Jelly Roll Brings An Emotional Mind Blowing Night To Milwaukee
The Backroad Baptism Tour featuring Jelly Roll, Yelawolf, & Struggle Jennings took over the American Family Insurance Amphitheater in Milwaukee, WI with a sold-out crowd of 23,000 fans. Milwaukee was the 14th consecutive sold-out show on this tour, and it was clear that the fans were ready to have their minds blown. It was clear from the excitement and energy in the air that fans had been eagerly awaiting this night for a long time.
Struggle Jennings, the step-grandson of Waylon Jennings and country musician Jessi Colter, was the opening act of the night. Jennings has music in his blood & his deep roots in country music mixed with his powerful rapping skills created an unmatched experience. As he performed tracks from his latest EP, "Spiritual Warfare," fans were caught up in his world of hard-hitting lyrics and emotion. Jennings' connection with Jelly Roll was apparent, as the two have been making music together for over two decades.
Click The Image For The Full Struggle Jennings Gallery
His performance was soulful and heartfelt, and his stage presence commanded the attention of the audience. His ability to connect with the audience and convey his emotions through his music was impressive. Struggle who spent 5 years locked up in prison, talked about his daughter and how she was a fighter and never followed in her parents’ footsteps. She recently graduated High School with a 3.9 GPA & next week Struggle gets to drop her off at college. He performed a mix of new and old tracks that showed off his unique sound, which was influenced by both country and rap music. Struggle's set was the perfect way to start off the night, and it set the tone for what was to come.
Next up was Yelawolf, the Alabama-born rapper, now a Tennessee native started his music career independently in 2005 before gaining mainstream attention with his Trunk Muzik EP in 2010. Yelawolf has a large and loyal following, and the audience went wild when he took the stage. Yelawolf and Jelly Roll have a history that dates back over a decade. In fact, Yelawolf took Jelly Roll on one of his first tours, so it was only fitting that the two shared the stage in front of this massive crowd. Yelawolf brought his signature style and intensity to the performance, delivering hit after hit and getting the crowd pumped up for what was to come.
“We were just pulling in, I barely made it here, to be honest. I got stuck in traffic to get to the show, Jelly Roll is causing traffic jams these days. He went from a line around the block to a line around the interstate.”
The traffic to get into the show was unlike anything I have ever seen in Milwaukee.
Click The Image For The Full Yelawolf Gallery
Yelawolf showcased his many talents when he belted out Friends In Low Places and Walk, which was a shoutout to the metal band Pantera. Yelawolf has been working with Struggle’s Uncle, Shooter Jenning’s son of Waylon, who has moved more into a producer role as of late. Yelawolf's energy was unmatched as he performed tracks from his fifth album, Trunk Muzik III. Yelawolf brought a level of intensity to the show that electrified the audience. He played some of his biggest hits and showed why he has become a legend in the world of rap. He gave a high-octane performance that left fans buzzing and ready for more.
As soon as the lights dimmed and the first chords were strummed, the audience erupted into deafening cheers that set the tone for the entire night. This crowd was packed in tighter than I have ever seen at this amphitheater, and it was clear that fans were there for a religious experience, not just a concert. It was a sold-out event, and every seat was filled, from the pit to the nosebleed section of the lawn. Excitement buzzed around the amphitheater like a current, and everyone could feel it. The atmosphere of the concert was electric, with an energetic buzz that didn't dissipate for even a second. He sang about heartache, hard work, and chasing your dreams, touching on themes that resonated deeply with the crowd.
Jelly Roll took the stage and started off with some of his most popular songs, the ones that had brought fans from all over the country to witness his live performance. As he sang, he connected with the crowd, building on their energy, and leaving them mesmerized. Every word was a balm to their souls, a powerful reminder that music could bring people together and lift them up. Throughout the show, the crowd was heavily engaged with the performance, with everyone singing along to every word of Jelly Roll's hit songs. Even the slow and soulful songs moved the crowd, evoking emotion and bringing people to tears including Jason DeFord himself which is Jelly Roll’s real name.
"I'm sitting up here with goosebumps looking out at all 23,000 of you, this is crazy.”
Jelly said as he had to turn away from the crowd trying to hide the tears, before singing one of his biggest hits to date Son Of A Sinner. The crowd was so loud, and he just couldn’t take it breaking down on stage and even knocking over his mic stand trying to waive off the sea of emotions that the crowd was displaying. During the song, the screen showed fans in the crowd, and even grown men had tears flowing out of their eyes. The emotion during this song was unlike anything and the goosebumps were real.
