NYC went country last night with Cole Swindell celebrating the release of his sophomore album, “You Should Be Here,” at the Gramercy Theatre.  If you’re a fan of Cole’s, of country music, or just having a good time, you should have been there.  His set was packed with hits from start to finish, including tracks from the new album and his record-breaking debut.  It was one of the most fun shows we’ve been to in a while, where we could singalong from start to finish.  The sold out crowd was ready to party, and knew all of the new songs despite the album only having been out for 2 days.

Cole got his start in Nashville as a songwriter, cutting tracks for Luke Bryan, Thomas Rhett, Florida Georgia Line and more before signing his own record deal with Warner Brothers.  He played his versions of “Get Me Some Of That” and “This Is How We Roll,” leading into his first #1 as an artist, “Chillin’ It.”

Cole told the crowd he grew up on 90s country music, which made him fall in love with the genre.  He covered Kenny Chensey’s “Don’t Happen Twice,” which was the first song he’d ever played for an audience back in college.  He had a full circle moment getting to sing that song with Kenny on stage last year.  Cole thanked the fans throughout the show, saying that they’re the reason he is where he is and “the reason I do all of this.”  Country artists are some of the most grateful and generous artists we’ve seen and it’s because of the close connection they have with their fans.

Highlights of his set included “Flatliner,” which Cole recorded with Dierks Bentley, and his new single “Middle of a Memory.”  Cole’s performance of the title track from the album, “You Should Be Here,” was an emotional moment.

Cole ended the night with a 3-song encore that included a bonus track from the new album, “Hoppin’,” which you can get on iTunes.  He took the crowd to church with “No Can Left Behind,” which he said was already one of his favorites to play live.  It’s a JAM.  The track has an old-school country sound and feel, a welcome throwback in the set. Cole closed out the show with his hit “Ain’t Worth The Whiskey,” which was one loud singalong from start to finish.  He let the crowd take it home as he held up an American flag sourced from the front row.

Setlist
Down Home Boys
Hey Y’all
Brought To You By Beer
Up
Hope You Get Lonely Tonight
Middle of A Memory
Get Me Some Of That (Thomas Rhett)
This Is How We Roll (FGL & Luke Bryan)
Chillin’ It
Real Good Man (Tim McGraw)
Don’t Happen Twice (Kenny Chesney)
Broke Down
Stars
Let Me See Ya Girl
Flatliner
You Should Be Here
(Encore)
Hoppin’
No Can Left Behind
Ain’t Worth The Whiskey

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