Morgan Wallen’s ‘I’m The Problem Tour’ made a stop in Cleveland at Huntington Bank Field on August 15th & 16th – selling out both nights. Cleveland Country Magazine received tickets for the second show on Saturday (Aug. 16) and this review is from that show.
The night opened with enthusiastic energy as Zach John King and Gavin Adcock took the stage for a second night. Despite being a last minute addition, filling in after Ella Langley announced stepping back to rest, both acts warmed up the crowd. Zach John King has a similar sound to Bailey Zimmerman with a modern country backbone. His cover of “Should’ve Been a Cowboy” had us all wishing we were one, too. Gavin Adcock’s performance was clean and soulful, nodding to his inspirations, Garth Brooks and Alan Jackson. You would never know that he wrote his first song just 4 years ago.
Recently coming off his own sold out headlining show at Fenway, Thomas Rhett was a nice addition to this tour. He certainly understood the assignment of pumping up the crowd for Morgan Wallen. Rhett’s set was upbeat, playful and charismatic. There was a nice balance of his original sound and soulful twists, thanks to the talented musicians beside him. Closing out the show with 65,000+ fans singing his career-changer, “Die a Happy Man,” with their phones lighting up the sky was incredible.
On to the main event, the king of suspense, did not disappoint. While waiting, the crowd chattered about who the special guest would be for his famous “walk out”. An athlete, musician, comedian, maybe even actor? The heat remained high but so did the spirits, as the sold out stadium came together for a few rounds of the ‘wave’. After much anticipation, the lights went dim and everyone got their phones out to capture the mystery guest. The screen flashed on and none other than Cleveland’s own, Myles Garrett, walked side by side until Wallen made his stadium entrance. Fresh off a Browns win and airplane (from their game in Philadelphia), Myles elicited a loud roar on his home field.
The “walk out” was memorable but the performance to follow will undoubtedly leave a mark on all the fans in attendance. Wallen owned every inch of the stage, leaving no bad seat in the house. Setting himself apart, every fan was given a custom light up bracelet that was programmed to each song. The experience continued with unmatched lighting, pyrotechnics and well designed graphics that filled the screens for added effect. If the flames weren’t enough to keep the crowd on fire, Wallen brought King and Adcock back out to sing “Up Down,” while Rhett joined him in singing “Cowgirls.” Every detail from start to finish, visually and audibly, proved why Wallen continues to stay at the top of the charts.
