Review: Lainey Wilson’s country flare lights up The Bluestone in sold-out show

As Lainey Wilson opened her sold-out show at The Bluestone Friday night singing, “They say I’m where the party’s at,” she couldn’t have been more right.

Wilson’s passionate, energetic and nearly 90-minute set was witnessed by a crowd of more than 1,300 that sang along with every word of all 18 songs the 30-year-old performed.

After 12 years of hard work in Nashville, Wilson closed out her "Country with a Flare" tour—her first as a headliner—in Columbus. Next, she will head out on tour with country megastar Luke Combs and join Morgan Wallen for several tour dates. And in the fall, Wilson will join HARDY, with whom she shares hit single “Wait in the Truck,” on tour. (Stops in Toledo and Youngstown are planned.)

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The flare referenced in the tour’s title not only applies to the signature bell-bottom jeans Wilson wears at every show, but also to the mix of influences that are audible in her music. While “country to her roots,” as she said Friday night, Wilson’s music has rock, soul and blues influences in its sound.

Wilson’s unique style and voice shone brightly on Friday as she seamlessly transitioned through her catalog, with an ebb and flow between high-energy and more subtle moments where Wilson’s vocals featured.

Performing “Atta Girl” by herself onstage, Wilson’s belief in the lyrics she was singing could be heard in every note. The song, which Wilson described as being about having to go through the bad to get to the good, was also a hit with the audience.

“Wait in the Truck” was another highlight of the evening, moving smoothly into Wilson’s most recent single, “Heart Like a Truck.” The crowd happily sang along with both hits, cheering Wilson as she hit the sustained high notes in the latter.

Even some of Wilson’s deeper cuts, like “Weak-End” and “Rolling Stone,” kept the crowd engaged throughout the set. Between songs, Wilson shared tidbits of her journey to the top of the country charts and the unending support from her family in northeast Louisiana.

That familial connection was also clear in the emotional performance Wilson gave of “Those Boots (Daddy’s Song).” But it was the more popular songs off her sophomore album, "Bell Bottom Country," where Wilson made the greatest impact on Friday night.

“Smells like Smoke,” “Hold my Halo” and “Watermelon Moonshine,” which all were featured in Wilson’s multi-episode stint on the fifth season of “Yellowstone,” all showcased Wilson’s vocal range and her energy.

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Show openers Ben Chapman and Leah Blevins also soared in their sets, and joined Wilson for her closing number—a cover of 4 Non Blondes’ “What’s Up?”

The final song came after a soaring rendition of Wilson’s first number-one single, “Things a Man Oughta Know,” which the crowd screamed along with Wilson. Their voices swelled with the song’s chorus about knowing how to fight for a relationship rather than giving up.

The audience at The Bluestone never gave up on the show either, despite feeling overcrowded with people standing nearly on top of each other and being forced to push their way through to get to the bar or restrooms. Some patrons said they had never seen the refurbished church so packed.

But the interest in Wilson is not surprising given her recent success and likelihood of headlining arenas and less intimate venues in the near future.

Bbruner@dispatch.com 

@bethany_bruner 

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Concert review: Lainey Wilson performs sold-out show at The Bluestone