Come On In, The Whiskey’s Fine: An Evening With Adam Doleac In Charlotte
The Barstool Whiskey Wonderland Tour Stops at The Visulite Theatre
Rising country music star Adam Doleac first got the attention of country music fans with his 2017 song “Whiskey’s Fine thanks to some serious play on Sirius/XM and things have been going his way ever since. In 2019, Adam signed with Sony Music Nashville, and his single “Famous” went all the way to number one on Sirius/XM’s Hot Country Countdown. He is currently out on the road in support of his 2022 release Barstool Whiskey Wonderland and recently made a stop here in the Queen City at the Visulite Theatre.
The evening was a bit chilly but the vibe inside the Visulite was hot as fans eagerly packed into the venue in anticipation of an amazing night of music and memories. The merch table was busy and the bar was hopping as we all settled in for the evening. First up was singer-songwriter Alana Springsteen. Hailing from Virginia Beach, Springsteen has been Nashville based for a while now and has worked with a ton of industry heavyweights. She is truly a superstar in the making, penning songs of young love with wisdom beyond her years all packed with powerhouse hooks that can not be denied.
Springsteen took the stage armed only with her acoustic guitar and told the crowd it was only going to be her tonight as she was playing without a band. The crowd responded with cheers and it was clear early on that there were already a lot of Springsteen fans in the crowd and soon to be a lot more. Alana is the real deal with a voice that pulls at your heartstrings and soothes your soul. Emotions were running high as she told us a bit of her personal history before launching into “you don’t deserve a country song” amidst shouts of “Yes!” and “You Go Girl!” from the fans up front. Her music is pure, right from her heart and each song feels like a personal journey that we can all relate to in some way.
Alana asked if anyone in the audience had a trucker hat and as hats rained down upon the stage, she chose one to put atop her head before the next few tunes. Springsteen can also pull out some real fist in the air, up on your feet anthems and pretty soon we were all giving “Zero Trucks” and shouting it at the top of our lungs.
Her set also included a medley of covers including a snippet of Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” and a little of Tom Petty’s “Free Fallin.” Her latest EP TWENTYSOMETHING: Messing It Up was just released last week and it’s bound to shoot straight to the top so be sure and check it out.
The drinks were continuing to flow and the crowd was amped up and ready for Adam Doleac to make an appearance. The stage was set with two whiskey barrels on the side with a lighted bottle of whiskey on each, behind which was a keyboard set up. There was a small metal ice bucket with beers in it on the stage in front of the drumkit. The lights were flashing and the fog machines were churning out thick plumes as Adam hit the stage kicking things off with “Coulda Loved You Longer” and we were off!
What followed was one of the most exciting concerts I had ever been to. If you’re not a fan of country music, I suggest you get out and see a live show because that is where I fell in love with country for the first time. There is an excitement that just can’t be matched and tonight Adam, his band, and the crowd were on fire, feeding off each other’s energy and giving it back ten-fold.
At some point, Adam took the beers out of the ice bucket and started tossing them to lucky fans in front of the crowd. It wasn’t long until we were all “Drinkin’ It Wrong,” if there is such a thing before Adam took it down a notch for “Barstool Whiskey Wonderland.” Whether he had us hyped up and singing along or in quiet contemplation, I felt like Adam had a continual connection with everyone in the venue that night. That’s one of the things I love the most about live music, it’s the power to connect us all. No matter what we look like or where we come from, music is a universal language that can bring us all together and I definitely felt that in droves at this show. Adam went out of his way to connect personally with as many fans as he could, shaking hands, taking selfies, and even grabbing a phone from a woman up front who was Facetiming her husband and singing right to him. It’s that extra effort to really connect physically that makes the whole emotional connection happen.
Adam’s band was on fire as he strapped on a guitar himself for a few tunes before walking across the stage tossing his microphone up in the air and catching it with a huge grin on his face. Of course, sometimes you have to save the best for last, and after closing with “What Kinda Night,” Adam returned for an outstanding encore. We all had our hands in the air for “Meet Me In The City” which segued into a little of Don Henley’s “Boys of Summer” before we all started swaying as we got “Famous” along with Adam as he made his way down the front row of fans, holding hands, giving high fives, and smiling for all. His vocal performance was top-notch as his voice soared over the crowd inviting us all in because, of course, the “Whiskey’s Fine” bringing us to one more emotional height before it was time to go. But not before treating us all to a bit of Train’s “Drops of Jupiter” to cap off this wonderful Barstool Whiskey Wonderland that he created for us in Charlotte that night.
Whether you’re a huge country music fan or just a casual one, I highly recommend checking out this tour. One thing is for sure, you will definitely leave an Adam Doleac fan. The tour runs through early May, so grab your tickets while you can.
Click Here for the Full Gallery of the Evening!
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Click Here for Tickets and Tour Information!
Tour Dates:
MAR 30
WILMINGTON, DE
THE QUEEN
MAR 31
HAMPTON, NH
WALLY’S PUB
APR 1
PORTLAND, ME
AURA
APR 20
ATLANTA, GA
CENTER STAGE
APR 21
ATHENS, GA
40 WATT CLUB
APR 22
BIRMINGHAM, AL
ZYDECO
APR 27
LOUISVILLE, KY
MERCURY BALLROOM
APR 28
INDIANAPOLIS, IN
8 SECONDS SALOON
APR 29
SAINT LOUIS, MO
DELMAR HALL
MAY 4
KNOXVILLE, TN
BIJOU THEATRE
MAY 5
ROME, GA
PEACHES
MAY 6
LEXINGTON, KY
MANCHESTER MUSIC HALL
JUN 29
CENTRAL CITY, IA
LINN COUNTY FAIR
AUG 10
ORO-MEDONTE, ON
BURL’S CREEK EVENT GROUNDS
AUG 24
PUT-IN-BAY, OH
BASH ON THE BAY 2023
OCT 14
SACRAMENTO, CA
GOLDEN SKY FESTIVAL 2023
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