NutsAboutCountry.com
  • Home
  • Reviews
    • Cheryl Harvey-Hill
    • Alan Jackson - Good TIme
    • Alan Jackson - 30 Miles West
    • Andy Griggs - This I Gotta See
    • Ashla Taylor
    • A Night On the town in Nashville
    • Billy Currington -Self Titled
    • Billy Currington - Enjoy Yourself
    • Billy Currington -Little Bit Of Everything
    • Blake Shelton - Cheers It's Christmas
    • Blake Shelton - Concert Review
    • Charlie Daniels Band - Essential Super Hits
    • Blue County - Self-titled Debut Album
    • Bryan White - Shine
    • Buddy Jewell - Buddy Jewell
    • Carl Ray - Play That Country Music Black Boy
    • Carolyn Dawn Johnson - Dress Rehearsal
    • Charlie Daniels - Confederate Railroad - LoCash Cowboys - In Concert in Tampa, FL
    • Charlie Daniels - Preachin Prayin Singin
    • Carrie Underwood - Play On
    • Chris Cagle - My Life’s Been a Country Song
    • Chris Stapleton - Traveller
    • Chris Young - I Wish I Was Lyin
    • Chris Young - Plant City Florida Strawberry Festival
    • Chris Young - A Little At A Time (debut album)
    • Chuck Wicks - Starting Now
    • Clay Walker - Chords of Hope 2014
    • Clay Walker - A Few Questions
    • Cody McCarver - Benefit Concert Troop Aid
    • Colt Ford - Declaration of Independence
    • Colt Ford - Lakeland
    • Craig Campbell - self titled debut album
    • Craig Morgan - Bradenton, Florida
    • Craig Morgan, Joe Nichols, Colt Ford, Sunny Sweeney
    • Craig Morgan and Steve Azar Perform In Rolling Meadows, Illinois
    • Craig Campbell - Lakeland Florida
    • Crystal Gayle - All My Tomorrows
    • David Kersh Interview – January 2005
    • David Lee Murphy - Tryin' To Get There
    • Don Williams - Silver Turns To Gold
    • Dierks Bentley - Feel That Fire
    • Don Williams - And So It Goes
    • Easton Corbin - Knoxville, TN Concert Review
    • Easton Corbin - Dallas Texas
    • Eric Church - Sinners Like Me
    • Faith Hill - Fireflies
    • Freddy Fender - Las Cruces NM 2005
    • Freddy Fender: La Musica De Baldemar Huerta
    • Gary Allan - Tough All Over
    • Gene Watson - My Heroes HAve Always Been Country
    • Gene Watson - Sings
    • George Jones - My Very Special Guests (Legacy Edition)
    • George Strait - 50 Number One Hits
    • George Strait - Somewhere Down In Texas
    • George Strait, Reba & LeeAnn Womack
    • George Strait - Troubadour
    • Glen Campbell
    • Gretchen Wilson - Here For The Party
    • Gretchen Wilson - Orlando Florida
    • Hank Williams Jr. - Almeria Club
    • Hank Williams Jr. - I'm One Of You
    • Hank Williams III - Long Gone Daddy
    • Hank III - Rebel Within
    • Heidi Newfield-What Am I Waiting For
    • KWNR 1st Annual Guitar Pull - Las Vegas, NV
    • Jake Penrod - Closer To Me
    • James Otto - Days Of Our Lives
    • Jamey Johnson - That Lonesome Song
    • Jamie O'Neal - Shiver
    • Jewel - Perfectly Clear
    • Jimmy Buffett - License To Chill
    • Jo Dee Messina - Me
    • Joe Diffie - Tougher Than Nails
    • Joe Nichols - Fan Party
    • Joe Nichols - It's All Good
    • Joe Nichols in Las Vegas, NV 2002
    • Joe Nichols - Crickets
    • Joe Nichols - Man With A Memory
    • Joe Nichols - Music Fest Fan Party
    • Joe Nichols - Old Things New
    • Joe Nichols - Real Things
    • Joe Nichols - Revelation
    • Joey & Rory - Album Number Two
    • Joey & Rory - His & Hers
    • john Arthur martinez - San Antonio Woman
    • John Arthur Martinez - You Play My Heart
    • John Michael Montgomery - Letters From Home
    • John Fogerty - Wrote A Song For Everyone
    • Josh Turner - Haywire
    • Josh Turner - Long Black Train
    • Josh Turner - Your Man
    • Juni Fisher - Let 'er Go, Let 'er Buck, Let 'er Fly
    • Keith Urban - Get Closer
    • Keith Urban In The Ranch - Re-release
    • Keith Walker - Space Between
    • Keith Walker - Miles From You
    • Kellie Pickler - Self-titled CD
    • Kelly Lang - Obsession
    • Kelly Lang - 11:11
    • Kelly Lang - the back story
    • Kelly Lang - Jagged Edges
    • Kelly Lang - It's About Time
    • Kelly Lang and TG Sheppard - Iconic Duets
