Country music is a big thing in the UK, especially in the North West of England. So, it doesn’t take much to convince me to go and see a guy like Jordan Davis when he’s on tour and rolls up in Manchester for his Damn Good Time show.
On a misty Sunday night at the Manchester Academy, a sold out crowd poured into the venue with high anticipation. The opening act came from Ashley Cooke, an emerging, bubbly country singer who got everyone in a good mood. Cooke had great energy, belting out music that ranged from a celebration of Jack Daniels to a powerful Morgan Wallen cover that got the crowd singing along.
Shifting gears
By the time Davis came on stage, the fuse had been sparked and the energy kicked up even more. He came exploding out of the gate swinging with the explosive ‘Damn Good Time’, a party song that set the tone for the rest of the set. Drinking songs poured smoothly out of the mic, like the bluesy ‘Whisky Weak’ that gave me a craving for a good glass of bourbon.
Away from the partying, Davis showed his range with softer melodies like the moving ‘Detours’, a tribute to how he met his wife. Family, faith and friends flowed through touching songs like ‘Bluebird Days’ and ‘Next Thing You Know’ (The song that put him on my radar).
We also got an exclusive performance of his new song ‘Good News Sold’, a heartwarming prediction of what the world could look like if we were all kinder to each other and less focused on ourselves.
The song was an extension of Davis’ humble philosophy and the platform that he’s built through being himself. He can play the rockstar when he wants to, being spontaneous and signing a photo that was handed to him by someone at the front of the stage. He can be the hard-partying good ol’ boy that’s a mainstay of country music lore.
But at his core, Davis is a man who would choose to be with his three kids and wife back home if he could do that everyday. A man grateful for the lessons taught to him by his grandfather at fishing spots and the break up of his parents.
Again, this came through with ‘Buy Dirt’ – a feel-good finale that celebrates the most important things in life – family, friends and appreciating the small miracles of life.
Conclusion
Country music has the power to bind people of all generations, which is what I love about it the most.
Davis is certainly a poster-boy for that cross sectional appeal, bringing millennials and Gen Z, who probably discovered him on TikTok, to older couples who stand by the golden years of powerhouses like Johnny Cash.
By the end of the night, a damn good time was had by all.
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