Last night in Evansville, Drew Baldridge brought an unforgettable mix of music and heartfelt storytelling to the stage as part of Cody Johnson’s The Leather Deluxe Tour.
Kicking things off with a somewhat rock-inspired intro, he dove straight into two high-energy tracks, including Rebel, before treating the crowd to a 90s country medley featuring I Like It, I Love It, Should’ve Been a Cowboy, and Brand New Man. What better way to bring the audience in with you that belting out some of that nostalgic country music?
But it wasn’t just the music that stood out—it was Drew’s personal connection with the crowd. Mid-set, he took a moment to sit down and share his journey, sharing his vulnerable side with a now very much captive audience. He spoke about how, after losing his management and nearly walking away from music altogether, Drew decided to take matters into his own hands. He posted on Facebook offering to play backyard concerts thinking he would maybe get a hand full of takers. The response was overwhelming.
"I got 20,000 requests,” he said, smiling. “I ended up playing over 400 backyard shows.”
While Drew has had success with country radio he made sure to share how he really felt with regards to putting out his songs. “I’m not making music for country radio,” he told the crowd. “I’m making it for y’all—country music folks.”
As a support act I think you have one of the hardest jobs, to rally up a crowd and get them engaged when they are there for the main artist but it was clear that night that the Evansville audience felt that connection as he went into a fun singalong, getting everyone involved with a series of “oh-oh-oh’s” echoing back and forth.
He went on to give a shoutout to the resilience of people, recalling a tornado that tore through a nearby town and the way that town picked itself back up, as he went into his song Tough People.
Toward the end of the set, Drew shared the story of the song that changed his life. Written after meeting his girlfriend’s dad, it was inspired by the simple advice: “Don’t be an idiot.” Just 2 years later, that song became even more meaningful when his wife danced with her dad at their wedding. Drew released a video for the track and by the next morning, the song’s video had gone viral with 10 million views. As he sat there waiting for phone calls to come in from interested record labels, he soon realised they were not going to come. Against all odds, he took it to No. 1, without a record label, as an independent artist—a testament to his talent and determination.
Before closing, Drew had a message for the young women in the crowd: “If you take anything from tonight, remember your worth.” His final song, She’s Somebody’s Daughter, capped off the night with an emotional and powerful performance, leaving the crowd in awe.
Drew Baldridge didn’t just play music in Evansville—he shared his heart, his story, and a whole lot of country soul. It was a night that perfectly captured why country music feels like home.
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