    • Kenny Chesney - Be As You Are
    • Kenny Chesney - Lucky Old Sun
    • Kenny Chesney - No Shoes Nation - Tampa Florida
    • Kenny Chesney - The Road And The Radio
    • Kenny Chesney - When The Sun Goes Down
    • Kix Brooks - Cookin' It With Kix
    • Kix Brooks - New to This Town
    • Lacs - Lakeland Florida
    • Lady Antebellum - Strawberry Festival
    • LeAnn Rimes - Spitfire
    • LeAnn Rimes - Greatest Hits
    • LeAnn Rimes - Editorial
    • LeAnn Rimes - This Woman
    • Lee Ann Womack - Call Me Crazy
    • LeAnn Womack - There's More Where That Came From
    • LeeAnn Womack - Greatest Hits
    • Lindy Gravelle - Music And Me
    • Lee Brice - Jerrod Niemann - Tyler Farr
    • LoCash Cowboys - Tallahassee Florida
    • LoCash Cowboys Lakeland Florida
    • LoCash Cowboys - You Gonna Fly
    • LoCash Cowboys - Bradenton Florida
    • LoCash Cowboys - Knoxville Tennessee
    • Lonestar - Let's Be Us Again
    • Lorrie Morgan - A Moment In Time
    • Lorrie Morgan - Show Me How
    • Luke Bryan - Strawberry Festival
    • Lyon County - Songs from Lyon County
    • Maggie Rose - Lakeland Florida
    • Maggie Rose - I Ain't Your Mama
    • Maggie Rose - Cut To Impress
    • Marlee Scott - Beautiful Maybe
    • Mark Chesnutt - Savin' The Honky Tonk
    • Mark Wills - And The Crowd Goes Wild
    • Mark Wills - Familiar Stranger
    • Martina McBride-Live
    • Martina McBride - Eleven
    • Marty Stuart and The Fabulous Superlatives - Country Music
    • McClymonts - Wrapped Up Good
    • Merle Haggard Tribute
    • Merle Haggard and George Jones
    • Merle Haggard-Working Man's Journey
    • Miranda Lambert - Kerosene
    • Miranda Lambert - Revolution
    • Montgomery Gentry - Rebels On The Run
    • Neil McCoy - XII
    • Neil McCoy w/ Les Brown and Band
    • NewTown - Harlan Road
    • Patsy Cline - Remembering Patsy Cline
    • Patty Loveless-Sleepless
    • Randy Houser - They Call Me Cadillac
    • Ray Price - Editorial
    • Restless Heart - Still Restless
    • Rick Trevino - In My Dreams
    • Rodney Atkins - Honesty
    • Rodney Atkins - Plant City FL.
    • Rodney Atkins - It's America
    • Rodney Atkins - Self Titled Album
    • Ron Williams - Natural Thing
    • Ron Williams - Foolproof
    • Sara Evans- Sea World Orlando
    • Sara Evans - Stronger
    • Shelby Lee Lowe - Self Titled Album
    • Southern Halo - Self Titled Debut
    • Stealing Angels - Little Blue Sky
    • Stephen Pride - Pride On The Wild Side
    • Sunny Sweeney - Concrete
    • Sugarland - In Your Hands Tour Tampa Fl
    • Sylvia
    • Terri Clark - Life Goes On
    • T.G. Sheppard - Legendary Friends
    • TG Sheppard - Timeless
    • TG Sheppard - Interview 2004
    • The Band Perry - Hometown Concert
    • The Ferrari Club
    • The Grascals - Before Breakfast
    • The Morrison Brothers - Self Titled
    • Tim McGraw - Emotional Traffic
    • Tim McGraw - Live Like You Were Dying
    • Toby Keith- White Trash With Money
    • Toby Keith - Honkytonk University
    • Toby Keith - Shock'n Y'all
    • Toby Keith Tampa 12
    • Toby Keith Tampa Florida
    • Toby Keith - That Don't Make Me a Bad Guy
    • Toby Keith - Clancy's Tavern
    • Trace Adkins - Comin' On Strong
    • Tracy Byrd - Eat Like A Byrd
    • Tracy Byrd - Greatest Hits II
    • Tracy Lawrence - All Wrapped Up In Christmas
    • Tracy Lawrence - The Rock
    • Tracy Lawrence - Strong
    • Tracy Lawrence - Then & Now
    • Tracy Lawrence - For The Love
    • Tribute to Ryan Jones-LoCash Cowboys
    • Trish Yearwood - Jasper County
    • Troy Olsen - self titled debut album
    • Ty Herndon - House On Fire
    • Ty Herndon - Interview 2004
    • Ty Herndon - Right About Now
    • Vince Gill - Millennium
    • Wade Hayes - Old Country Song
    • Wade Hayes - Place To Turn Around
    • Willie Nelson - It Always Will Be
    • Willie Nelson - Living Legend
    • Willie Nelson - Heroes
    • Willie Nelson - Moment Forever
    • Willie Nelson - Remember Me Vol 1
    • Zac Brown - Uncaged
    • Looking Forward Looking Back
    • IFCO Tribute to the Johnson Sisters
