A “high-energy party” is how
rising country star Luke Bryan
describes his live performances.
On Thursday, Starkvilleans and
Mississippi State students will
have their own opportunity to
experience one of these parties
as Bryan takes the stage at Rick’s
Cafe.
According to Rick’s owner
Rick Welch, Bryan’s performance
could be reminiscent of another
modern country star that rocked
Rick’s not too long ago.
“[Luke Bryan] is on his way up
where Dierks Bentley was when
he played here,” Welch said. “It
won’t be long before he’s playing
much bigger places.”
Welch said he believes this
show could be a rare chance to
see Bryan live before he really
explodes onto the country music
scene.
“I thought it was a great opportunity
to bring an artist like Luke
to Starkville while I still could,”
he said.
The future aside, Bryan has
already found a great deal of
success in mainstream country.
According to CMT.com, Bryan
grew up in Leesburg, Ga., where
he received his first guitar at age
14, and in only a year found himself
sharing guitar licks and lead
vocals with other local country
singers at a Leesburg club. Bryan
has since signed with Capitol
Records and released an album,
I’ll Stay Me, in 2007 which
reached number two on the U.S.
country chart and produced multiple
top 10 singles, including
“Country Man” and party ballad
“All My Friends Say,” the video
which was filmed at a Georgia
fraternity house.
Bryan believes his music has
proved successful because it’s so
easy for Southern college students
to relate to.
“[My music] is about college
students and where they are at
in life,” Bryan said. “It’s about
riding in pickups and first love.
How many college students can’t
relate to that? I know I do.”
Bryan’s fans agree that his
music strikes a familiar chord
with them.
“He has that country-boy
sound and is not afraid to sing
about his roots and how he grew
up in the country,” sophomore
Ben Wait said. “I can relate to
most of his songs, especially ‘All
My Friends Say,’ ‘Country Man,’
and ‘Pray About Everything.'”
According to Bryan, college
students’ identification with his
music makes his shows in college
towns some of his most enjoyable.
“When I play in college towns,
they get my music and they get
me,” Bryan said. “I enjoy the
fact that my music is right up a
college student’s alley, and when
I play in a college town I always
acquire some fans. Those fans are
the most important thing to me
and my career.”
In addition to being excited
about playing in a college town,
Bryan is looking forward to performing
in the Southeast, near his
Georgia roots. Nevertheless, Bryan
is no stranger to Mississippi.
“I have played in Mississippi,
just not in Starkville before,” he
said. “Every town I go to, I see a
little piece of where I came from.
That’s why I love the South. It
reminds me of my home and my
roots.”
Bryan believes he can connect
with his audience regardless of
how familiar it is with his work.
“My music more than likely
represents a lot of what [students]
are going through or have experienced
in their life, so they can
relate,” he said.
Bryan fan and senior elementary
education major Katie Ray
said she can relate to his music.
“I think [students] will have a
good time and enjoy the music,”
Ray said. “Even if you don’t know
any of his songs, there is going to
be at least one you will like when
you leave.”
Opening for Bryan will be
self-described country and soul
artist Hunter Hayes. The doors
open at 8 p.m., and the music
begins at 9 p.m. Tickets are available
now for $15 dollars. For
more information, call Rick’s at
323-RICK.
“I think it will be a unique
opportunity to see Luke Bryan in
an intimate setting,” Welch said.
“From what I’ve heard, it will be
a very energetic show.”