Mark Chesnutt Makes Celebrated Return with Sold-Out Show at Lincoln Amphitheatre

A Note From The Author: As an on-air personality at WBDC, I had the fortunate opportunity to emcee the show and it was truly one of my favorite concerts. What a night!

After spending three months on the mend following a heart procedure, country legend Mark Chesnutt has resumed touring. His first weekend back included a stop at the scenic Lincoln Amphitheatre (a must-visit venue) in Lincoln City, Indiana. The sold-out show drew fans from multiple states, and they greeted the country star with a standing ovation the moment he took the stage on Saturday, September 7, 2024.

Mark Chesnutt is an unwavering traditionalist when it comes to his stylistic preference. Real country, as he chooses to label it. And that’s exactly what the audience reveled in for the duration of the night. And hits. Lots of hits.

He ranks at number seven when it comes to artists with the most top twenty hits from the ‘90s era. That puts Mark Chesnutt in elite company with Vince Gill, Clint Black, Reba McEntire, Alan Jackson, and George Strait. His set kicked off with a top five hit from 1994, “Bubba Shot the Jukebox,” and paced the night with massive radio hits, deep track gems, and covers that shaped his honky tonk history.

The Beaumont-born singer delivered more selections from his early ‘90s catalog including “Blame It On Texas,” and “I Just Wanted You To Know, before treating fans to his rendition of Charlie Rich’s “Rollin’ With the Flow.”  

Backed with one of the best bands in the business, the members were each given prominent spotlights. It’s easy to see why several of the instrumentalists have been with Mark Chesnutt for over 30 years – they had a natural musical connection and appeared to be having the best time onstage. And how could you not when you have a song like “Old Flames Have New Names,” with it’s western-swing sound bringing the crowd to its feet?

Mark’s debut album produced his first number one hit, “Brother Jukebox,” a now-classic that still sounded as good as ever. He followed that up with the title track of his gold-selling What a Way To Live record before diving into “Ol’ Country.”

As country music weaved through cyclical style changes through the ’90s, it eventually moved towards a crossover phase. When many of his contemporaries experimented with pop flavors, it was always Mark Chesnutt you could depend on for that rich traditional sound. Couple that with his knack of writing and finding well-crafted songs, and it results in platinum-selling, no-filler albums. Case in point is the beloved “Thank God For Believers” a song that displays the storytelling country music is known for, complete with a fiddle intro and emotive vocals.

The simple and sweet “Your Love Is A Miracle,” a top three hit from 1991 was next, followed by a powerful delivery of “Almost Goodbye.” That led to an unforgettable moment when Mark teamed up with his guitarist for an acoustic version of “There Won’t Be Another Now.” The song, written by songwriting aficionado Red Lane, was originally featured on Merle Haggard’s 1978 I'm Always on a Mountain When I Fall album and again on the critically acclaimed Kern River. Mark cut his own rendition for his 2016 Tradition Lives record, a collection featuring the finest country songs in recent memory.

Tradition is noticeably important to the country icon. He dedicated a portion of his show to talking about his musical backstory and the artists-turned-friends who influenced him. The first being George Jones, who Mark got to know while performing at one of George’s Texas theme parks. The two toured together extensively and in 1992 recorded “Talking To Hank” for Mark’s Longnecks and Short Stories album – the Indiana crowd loved the up-tempo honky tonk grooves. He threw in one from the Possum’s catalog, too – the always-fun “One Woman Man.”

Waylon Jennings undoubtedly had an impact on Mark Chesnutt – he was the one Mark could always rely on for honest advice about the music business. And hearing him do a medley of Waylon’s hits including “Clyde,” “Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way,” and “Good Hearted Woman,” was another highlight of the evening.

 “Too Cold At Home,” with its steel-guitar infused lead, was another pinnacle. When the opening guitar notes of “I’ll Think of Something” filled the air, concertgoers grabbed their phones to record the impressive performance of the fan favorite. The wildly popular “It’s A Little Too Late” had the crowd dancing in the aisles once again. A ‘90s staple “Goin’ Through The Big D” capped the night – the audience’s lengthy standing ovation proving that real country music is always in demand. And it’s a reminder that Mark Chesnutt, unrivaled in his authenticity, continues to carry on the traditional sound that comprises the heart of country music.

Setlist

Bubba Shot the Jukebox

Blame It On Texas

I Just Wanted You To Know

Rollin’ With the Flow

Old Flames Have New Names

Brother Jukebox

What A Way To Live

Ol’ Country

Thank God For Believers

Your Love Is A Miracle

Almost Goodbye

There Won’t Be Another Now

Talking To Hank

One Woman Man

Medley: Clyde, Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way, Good Hearted Woman

Too Cold At Home

I’ll Think of Something

It’s A Little Too Late

Goin’ Through the Big D

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