    • Cheryl's Top Picks of 2007 - Predictions for 2008
    • Cheryl's Picks for 2008
    • George's top 2008 picks
    • Cheryl's Best of 2012
    • George's picks for 2012
  • WITW
    • Waiting In The Wings Introduction
    • T. Jae Christian-I Wish Was Home
    • 4Cd's I never leave home without
    • Allen Brown and The Long Hard Ride Band- Natural Disaster
    • Alysha Brooke - I Talk Country
    • Amanda Henkel - Amanda Henkel
    • Backseat Molly
    • Bailey James - Where It All Begins
    • Big Bob Young - Hard Way To Make A Dollar
    • Bill Wence - Analog Man In A Digital World
    • Billy Don Burns
    • Billy Don Burns - The Music Says It All
    • Billy Holt - Long Gone
    • Billie Jo Russell - I Just Can't Imagine
    • Billy Joe Shaver - Long In Tooth
    • Billy Joe Shaver- Live At Billy Bob’s Texas
    • Billy Ryan Droze - Sinnin' Man
    • Billy Yates - Favorites
    • Blaine Larsen - Off To Join The World
    • Brandon McPhee - The Country Side
    • Chris Leigh
    • Cody Jinks - 30
    • Coldwater Canyon
    • Crystal Sands - CMA Fest
    • Crystal Sands-Debut CD
    • Crystal Sands - The Hard Times
    • Daniel Lee Martin - All That I Am
    • Darrell Goldman - The Bed I've Made
    • Darryl Lee Rush - Llano Avenue
    • David Church - Falling
    • David Wood - Here and Now
    • Dean Crawford and Tommy Joe Wilson
    • Erich Mcmann-The Last American SongBook
    • Flatt Lonesome - Runaway Train
    • Gaylynn Robinson - Songs by a West Texas Songstress
    • Gaylynn Robinson - Love & Heatache
    • Glenn Cummings - Big
    • Grady Yates - A Thousand Horses
    • Hermann Lammers Meyer - The Good Old Days
    • James Talley
    • Jay Sims - Half Souls and Heels
    • Joanna Mosca - Keep On Going
    • Jennifer Vazquez - Rediscovering Me
    • Jerry Burkhart - Cryin' Country
    • Jessie Lee Cates - Let Your Country Out
    • Jody Jenkins
    • Justin Honaman
    • Kameron Ross
    • Karen Wiltz - Chapters
    • Karin Wright - Too Rockin' Roll for Country...
    • Kate Sansing - Self titled album
    • Kat Moore Band - Home
    • Katy Benko - Float
    • Kelly Kenning
    • Kenny Joe Blake (& The Drifting Nobodys) - The Gravy Train
    • Knut Bell- Wicked, Ornry, Mean and Nasty
    • Kenny Butterill-Troubadour Tales
    • Kenny Chesney - All I Want For Christmas
    • Kyrsti Worley - A Bible & A Six Pack
    • Krysti Worley - Cowman
    • Lacy Jay-Livin My Life
    • Laura McGhee - Green Eyes
    • LEYLA FENCES: Get The Truck Outta Here
    • Lindsey Ridener - Faith
    • Lonny Ayres - Changing Lanes
    • Locked down and Locked in
    • Lynne Taylor Donovan
    • Mark Holt & Kimberlee Holt Tully - Acoustically Native
    • Megan Linville
    • Melonie Cannon - And The Wheels Turn
    • Nick Verzosa
    • Michael Thomas - Bonafide Country Boy
    • Mike Lepi - I'm Livin On
    • Mike Trudell
    • Mike Runnels
    • Mike Schikora-Horses & Guitars
    • Pam Ferens: An Evolution
    • Patrick Brooks - Rust & Weeds
    • Paul Alan Coons -Pour Me A Tall One
    • Ryan Broshear - Counrything
    • Richie Allbright - Kickin The Doors Down
    • Richie Allbright - If I Known Then
    • Robert Larrabee-Round Here
    • Robert Larrabee-Middle of Something
    • Rowdy McCarran - Eyes Wide Open
    • Royal Wade Kimes-Shadows of Times
    • Royal Wade Kimes-A Proud Land
    • Royal Wade Kimes - Crossing The Roads
    • Royal Wade Kimes-Snow
    • Shane Owens - Where I'm Comin' From
    • Shevy Smith - Blueprint
    • Steve Scott-Those Tear I've cried
    • Susie Warley - Naked Dreams
    • Skyla Spencer: You Said You’d Call Me
    • Sylkie Monoff - Genuine
    • Stacy Morris - Borders And Boundaries
    • Todd Sterling - Pawn Shop Guitar
    • Sweet Root
    • Ted&Helen
    • The Dust Devils - Gathering Dust >
      • Steve Neil Wilson - Bat Out Of Carolina
    • Susan Hickman - Self Titled
    • Teresa Farris - Take It On The Run
    • The Ranchhands
    • Todd Sterling - Road Songs
    • Tommy Shane Steiner - Then Came The Night
    • Travis Sinclair - Rush
    • Trent Willmon - Debut
    • Tuxedo Country
  • Fan Talk
  • Fan Talk Gallery
  • Contact Us

