Class of 2013

Last Saturday we enjoyed our 3rd trip to the Class Of (fill in the year) show. The first year we went alone. Last year we went with some friends who vowed to come with us again this year, but then they went and had a baby 9 months after last year's show so they were home with a newborn. We missed them and can't wait to have them join us again next year, but we did find some new fans to add to our every growing Class Of gang.

This year we ate at a Southern restaurant in Milwaukee before the show. I am not a fan of southern food but it was a really nice place and the food was good, if you like that sort of thing. Then we headed off to the show and lined up an hour early because we were hoping for a booth in the dead center of the room, which we did manage to obtain.

I regretted that I didn't drag my camera out last year. I know not everyone is comfortable with me being up in their face taking pictures but if you want to hang with me, you will just have to get used to it. So here is this year's crew. Our friends Nathan and Lisa, us, and Seth's boss Dan and his wife Carrie.
 
My hair was curled but it was super windy so of course I am being nit picky and critical of this picture but I am still always happy to get a pic of me and Seth together.


In case you haven't memorized how this show works, here is your recap. Five new country artists come and all sit on stage together and take turns showcasing their songs. They are really casual and talk to the audience quite a bit. Most of them have one single on the radio and are getting ready to release their first album. Here is this year's line up.

First up was Greg Bates, whose single is I Did it for the Girl. He was pretty serious and didn't talk to us enough so he kind of got lost in the shuffle.

Kacey Musgraves, who we will also see this summer with Kenny Chesney. Her single is Merry Go Round. I hate to say it, but I have never much cared for the female acts we have seen in the past (other than The Band Perry which has a girl lead singer) but this girl was pretty good.

Thomas Rhett, whose single is called Beer With Jesus. Yep, you read that right. I am not sure he was as talented as some of the others he shared the stage with but he was a lot of fun and very full of personality so we had a good time watching him.

Dustin Lynch, who sings Cowboys and Angels. He is another one that was quiet and got lost in the shuffle. His songs were all so melancholy and slow. I like slow country ballads best, but these lyrics sounded like up tempo stuff, only way slowed down so it didn't really work for me.

And Randy Houser, who pretty much stole the show. He was so funny and really got the crowd going. He played off of the other acts and brought them to life too, so once he came out the show really took off. He actually had a few hits years ago (Anything Goes and Goin' Out With My Boots On) and then faded from the scene, so he was the most seasoned and also the most talented. Am I allowed to say that? He blew us away, and it was exciting because his single How Country Feels hit number one that day on the country charts so we were the first to hear him sing it as a #1. Seth said he is the best artist we have seen across the 3 years. I have a few other favorites, but I am tempted to agree.

It was another awesome year at Class Of. If you have any interest in country music, you should join us next year. It sells out in like 8 minutes, no exaggeration, and it is a great time every year. Every one we have dragged along with us has been skeptical about watching acts they didn't know and by the nights end they were Class of Converts.