Concert review: Cheery, grinning Thomas Rhett lights up Xcel Energy Center

Ross Raihala, Pioneer Press
·2 min read
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Thomas Rhett has quietly become one of the biggest stars in country and his performance Thursday night at St. Paul’s Xcel Energy Center proved how he pulled it off.

For 90 minutes, the 33-year-old son of ’90s country act Rhett Akins had the entire capacity crowd in the palm of his hand and offered a set list stuffed with familiar hits. Both in concert and in interviews, Rhett comes across as an affable, cheery and approachable guy free from even a hint of ego or controversy.

A grinning Rhett opened by playing a drum kit that slowly emerged from beneath the stage. His custom bomber jacket with “St. Paul” emblazoned on the back had the crowd cheering, as did the one-two punch of his opening songs “Vacation” and “Look What God Gave Her.” From there, he worked in as many hits as he could, from “Marry Me” to “Make Me Wanna” to “What’s Your Country Song.” Rhett’s voice is nothing special, but his enthusiasm helps sell everything from the rockers to the tender ballads.

Much like Keith Urban, Rhett’s big, catchy songs — the bulk of which he co-writes — often sound like pop rock numbers from the Big ’80s, with a bit of twang thrown in for good measure. The autobiographical “Life Changes” in particular sounds like it would be right at home in some glossy 1985 summer blockbuster.

He indulged in a pair of medleys, the first featuring his own songs “Notice,” “Get Me Some of That” and “It Goes Like This.” Later he covered a selection from each decade from the ’50s (Elvis Presley’s “Hound Dog”) through the ’10s (Walk the Moon’s “Shut Up and Dance”), with a few stops along the way for the likes of James Brown’s “I Got You (I Feel Good),” the Rolling Stones’ “Beast of Burden,” Rick Springfield’s “Jessie’s Girl,” Matchbox Twenty’s “3 a.m.” and Jimmy Eat World’s “The Middle.”

After an opening set from newcomer Nate Smith, Cole Swindell played for an hour in front of a full house who treated Swindell like a co-headliner. They loved every song, but gave both “Ain’t Worth the Whiskey” and “She Had Me at Heads Carolina” (which Swindell co-wrote with Rhett) a true hero’s welcome.

Thursday marked Rhett’s fourth time headlining the X and he has also opened for local stadium shows from Luke Bryan and Kenny Chesney. Given that Rhett’s popularity has yet to peak, we may well see him graduate to the home of the Vikings the next time he rolls through town.

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