It is safe to say that Brian Kelley and Tyler Hubbard from Florida Georgia Line get better each year with every headlining tour. “The Smooth Tour” was no different. They kicked off their high-energy set with the upbeat “Anything Goes,” and it was followed by the laid-back and carefree “Smile.” Equally fun and liberating was the infectious “Round Here,” which featured the duo’s killer harmony vocals.
The audience was singing along with them on “Confession.” “New York,” Hubbard screamed. One of the highlight tracks from the first half of their set was “May We All,” which won them the Academy of Country Music (ACM) award for “Vocal Event of the Year,” and rightfully so. Hubbard on acoustic guitar was superb.
Both band members accompanied themselves on acoustic guitars for the poignant ballad “Dirt,” which really tugged at the heartstrings.
They had the audience with them every step of the way. They continued with the spitfire “Sippin’ On Fire” and the lovey dovey portion of the show featured their latest radio single “God, Your Mama, and Me,” which was the quintessential Mother Day’s or Valentine’s Day theme song.
“H.O.L.Y.” was the song that resonated the best with their fans, especially its catchy chorus. They brought back fellow rapper Nelly on stage for a killer collaboration of “Hot in Herre,” and they closed with their signature song, the smash hit “Cruise,” which felt like the country national anthem of Jones Beach.
The Verdict
Overall, Florida Georgia Line can get the country party started in any country bar, in this case it was the Jones Beach Theater, where they played for a capacity crowd of 15,000 screaming fans. Their Jones Beach show was fun and uplifting, and it garnered an A rating. It was a substantial indication that their 2017 ACM nomination for “Entertainer of the Year” was indeed based on merit. Well done boys.