Joe Nichols at the Railhead in Las Vegas, NV 2002

Picture
Concert Review by: Cheryl Harvey Hill, Staff Journalist

For this aspiring superstar of country music, the  only time he may ever hear the word "impossible" is when they say the title of the first number one hit from his Man With A Memory CD.


Despite  the fact that he looks more like a GQ model than a country music singer, his voice immediately over-rides his attire. The first time you heard Joe Nichols on the radio, you knew you were listening to the heir-apparent to an elite list of country music legends. That observation was confirmed during NFR (National  Finals Rodeo) week in Las Vegas, Nevada.

As the cowboys kept folks entertained at the rodeo arena, Nichols, in between his two concerts at the Boulder Station Casino, was busily making personal appearances all over town and easily charming the socks (or cowboy boots) off of tourists and locals alike. It isn't just his voice that endears him to music fans. Nichols is a throwback to  the "good ole boy," country music icons of yesterday with his laid-back demeanor and quick, easy smile. The size of the venue doesn't matter because he makes you feel like you are sitting in the front row seat of your favorite, local honky-tonk.

In a two concert series, jointly promoted by KWNR radio and Station Casinos, fans only had to donate a toy to the local Wednesday's Child Charity to garner a ticket to Nichols' concert. This proved to be the biggest bargain in town during NFR week. For your act of kindness you were rewarded with nearly two hours of non-stop, first-class entertainment. In between songs Nichols exchanged easy banter from the front of the stage with various members of the audience as he gave a brief intro into each song. His play list is comprised of songs from Man With A Memory and a versatile mix of his own traditional country favorites.

