Luke Combs Shows Country Music Is Bigger Than The Bar.
As summer approaches, it seems like every radio I hear naturally finds its way to a country station. It’s nearly impossible to go for a sunny summer stroll without hearing the quintessential twangs of an acoustic guitar, and its southern player singing about life's simple pleasures. If anyone were to think about the traditional lyrics within a country song, several words may come to mind. Common ones include truck, red dirt roads, girls, farms, and most importantly, beer. It seems as if alcohol in its many forms has made an appearance in nearly every major country hit, but one artist has set out to change that.
Luke Combs has been making waves in the country scene. He even made the list for Forbes 30 under 30 for music. Luke provides listeners with the traditional country swing, but has also embarked on other endeavors, including, wait for it . . .an entire song about not drinking.
When I heard about Comb’s sober anthem “Joe,” I became interested for a multitude of reasons. At this point, country ranked among my least favorite music genres, so a new song with a twist intrigued me. Additionally, as a sober person myself, the subject matter was fascinating on its own. A country song about sobriety? I had never heard of such a thing. I felt that this may be an opportunity for me to redeem the reputation that country music has held in my head for so long. In an instagram post about his new song, Luke states:
“sometimes I wonder what someone in the crowd who doesn’t drink, or struggles with addiction is thinking or feeling when there’s thousands of people screaming ‘Beer Never Broke my Heart’ or ‘1, 2 Many’. I’ve always wanted a song for those people to have for themselves. To have a song they can sing at the top of their lungs and feel like they’re not forgotten.”
This sentiment from Luke really assisted in me giving the genre another chance. Moving into the song with an open mind, the lyrics pleasantly surprised me, and the refreshing perspective from the young superstar did exactly what it set out to do, it made me feel included. One of the most potent lyrics for me was: “Here's to good days, Here's to living. And here's to old sins, Bein' forgiven.”
Having dove into more of Luke Combs’ work, I was able to greater appreciate the genre for what it is. Then one evening, almost as if it was fate, a friend of mine informed me she had two free tickets to Luke Combs at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. Curious to see the artistry in action, we set out to experience the music first hand. I never would have imagined myself packed into a stadium with thousands of country lovers, but to my surprise, the live guitar and pleasant nature of the concert goers had me happy to be there.
Approaching the concert, I expected the scent of chewing tobacco and the sounds of revving pickup trucks to overwhelm my senses. However, I was met with gaggles of happy faces and polite temperaments. It was easy to tell how much the people really loved their country music, and the appreciation I felt from the crowd towards the stage was one of wholesome camaraderie.
The only surprise at U.S. Bank was that there was one song notably absent from the setlist: “Joe.” Combs is on record saying part of his motivation for writing “Joe” was to give sober people something to pump their fist to at his live concerts.
But despite that oversight at the concert, I still find myself appreciative of Combs’ willingness to even write a heartfelt tribute to sobriety. The unconventional lyrics of the song “Joe” allowed me to have an open mind, helped me fully appreciate a live music experience, and completed my own personal country redemption.
As summer goes into full swing, and brings along with it those warm summer drives, I can gladly say that the next time my car radio finds its way to its country roots, I may reconsider changing the station. Thanks, Luke.
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