For those of you who have no clue who they are, Dan+Shay are a country duo and are most well known for their song "19+You and Me" and their most recent single, "Nothin' Like You." Although Dan+Shay aren't super well known, I have been listening to them since "19+ You and Me" first came out on the radio and I fell in love with their album "Where It All Began." Canaan Smith is also an up-and-coming artist who has been opening for Dan+Shay on tour and is most well known for his single "Love You Like That."
Although I didn't really know who Canaan Smith was before the concert started, his music and energy were able to set a vibe that allowed the audience to really feel the music. He has a great voice and has a really strong level of interaction with his audience. Canaan's songs such as "Bronco" had a way of really moving people and making you really feel what he's feeling throughout his performance. Luckily at the end of his performance, I also got to meet his bassist and take a very cute picture with him (he's such a lovely guy, check out his band Cardfall on Youtube and Twitter).
Dan+Shay have been personal favorites of mine for quite a while now. When I first listened to the whole of their "Where It All Began" album, I fell head over heels for their music. Considering most of their songs are very mellow and cutesy-romantic, they performed every song from the heart and carried an energy throughout the whole show I'm sure not many people would have been able to create. This was the first concert I had ever been to where I didn't prepare (because I didn't know I was gong beforehand) and didn't worry about because I already knew all their songs by heart. Apart from being irresistible cuties, when it came to their stage presence, I was absolutely blown away. These guys haven't been touring as long as many of the other bands I have seen live (I've seen many) and the energy they had, making the audience feel like they are a part of the performance itself, was truly impressive. Their voices are beautiful live and they have a way of making you forget there's an outside world to begin with. I know some people reading this may think I'm just being extremely biased (maybe slightly, not extremely), but I have been to many concerts and I get that being in a more intimate location such as the House of Blues helps when it comes to audience interaction, but I have no doubt in my mind that they are just as incredible with a larger audience. They hit every note flawlessly and nailed all their harmonies, carrying so much feeling in their performance. For two guys who are headlining their first tour, they did an incredible job on stage. I honestly give them a 10/10 to listen to and to see live. If I could, I would repeat that night over and over again. Then to top it all off, they are extremely sweet and funny!
Every time I think of that night, I get excited all over again. I have no doubt God threw me a helping hand, knowing that not only was I missing concerts, but that I was going to be meeting incredible people who happen to attend school in same college town I'm in and who slowly but surely have been making an wonderful impact in my life. That night remains alive in me and will continue to stay that way for as long as I can make it last. If there's one thing that I have learned (or at least been reassured of) is music can bring people together, change the world and be the helping hand some people desperately need in their lives. Thank God for music and the beauty it can bring into our lives. It's an impact I wouldn't exchange for anything else in the world.
Here are a few pictures from the concert:
Canaan Smith:
Dan+Shay:
(If you look closely you can see my friends and I in the picture!)