Nichols opened his show at the Boulder City Station Casino with a heart-tugging rendition of the Hank Cochran penned  "A-11," but the tempo quickly changed to up-beat when he barely took a breath before leading into the quick paced "Joe's Place" from his current CD. These first two songs set the pace for the next ninety minutes, and although the audience barely had a chance to breathe between songs, they were happily caught up in the momentum.

After several standing ovations, the first one for "Cool To Be A Fool" (which he co-wrote), the audience just stayed on their feet. Sitting was no longer an option. He introduced this delightful, toe-tappin' song by saying it was "autobiographical" and he clearly had a great time poking fun
at himself with the lyrics and enjoying the audiences reaction to his words. Before anyone had a chance to recover from the intense workout he had just given their funny bones, he changed the emotional pace once again to sing one of the most beautiful love songs I have ever heard - and the song that he proclaimed to be his personal favorite from the Man With a Memory CD - "That Would be Her."

Giving the audience, and perhaps himself, a much-needed break, he slowed the tempo and transitioned into "The Impossible." But if a lesser pace was the plan, it distinctly backfired. As the first strains of the melody came over the footlights, the audience was once again in the throes of a rowdy standing ovation that made it nearly infeasible to hear him as he thanked everyone in radio - and all of those who had purchased the album - for helping make this song his first number one single.


As the band took a break, Nichols and his long-time friend and lead guitar player, Brian Spradlin, stayed onstage to  treat everyone to a delightful acoustic set of songs that included the Charlie  Pride ballad, "The Rose." When the band returned, Nichols introduced each of them to the audience. He preceded the actual introduction by saying, "I would like to introduce you all to two of my favorite people" and as he pointed to the band he said, "Band meet the audience" and then he pointed to the audience and said, "Audience meet the band." You knew he was serious. It is clearly evident that he loves what he is doing and it is quite likely that "the band" and "the  audience" really are his two "favorites." Judging by the thundering applause his remarks generated from the audience, they definitely believed him.

He closed his concert by singing, one more time, the song he credited with bringing him to where he is today, "The Impossible." As he exited the stage, the audience obviously wasn't ready to let him go. The sound of "encore" quickly permeated the Railhead along with sustained applause. It was clearly evident that no one wanted the show to end but despite persistent pleas of "one more time" from everyone in attendance, it appeared the concert was over until a tall, incredibly handsome cowboy in a white hat appeared from the back of the darkened  stage. The audience became nearly hysterical as they realized it was Joe Nichols... now looking every inch the way he sounds. The thunderous applause resonated off the walls and ceiling and, for the first time, I understood what folks meant when they said, "he nearly brought the house down."

As Nichols exited the stage one final time, the announcer promised that Nichols would be out front shortly to shake hands and meet with anyone who wanted to say "hi." As we made our way out of the casino, we had to circumvent a continuous line of people that stretched throughout the building - all taxiing for position in the endless merchandise line.

​I said it before and I'll say it again: J-o-e  N-i-c-h-o-l-s. Write that down. You don't want to forget this name. You are  going to be hearing it a lot ... especially at the various awards shows for the next several decades.

Play list:
A-11 (Johnny Paycheck, Buck  Owens)
Joe's Place 
*
I Think I Want My Rib Back (Keith Whitley)

Cool To  Be A Fool *
It Would Be Her *
The Impossible *
The Rose (Charlie  Pride)
A Country Boy Can Survive (Hank Williams)
Footlights (Merle  Haggard)
You Can't Break The Fall *
My Farewell Party (Gene  Watson)
Brokenheartsville 
*
Ramblin' Fever (Merle Haggard)
All My Rowdy Friends (Hank 
Williams)
You Never Even Called Me By My Name (Merle  Haggard)
Closed with a repeat of The Impossible  *

ENCORE:
Everything's A Thing 
*
She Only Smokes When She  Drinks *
Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound (Hank Williams)
Hey Baby I love You  (Marty Stuart)

* Album cuts from Man With a Memory


It's All Good
Las Vegas, NV 2002
Fan Club Party - Nashville, TN 2010
Old Things New
Real Things

www.JoeNichols.com