncle Kracker. To be honest, I have heard some pretty negative things about his performance from people, like expressing concerns about his ability to stay on key. Welp, either he got way better at singing or they are crazy (just kidding, friends). I thought he was fabulous. I found him to be on key his whole performance. His raspy, iconic voice sounded just like his albums. He has a pretty unique voice. I enjoyed him very much. He was upbeat, and that’s exactly what we needed for a Jake Owen show. He was a great complement to the tour.
In my experience, a Jake Owen show is energetic, and he delivers an upbeat live performance. That might be only second to his genuine connection with fans. I had the privilege of meeting Jake a couple years ago. The man couldn’t have been nicer and spent some considerable amount of time chatting with me. Over Jake’s career he has earned several award nominations. After the success of one of my favorite albums, Barefoot Blue Jean Night, in 2011, Jake became known for a style that I describe as “beachy country.” It’s an easygoing style with the storytelling that makes you want to kick back and relax on some sand and listen to the waves. It’s something you want to blast on a beach, and Indian Ranch couldn’t be a more perfect setting for that. His follow-up albums, Days of Gold and American Love, further locked him in as a solid country artist. Owen has a strong fan base. One person that I met at the show had seen him 349 times, and this show was 350. That is super impressive, as she had the photos to prove it. While talking, she remembered that I was at last year’s show at the smaller House of Blues in Boston. It's a small world sometimes.
Jake came out hot and ready to go, just like a Little Caesars’ pizza. Again, prior to the show, he stopped to sign autographs, take some selfies, and chat with fans waiting. The weather was a bit on and off with rain for most of the day, cutting into that warm beach feel. We did have a few spots of sun peek through for a few minutes, but that didn’t slow anyone down. It was a pretty mixed, diverse crowd. Mostly on the older side with a sprinkle of 20-year-old fans hidden amongst them. I did notice there were more than normal children under 10 at the show. This is a fun family show. Even Jake had his daughter with him sitting side stage (more on that later).
The stage setup is pretty basic, as it usually is for an Indian Ranch show. That isn’t a knock on the venue. It’s the time slot of 1:00pm start times, so there is no need for an elaborate light show. This makes the artist rely on pure talent to perform their songs. It’s just you and your fans, and you better deliver! There is nothing to hide behind! On stage, Jake did have his normal beer coolers. Those coolers are filled with ice-cold Miller Lites.
Throughout the show Jake launches them out to fans, after shaking the beer, of course, so they can join in on the party! It’s little quirks of a show like this that stand out. It’s a great way for him to connect with fans and show appreciation. I was lucky enough for him to “bear me” from my seat. I must have looked like I needed a cold one.
Jake’s set played out pretty much how I thought it would — nonstop energy from the jump. He performed like a 20-year-old country riser, ready to prove he belongs. Song after song, his momentum never dipped. That was Jake feeding off the crowd energy. Jake created one of those electric live moments you just can’t replicate anywhere else. This was a once-in-a-lifetime shared experience. Unfortunately, not everyone was enjoying themselves. Remember Jake’s daughter? She was side-stage on her phone, not paying attention. Jake saw this and immediately began throwing guitar picks at her while never skipping a beat in the song he was jamming to. It was absolutely hilarious, although he missed every single time. A song or two later he caught her yawning and mouthed to her why she was doing that. Again, it was a cute father-daughter moment. To be fair, who likes to go to their parents' jobs? I did catch her later on singing her little heart out, though, but she probably didn’t want to be grounded.
The setlist was pure gold. I knew just about every song he played. It was a good mix of old songs, such as “Yes Haw,” which was his debut single in 2006, and newer songs such as “On The Boat Again,” including a brand new song, "Dreams To Dream." Sprinkled in the middle were all his hits from other albums, such as “Alone With You,” “Homemade,” and “Made For You.” Mixed in there were a few covers, most notably "Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound” by Hank Williams Jr. Ending the show, he played two of his bangers. Closing out with “American Country Love Song" and his massive 2011 hit “Barefoot Blue Jean Night.”
I probably would have created a very similar setlist if I was asked to come up with what songs I would like to hear. Kudos to Jake for a perfect night. Jake never missed a cue, never sang off-key, and never missed a moment to interact with fans. During the show, while singing, he would go into the barricade and take photos with fans and sign their memorabilia. He is a performer, and that’s for sure, and just an all-around great guy, but we already knew that.
Listen, if there is one thing to take away from this review, it is that Jake Owen is a superstar in country music. He is the whole package. He can sing, he can write songs, he plays guitar, he is great to fans, and he puts on a hell of a live show. You need to see Jake and his band perform live. If you’ve been lucky enough to see him, then you know exactly what I mean. If you were ever into Jake and haven’t seen him live, I cannot recommend jumping on any ticket agency you use and purchasing those tickets. This was a sold-out show, so tickets for him to go fast. Buy. The. Ticket.
Leigh
