Los Angeles was Saturday’s stop for Lee Brice in his quest to become the first country artist to perform in all 50 U.S. states in 2015.
After a vocally impressive acoustic lead-in from singer-songwriter Lewis Brice (Lee’s brother), followed by a powerhouse set from Clare Dunn, the “I Don’t Dance” singer took to the stage at LA’s Club Nokia.
Playing to a sold-out crowd, Lee delivered solid performances of his biggest hits, including “Hard to Love,” “Drinking Class,” “Good Man,” “A Woman Like You,” “Beer,” “Parking Lot Party,” “Love Like Crazy,” and his latest single, “That Don’t Sound Like You.”
PHOTOS: Lee Brice In LA
The South Carolina native thanked the men and women of the Armed Services, law enforcement and rescue workers before performing his guaranteed-to-produce-a-lump-in-your-throat 2012 ballad, “I Drive Your Truck” (which earned Song of the Year honors from both the Academy of Country Music and the Country Music Association).
In addition to his own recorded material, Lee performed snippets of songs he wrote which were recorded by other artists, including Eli Young Band’s “Crazy Girl,” and “More Than A Memory,” recorded by Lee’s musical “hero,” Garth Brooks.
The artist – who will officially hit his 50-state mark on November 15 when he performs in Rome, Georgia – kept the enthusiastic crowd on their feet all night, working in high energy covers of MAGIC!’s “Rude” and Bruno Mars’ “Locked Out of Heaven.”
Trading in his guitar for a keyboard, Lee closed the show by playing the opening strains of Garth’s “The Dance” sending the crowd (and this editor, especially) into a cheering frenzy, before launching into “I Don’t Dance” – a song he wrote for his wife, Sara, to be played as their first dance song at their 2013 wedding.
Ashton Kutcher was on hand for the concert, and shared his support on Instagram after the performance.
“Great show,” the “Two and a Half Men” star captioned a photo of his Lee Brice All Access pass sticker on a pair of cowboy boots.
Watch for Lee on the 49th Annual CMA Awards (he’s nominated for Single of the Year for “I Don’t Dance”) on November 4 at 8/7c on ABC.
— Erin O’Sullivan
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