Kansas City fans were delighted to take part in an amazing and exciting night of music as Kip Moore’s headlining Wild Ones tour stopped at Uptown Theater on February 5th.
Broken Bow recording artist Chase Bryant was originally slated to open the show but, due to an illness, Chase had to announce his absence at the last minute; instead, upcoming Nashville artist Brandon Ray would be stepping in.
Brandon’s energy and enthusiasm was apparent from the moment he made the announcement on social media, continuing throughout the night from his time on stage, closing out the night meeting and chatting with fans. In a crowded venue where few people knew who Brandon Ray was, he achieved a remarkable feat – he not only grabbed the attention of audience members, but he held it. His pure and genuine voice rang throughout the theater and people took notice – with a well-mixed variety of cover songs and original music, he performed a flawless set. The bar was set high and he glided over it with ease.
Not only was his musical talent prevalent, but his friendly, innocent demeanor helped audience members fall in love with him – walking on stage with a grin that spread from ear to ear, there wasn’t a single moment when that heartwarming smile wasn’t present and shining across his face.
From just one short set it was obvious that Brandon Ray is an unmistakably talented musician – not only that, he also maintains the type of attitude and personality that will have audiences everywhere leaving his shows as dedicated fans. This isn’t the last Kansas City will hear from Brandon Ray, and there’s no doubt they will welcome him back 
with open arms.
After a quick set change, Kip Moore graced the stage, opening with the title track from his sophomore album, Wild Ones. Before a packed house, Kip and band members displayed an electrifying energy as they took full advantage of every inch of the stage, allowing them to get as close as possible to audience members, assuring that everyone was up singing, dancing, and having a great time.
In a move not seen by many artists today, Kip went on to perform most every song off his latest album, pleasing fans as they easily sang along. His energy was contagious throughout the crowd, and the lighting and stage show were striking as he performed songs such as “Come and Get It,” “Beer Money,” and “Backseat.” In addition to his own catalog, Kip performed some amazing cover songs – from an upbeat and fun performance of Jimmy Eat Worlds “The Middle” to the heartfelt and vocally challenging version of “Lean on Me,” every song reiterated the shear musical and vocal talent that Moore embodies.
In the middle of his set, Moore took time to truly show off his vocal ability as his band members took a break and he performed a brief acoustic set. It was during this time that audience members were awed by his breathtaking performance of latest single “Running For You” and fan favorite’s “Hey Pretty Girl” and “Dirt Road,” admitting he had not performed the latter in some time. He even took the time and graciously mixed things up a bit throwing in “Mary Was The Marrying Kind” when it was requested by a gentlemen in the audience.
Noticeably moved by the warm reception he received, Moore continually thanked the audience for all their support at one point declaring “We made this album for you. It’s for the fans and the band, IT’S FOR YOU!” Before concluding the night Kip, got a bit choked up in an emotional speech where he explained just how hard his journey had been both since his start in the industry and while trying to release “Wild Ones” – he admitted that he went through a rough stage where he battled depression, but he never gave up and he has his fans to thank. He expressed that many might say radio is the key to success, but he always has and always will believe it’s the fans.
As the night drew to a close, Kip went to the merchandise booth to greet fans, sign autographs, and even snap a few quick pictures. It was apparent that he had left absolutely everything on the stage that night, and although noticeably exhausted, he remained at the booth until every fan got their moment. It’s another one of those things that not many artists today make the time for, but it clearly showed that his love for his fans is genuine and he will always make them his priority.
It was a spectacular night that not only introduced Kansas City to a new artist they instantly embraced, but reunited them with one they have spent years coming to love. It was a night filled with breathtaking musical talent, heartfelt raw emotion, and an energy that just wouldn’t quit. Everyone left that venue fully satisfied, and anxiously anticipating the next time they get to take part in such a remarkable and memorable event.
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