Nashville Singer Songwriter Brings Host of Talented Artists With Him on His 'High and Alive Tour' 

Jeff Walker,  Entertainment Writer 

Three shows into an anticipated 40 concert run of north America, Keith Urban brought his 'High and Alive Tour' to Charleston Saturday (May 24th) night before a near sell-out crowd at Credit One Stadium. Accompanied by three rising Nashville talents, the country music superstar offered up 20 plus songs including a few well received covers.

While Urban's opening acts sent out a half dozen or more of their most recent hits, concert goers were regaled for nearly four hours under a moonlit night on Daniel Island.

Karley Scott Collins kicked off the Saturday night festivities, adding she was glad to be back in Charleston. The 25 year performed at the Music Farm back in 2023. Before her 30 minute set came to an end Collins threw in 'Heavenly', one of her breakthrough singles, as well as the title track from her 2024 EP 'Quit You'. She closed out her set with 'Cowboy Sh!t' off her soon to be released full length album 'Flight Risk', due out September 26th, proving this sultry country singer can deliver the goods.

Making her Charleston debut, Alana Springsteen kept the party rolling ironically with 'You Don't Deserve a Country Song'. Judging by the crowds reaction, they definitely deserved it, welcoming this talented 24 year singer songwriter with a thunderous applause. Afforded eight songs during her time on stage, Springsteen added a familiar cover, offering up a Carrie Underwood's 'Before He Cheats' which had the ladies singing in unison.

While Collins is a little bit rock n' roll', Springsteen stays in her lane delivering up-tempo ballads, bidding farewell with two songs found on her 2024 album 'Twenty Something'. Diehard fans easily recognized 'Cowboys and Tequila' and 'goodbye looks good on you', the latter a Top 20 hit Springsteen released in 2023 featuring Mitchell Tenpenny. Springsteen and Collins are definitely two female voices to pay attention to coming out of Nashville.

With two albums to his credit, 27 year old Chase Matthew followed Springsteen. The TikTok sensation with a twangy yet likeable voice pushed the concert into fifth gear with 'Drives My Truck', his latest single still popping up on several country music formats. The hard-charging hypnotic number carries a definite Texas roadhouse feel. No stranger to Charleston, Matthew who has performed several times at The Windjammer thanked the crowd, adding it's surreal returning to Credit One Stadium opening for Keith Urban.

Proving Nashville artists are multi-faceted with eclectic tastes, Matthew added an uncharacteristic four song medley at the middle point of his set. Paying homage to hard rock and grunge Matthew offered up 'Give it Away' (Red Hot Chili Peppers) and 'Killing in the Name' (Rage Against the Machine), book-ended by 'Back in Black' and 'You Shook Me All Night Long' by ACDC. Matthew exited the stage after offering up two very different love songs in 'Darlin' and 'Love You Again', the finale a Top 10 hit in 2024 on the Country Airplay charts. Much like the ladies preceding him, Matthew is destined for a long career in Nashville.

Matthew's mid-set salute to 80's and 90's music set the tone for the marquee attraction. While Urban's songs come across radio and CMT very much country, seeing him live is akin to attending a rock concert. He is seldom without a guitar on stage, and quite frankly is the country version of Eddie Van Halen. Putting it briefly, Keith Urban knows how to 'slay his axe'.

Perhaps honoring his namesake tour Urban kicked off his two hour barrage of hits with 'Straight Line', a Top 30 track from his 12th studio album 'High' released earlier this year. As though he was coming full circle, he followed with 'Where the Blacktop Ends' his breakthrough Top 5 hit from his self-titled release in 2001. Seemingly apt, he split the middle sending out 'Long Hot Summer' a chart topper from 2011.

With Charleston being known for its hospitality it was only fitting Urban invited a couple celebrating their honeymoon onstage for a selfie. An ideal keepsake from a very welcome post wedding crasher.

Urban revisited 'High' with 'Messed Up as Me' before going full throttle into an arsenal of Top 10's and number ones including 'Somewhere in My Car', 'Days Go By', 'Kiss a Girl', 'Who Wouldn't Wanna Be Me', 'Somebody Like You', with multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Maggie Baugh joining him on 'The Fighter', a number two single Urban recorded with Carrie Underwood in 2017.

While the smaller stadium show didn't include any side stage big screens, allowing those in the back better visuals, Urban did accommodate. Three quarters into his show Urban walked through the crowd with guitar in tow, making his way to a smaller stage near the rear of the venue. After exchanging pleasantries with fans now having a front row seats, and without help from his band, Urban wailed away over three numbers, culminating in him signing the acoustic guitar and handing it to one very fortunate concert goer. Another Urban concert keepsake.

Making his way back to the big stage Urban drew his nearly two hour show to a close with 'Blue Ain't Your Color' followed by 'Wasted Time' segueing into a riff of Johnny Cash' 'Folsom Prison Blues' while playing his guitar lying on his back. He sent concert goers home with a cover of 'You Get What You Give', a power pop single from alternative rockers, the New Radicals. And with confetti flying through the air, it was the perfect sendoff to an awesome Memorial Day weekend under the stars at Credit One Stadium.

Urban knows how to pick opening acts, having previously recorded and or performed alongside both Collins and Springsteen, with Matthew providing a nice one-two punch before Urban takes the stage. If you like your country music concerts seasoned with rock, pop, and just the right amount of ballads, than the Keith Urban's 'High and Alive Tour' is the right ticket. The tour runs across America with dates scheduled in Canada through October 17th. For more on this high energy tour visit https://keithurban.com/pages/tour