Country star Darius Rucker wrapped up his U.S. tour this week, but not before regaling Grand Rapids fans, paying tribute to his old band and congratulating fans who got engaged at the show.
‘Southern Style’ Country: Darius Rucker on stage at Van Andel Arena on Thursday. (Photo/Eric Stoike)
Darius Rucker on Thursday proved to his Grand Rapids fans that the heart of this country singer still beats with the Blowfish — and with a couple who got engaged at the concert.
Support our coverage of
West Michigan's music scene
Next-to-Last Tour Stop: Rucker wrapped up his tour on Friday. (Photo/Eric Stoike)
When Rucker and his six-piece Carolina Grey Boys band performed in front of a huge video panel and on a long peninsula at Van Andel Arena, they served up a mash-up of new country tunes, old hits and covers. The set list featured songs from this year’s CD “Southern Style,” 1990s Blowfish classics and several cover songs, including Rucker’s 2014 Grammy-winning version of Bob Dylan’s “Wagon Wheel,” part of a two-song encore.
The Grand Rapids show was the second-to-last stop for Rucker and the boys on a tour that wrapped up Friday in Toledo.
Since the Blowfish announced a “hiatus” in 2008, South Carolina native Rucker has constructed a well-regarded country music career, releasing four country albums, hitting No. 1 with singles multiple times and being named the Country Music Association’s best new artist in 2009. He was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry in 2012.
The show included the title track from this year’s album. Then Rucker cranked up the time machine back to the Hootie days with “Time” and several more favorites from that Grammy-winning band, which he fronted as lead singer and rhythm guitarist.
During an acoustic version of “History in the Making,” off his 2008 release “Learn to Live,” Rucker was the first to congratulate a couple who made the night special with a marriage proposal.
Opening acts were A Thousand Horses and David Nail.
DARIUS RUCKER PHOTO GALLERY BY ERIC STOIKE
