In a world where a whole lot of things go wrong, they were goin' alright at The Fortitude Music Hall (31 August) in Brisbane, on the first night of Morgan Evans' 'Life Upside Down' tour.
Country music fans were treated to an unforgettable evening of heartfelt lyrics and genuine community. The air was charged with excitement as fans lined up halfway around the block, eager to get up close and personal with Morgan Evans.The evening kicked off with the captivating energy of the opening act, James Johnston. With his unbelievably energetic stage presence and infectious songs, everyone knew every word.
Jumping straight into his hit song 'Raised Like That', which currently has over 15 million streams on Spotify, it instantaneously set the tone for the night.
The highlight of his set was a medley consisting of James' original song 'Same Songs', combined with a country spin on hit songs such as 'Dynamite' by Taio Cruz, 'Hey Baby' by DJ Ötzi and 'Shut Up And Dance' by WALK THE MOON.
James finished his set with 'My People', which was the anthem for CMC 2022 after being one of the first artists to fill the crowd area for the main CMC stage without being a headliner.
James Johnston - image © KealiJoan Studios
Fresh off the back of breaking the attendance record for one of Australia's longest running festivals earlier this week at the Gympie Muster, Morgan Evans hit the stage to the roar of an adoring crowd, who sung every word to his song 'Young Again'.
Morgan sported his classic singlet, jeans and no shirt combo, even joking that he told James Johnston the tour was going to be a sleeveless event.
There wasn't a dry eye in the room when Morgan sat down at the piano and tugged at everyone's heart strings with his song 'Over For You' – a song that had an undeniable effect on a considerable amount of people who contacted Evans to thank him for giving them a song they could really connect to.
The crowd went insane when Morgan bought opener James Johnston back onstage, telling everyone about how they met when they were only young at a school production, and despite their age difference, worked together to help each other grow as artists and people, and quickly became good mates.
Morgan Evans - image © KealiJoan Studios
Together they showed their incredible friendship through their flawless harmonies as they sang Morgan's song 'All Right Here'. Even with a couple of thousand fans in the room, it was truly an intimate experience with both artists sitting on stools with the entire crowd singing along.
One thing about Morgan Evans that truly sets him apart from a lot of other artists is the way each of his songs has a life experience connected to him, and this creates powerful works of art.
Sitting down at the piano and playing the first few chords to his song 'Things That We Drink To', he spoke about how much meaning this song has to him and so many people in the room.
Sharing how it was written about his manager who died six years ago in a motorcycle incident, Morgan mentioned he wrote this song the day he found out; and as soon as he started the first verse, everyone's tears started flowing, with Morgan himself even beginning to tear up towards the end of the song.
Everyone in the room showed their support and love for him and his team by raising their drinks and lighting up the room with phone torches.
Throughout the set, Morgan kept to his Aussie roots incorporating both 'Waltzing Matilda' and 'I Still Call Australia Home' into his set, reminding us that no matter where he is, Australia will forever be his home.
There was no denying the love that he has for his fans, friends and family in Australia, and that it will forever be his home. The awe was visible countless times last night in his facial expressions and the love he has for every one of his supporters was unquestionable.
Morgan Evans - image © KealiJoan Studios
The first night of the 'Life Upside Down' tour was an evening that not only celebrated country music but also painted a picture of the unity and the community that comes with the genre.
The incredible friendships and bonds among artists, represented in the undeniable connection that James Johnston and Morgan Evans have, the emotional depth of the lyrics, and the connection between the performers and the audience created an atmosphere of pure community.
As the final chords of Evans' song 'On My Own Again' echoed through the venue, it was clear that country music's charm had once again left an unforgettable mark on the hearts of all who attended.
Morgan had us all night long, singing us country songs, and in a world where a whole lot of things go wrong, they were alright here.
More photos from the show.
