Artist Hunter Hayes returned to the Twin Cities recently for the second time in his career. The difference: instead of opening for Carrie Underwood, Hayes headlined his own CMA Tour. It was titled “The Let’s Be Crazy Tour” after Hayes’ hit song “I Want Crazy.”
Country singer Ashley Monroe accompanied Hayes on his tour. Monroe is known for her role in the country music group, The Pistol Annies, alongside Miranda Lambert and Angaleena Presley. She opened the show with some of her own songs and some of which she co-wrote with Lambert.
Monroe’s soft, yet twangy, voice easily slid over difficult notes in her wide vocal range, but her performance lacked in stage presence. A guitar glued in her hands, Monroe showcased her musical ability, but did not use the entire stage, making her performance appear a bit awkward.
She started off her set with mellow songs, slowly working up to more upbeat tunes. This organization was not efficient because it hindered Monroe from fully connecting with the audience until the end of her set.
Hayes took the stage to the screaming of his high-pitched fans. Clad in light wash jeans, a white v-neck, and a denim jacket, Hayes was the spitting image of a true Southern gentleman.
His set included every song from his debut album Encore. Hayes started off with some of the less popular songs of the album, eventually working up to radio hits such as “Somebody’s Heartbreak,” “Wanted,” and finally “I Want Crazy.”
Unlike Monroe, Hayes used all sides and angles of the stage in the Orpheum. He sang some songs on the right and left sides of the stage in order to connect with fans in a more intimate way. This made fans feel even closer to the stage and the action of a smaller venue such as the Orpheum.
Although he did not dance, Hayes used the space of the Orpheum stage well. By changing levels and jumping around, his five-foot-six frame brought boundless energy to Minneapolis.
Hayes has true vocal talent. The words traveling from his mouth to the ears of eager fans sounded exactly like the studio recorded version of Encore. He wore a smile during the entire performance, which was absolutely contagious to fans.
To make the concert a more personal experience for fans, Hayes explained some of the true meanings behind his songs before playing them. Some of the songs he has written are on relatable topics such as heartbreak, or even enjoying music.
This gave fans an insight to the private side of Hayes, again creating an intimate connection between performer and audience. The meanings of the songs on Encore are deep because as Hayes either wrote or co-wrote each lyric, they have particular significance to him. Hayes communicated the meaning of his songs well to his audience through a combination of explanation and emotion.
Between songs, Hayes spoke about staying up late on tour writing new songs. This could be hinting at a sophomore album in the works for the 22-year-old artist.
On tour, Hayes proved to be as good as, if not better, than his radio hits. He knew how to entertain a smaller venue without going over the top. Hayes accomplished this while staying very humble, a quality not often conveyed by young stars in the limelight.
Although Monroe was not as spectacular as Hayes, the overall show was fun to watch and very easy going. The show started and ended on time, without delays that usually occur at larger venues such as Target Center or Xcel Energy Center.
Hayes is an artist to see on tour, as well as watch in the future. He is taking the country music industry by storm, even if he is a little bit crazy.