Stripped down, raw and heartfelt. The kind of performance the audience took in during Lee Brice’s “You, Me & My Guitar” tour, when it’s second stop was at the Kodak Center in Rochester on Friday Jan. 31st.
With the house lights completely off and an intro video playing from the back of the stage, Lee Brice’s silhouette appeared. A shadow of a man and his guitar, watching images from his life and career along with the audience. He began to play his guitar and displayed the soulful voice that would become a familiarity in the theater for the night.
This was not just a typical “acoustic” show. As simple as this was, it was also a thought out production. Each of the eight or nine guitars on stage had their own life and story. With his ability to captivate an audience of any size and make it feel as if you’re sitting in your living room listening, and aside from being the instrument’s owner, there’s no better person to tell these stories.
Brice told a story about how he got the chance to work with one of his heroes in country music – Garth Brooks. Brooks cut a song that Brice had written called “More Than a Memory,” so Brice played that cover on an old, weathered wooden Taylor guitar. He explained how the guitar was gifted to him by Brooks, and how that was one of those moments where he realized he was living his dream.
Brice’s off-the-script show didn’t come with a prepared setlist. He just kind of played whatever came next chronologically, in his storytelling. He also played a couple of songs on the piano, including his number 1 hit “I Don’t Dance.” He explained how this one was written for his wife, after meeting her on the beach in South Carolina and trying to win her over.
As a moving gesture Brice called out his Guitar Tech, Simon, to the stage. The two would go on to play a couple of cover songs, like Weezer’s “Beverly Hills.” Simon even had a chance to play the solo parts, really taking in the opportunity to shine in front of the crowd. You could see the respect and appreciation that Brice had for Simon.
In another part of the set, Brice talked about his seven year old daughter, Trulee. He told a story about how the sassy little girl called him out for having a song called “Boy,” and having his son’s names tattooed on his arm. She told her dad that the two of them should write a song, so she had her own special “thing.” Brice played the song, “This Little Guitar,” that he wrote with Trulee. Since she wasn’t there to sing with him in person, there was a video that accompanied Brice’s guitar playing for everyone to hear.
There wasn’t a story or part of his life that was too personal for Brice to explain in front of the 2300 plus while on stage. This is what made the whole experience different. Audience members were moved, some even to tears. They got to hear some of Brice’s other hits in their purest forms. He played songs like “Drinking Class,” “Rumor,” “Hard to Love” and “I Drive Your Truck,” while men and women stood, raised their drinks and sang along. Word for word.
Instead of an encore, Brice played a music video for his new single “Cry,” that was released on the same day as the show. Another treat for fans before they headed for the exit.
Brice’s childhood friend Nick Norman provided support as the opening act. The 18 stop tour continued on in Lancaster, PA the following night (Feb. 1) and will wrap up in Peoria, IL on March 29th.
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