Stagecoach 2023: Luke Bryan brings the hits, but ends on a disappointing note

Luke Bryan’s return to Stagecoach went down just like one of the margaritas he loves so much: cool and easy, but with just enough kick. Well, mostly (more on that below).

The star has built a career supplying a steady stream of the kind of simple, slightly bro-ey but eminently listenable country hits that are made for soundtracking a lazy, boozy barbecue or day at the beach. And on Friday, he showed up ready to play the part, and bring the party to a Stagecoach crowd that was ready to do just that.

Much like many of his singles, Bryan arrived onstage looking simple but classic: A plain black t-shirt, blue jeans and a backward hat that seemed to say “I may be pushing 50, but the frat boy is strong within me.”

And before he even sang a word, he was hamming it up and gyrating like Elvis. Moments later, he launched into a most fitting opener, “I Don’t Want This Night to End” and the party was off and running.

The set itself can maybe be best described as consisting of two parts: backward hat Bryan and forward hat Bryan.

The former was first, and came to a crescendo when Bryan, margarita in hand, yelled “it’s margarita time” before playing (what else?) “One Margarita" while backed by a sea of digital palm trees.

“I feel like he’s already tipsy," our features editor remarked. I couldn’t disagree.

Although the vibe could hardly get any more festive, Bryan's next song was a Stagecoach anthem if there ever was one: “Sunrise, Sunburn, Sunset.”

Then it was backward hat time. I think Bryan made the change during “Country On.” But while it initially seemed like a nod to the patriotic nature of the song, it soon became clear it also signaled something of a change in tone as he soon played “Buy Dirt” (sans Jordan Davis but honestly the song might be better sung solely by Bryan), “ Waves” and “Most People Are Good.”

What followed was a torrent of hits in that vein, each one seemingly topping the last. Although there was no shortage of highlights, it would be hard to top the sequence where he played pitch perfect renditions of “Drink a Beer” “Roller Coaster,” "Crash My Party" and “Play it Again” in succession.

This was my first time seeing Bryan and I would be remiss not to note how impressed I was with his ability to nearly flawlessly replicate the recorded sound of so many of his hits on the Stagecoach Mane Stage (a feat that felt all the more impressive considering the amount of backing tracks I was subjected to at Coachella last weekend).

But there was perhaps no better show of Bryan’s vocal skills then when he declared it was time to get honkeytonk before launching into a cover of “Neon Moon.” I’ve always been impressed by those who dare to attempt to sing a hit from another big name on the festival lineup and that’s doubly true when it’s a legend on the level of Brooks and Dunn, who play (but don’t headline) on Sunday.Then, as the end of the night grew nigh, it was time to rock (even as the hat, mostly, remained forward). Bryan then pretty much brought the house down with “That’s My Kind of Night" and "Shake it For Me," and I thought this was going to go down as a perfect night of Stagecoach headlining.

While I was awaiting his closer, I pretty much had this review's conclusion written in my head. I was going to bring up Bryan's own mention from midway through the set of how he's been playing Stagecoach for 15 years and say this set was a perfect reminder of why he keeps getting invited back.

But then something peculiar happened. There had been no special guest, and while Bryan hardly needed one, when you're at Stagecoach, you can't help but wonder if one is coming. So, as those first few iconic notes of Bon Jovi's "Livin On A Prayer" played just as the magic midnight curfew hour was approaching (not that Goldenvoice has had much respect for curfews this festival season), I felt my heart beat in anticipation. Was Jon Bon Jovi really about to come out? How epic would that be?

But then Bryan sang a few lines, and then a few more ... and it became increasingly clear that a second rock legend would not be joining Bryan to take his home. Now, I gotta say, Bryan did the classic ballad of Tommy and Gina justice. But still, the whole thing felt somehow disappointing and deflating, which is not how you want to close an otherwise excellent set.

I couldn't help but think to myself "man, he was halfway there to bringing out Bon Jovi." A woman I overheard as I was filing out put it even more bluntly: "he juked us all out. That was BS."

And you know what? It kind of felt like he did. I'm not going to say Bryan spoiled what had so far been "my kind of night." But he didn't exactly land the plane either, giving my last sip of this margarita an unexpected, and unwanted, aftertaste.

Paul Albani-Burgio covers breaking news and the City of Palm Springs. Follow him on Twitter at @albaniburgiop and via email at paul.albani-burgio@desertsun.com.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Stagecoach 2023: Luke Bryan has fun, but ends on a disappointing note