“I also want to be clear, as much as I keep calling this a tour. I don’t want this to be confused with a concert. This is not a concert, this is a family reunion of people healing together, right now in Milwaukee, WI.”
Jelly Roll's voice was remarkable, with every word spoken directly from his heart. It was clear that his passion and dedication to his craft were reflected in his vocal abilities and stage presence. He was vulnerable and honest, unafraid to bare his soul for all to see. The crowd loved it, and his emotion resonated with them on a deep level. Jelly Roll's set was an emotional rollercoaster, with moments of raw vulnerability and intense energy. To end the night, he stopped the music and shared a touching story of how he came to create his song "Save Me." He talked about his journey and how he hoped the song would help others who were struggling with addiction and mental health issues.
"This is real music for real people with real problems."
One of the highlights of the night was when Jelly called upon a fan who was side-stage with a sign that asked to sing Son Of The Dirty South with him. This is a song Jelly Roll did with fellow country musician Brantley Gilbert. Not knowing what to expect Jelly brought the 12-year-old on stage and boy did he blow everyone away. He crushed his performance even leaving Jelly speechless at one point.
"That was incredible. It blew my mind to be honest with you, Boy son, if I had had that talent when I was 12 years old, I wouldn't have went to prison. It's going to be truly hard to follow that, that sucks. We should have saved him for last."
Jelly Roll thanked the crowd by telling them he would never leave Milwaukee off another tour, and then proceeded to tell the crowd that his dream was to fill the Fiserv Forum right down the street which is the home of the Milwaukee Bucks, I think Jelly just needs to bypass the arena and go for the Stadium, seeing the amphitheater held 23K, the arena is only 18K, & P!NK just set a stadium record at 46K. Jelly if tonight was any indication of the impact you have had on your southern WI fans, then I say dream big and let us sell out that stadium & set a new record!
"I want you all to know I will never in my life do another tour and not come back to Milwaukee, but you've got to fulfill a dream of mine. My dream is to play the arena right here in downtown. That's my dream."
As the concert came to an end, the crowd's energy did not falter. At normal concerts, fans try to sneak out a song or two early, but not tonight. Everyone stayed glued to their seats to sing along to the last few songs, holding onto the memories of an unforgettable night. The Backroad Baptism Tour featuring Jelly Roll was truly an exceptional event, one that touched the hearts and souls of all in attendance.
"Thank you for buying a ticket. Thank you for paying that stupid fee they put on all these tickets these days. Thank you for sitting in traffic. Some of you thought you were going to miss the show it was so bad. Thank you for waiting in line. Thank you for paying too much money for a beer. Thank you for having to walk all the way around this big amphitheater. Thank you for every single headache you went through to be at this show tonight. ... Thank you all, man."
Overall, the Backroad Baptism Tour featuring Jelly Roll, Yelawolf, and Struggle Jennings was a night that will not be soon forgotten. The energy, emotion, and talent that these performers brought to the stage were exceptional. It was clear that this trio of artists brought out the best in each other as they performed together. There was a strong connection between the artists, which created an even more intense atmosphere. They proved that they are at the top of their game and know how to connect with their fans in a way that is truly special. The sold-out crowd left the American Family Insurance Amphitheater feeling uplifted, inspired, and grateful for the opportunity to witness such a fantastic show. It was clear that this was more than just a concert it was a shared experience between the performers and the audience, a coming together of like-minded individuals who found solace and inspiration in the music. The memories of that night will live on for years to come.
Click The Image For The Full Jelly Roll Gallery
Don’t Miss The Chance To See This Tour!
Editors Note: On a personal level I have been attending concerts since I saw KISS in 1997. I have averaged 35 concerts a year since then. In nearly 1K shows I have never witnessed a crowd like I did in Milwaukee. The tears were real, the goosebumps were contagious and the hair-raising experience that was witnessed is something you can’t duplicate. This is an experience you need to see for yourself, and you won’t be disappointed, I promise you this! I’m so glad I get to exist in this world at the same time as Jelly Roll, Thank You for saving music!
Jelly Roll Set-List
"The Lost"
"Hate Goes On"
"Halfway To Hell"
"Creature"
"Dead Man Walking"
"Son of a Sinner"
"Boys in the Hood"/"Ruff Ryder’s Anthem"/"Lose Yourself"/"Just a Friend"
"She"
"Smoking Section"
"Unlive”
"Same AssHole”
”Son of the Dirty South”
"Bottle and Mary Jane"
"Need a Favor"
"The House of the Rising Sun"/"Hurricane"/"Colt 45"
"Wheels Fall Off"
"Kill a Man"
"Fall in the Fall"
"Simple Man"
"Save Me"
