Ryan and Rory Rock The Hard Rock
I am often asked how I can afford to go to so many concerts in a single year and one of my secrets is that I win a lot of tickets. In this case, I entered a sweepstakes that popped up on my Facebook feed for tickets and a meet and greet with Ryan and Rory and won. So even before stepping into the Hard Rock Casino, I was already a winner. Ryan and Rory were opening up for Sam Hunt on this leg of his “Locked Up” tour.
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While neither member of Ryan and Rory is new to the music industry, they are new to the country music scene as a duo. They put out their first EP a couple of months ago and this was only the second show that they have played with a full band. This was the first time I have done a private meet and greet and they could not have made my mom and I feel more special. They took time to ask about our day and get to know us before taking pictures. They were charming, and engaging, and made us feel like the stars.
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Fun fact: I was stoked to learn Ryan used to be the frontman for the band Hot Chelle Rae which was big back when I was in grade school. I would jam to “Tonight Tonight” and “I Like It Like That” on my iPod. Unfortunately, they did not play either, but they did play several songs off their self-titled EP released in July. My personal favorite off the EP is “Drunk and Lonely.” They played the unreleased “What Them Boots Do” and closed with their current single playing on Sirus XM's “Pour Decisions.” After their set, they met new fans and signed merchandise for over half an hour.
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I saw Sam Hunt at the beginning of this year on the “Outskirts” tour and was pleasantly surprised. The “Locked Up” tour wasn’t much different except for swapping a few songs out to put a few from his latest EP on the setlist. I’m bummed that “Under the Bridge” was taken off the setlist and the floating bridge was no longer a part of the stage setup because that was some of the coolest set production I have ever seen. He opened with mega hits “23,” “Kinkfolk,” and “House Party.” He walked through the crowd during “House Party” to shake hands and engage the crowd. He looked like he needed a Tide stick for his white shirt when he emerged.
Taken with iphone
Hunt showed off his dance moves during “Let It Down” bringing up the energy in the venue. “Country House” was a nice addition to the setlist. He covered “We Are Tonight” and “Cop Car” which he wrote and were recorded by Billy Currington and Keith Urban. He closed with powerhouse “Ex to See’ and fan favorite “Leave the Night On.” Hunt never fails to put on a great show.
While some might be hesitant about attending a show in Gary, Indiana, the Hard Rock Live couldn’t have been nicer and in a convenient location from the highway. I will be keeping an eye out for other artists coming to the Hard Rock in Gary. You can catch Ryan and Rory opening for Jamey Johnson in the fall. Rumor has it that there is a collaboration on the horizon with Johnson. Sam Hunt is currently finishing up his “Locked Up” tour, but you can catch him now through the end of September.
For more information on Ryan and Rory – https://www.ryanandrorymusic.com/welcome/
For more information on Sam Hunt - https://www.samhunt.com/
