Lauren Alaina That Girl Was Me Tour – Concert Review

The Opener: Filmore

Before diving into Lauren Alaina’s set, it’d be a crime not to talk about who opened for her: Filmore. Admittedly, I hadn’t heard much about Filmore or his music before. A friend of mine once sent me his “Proof” EP, but also admittedly, I never listened to it. Oops. After seeing him perform and hearing his songs, I now know that was a mistake on my part. With an energetic stage presence and songs like “My Place”, “Other Girl”, “Livin Easy” “Country Song”, “Love That About You” and a cover of The Killers’ “Mr. Brightside”, Filmore was able to get the audience pumped. However, that’s not to say he didn’t share stories of his own heartbreak with the songs “London”, “State I’m In”, “Busy” and “Heart’s Having a Hard Time” – all of which got my best friend crying because she could relate. It’s safe to say he’s got two new fans in both of us.

Follow him on social media: Twitter, Instagram & Spotify

The Headliner: Lauren Alaina

Lauren Alaina has worked her tail off for almost 10 years since her Idol audition, and it’s finally all paying off. After years of opening for country stars like Luke Bryan, Blake Shelton, Sugarland, Martina McBride and a handful of others, Alaina finally was able to headline her own 13 city tour with an opener, a video screen with home videos, outfit changes and all. Not only that, but she sold out every single show, including her hometown show in Chattanooga, TN at The Signal on February 7th. Since both Nashville shows sold out so fast, I was so happy when a Chattanooga date was added with a tie-in as US101’s Concert for a Cause to raise money for the Songbirds Foundation. As a fan since the beginning, I didn’t want to miss her first real headlining tour, and I’m so glad I didn’t have to because, boy, was it special. It’s not surprising since all her hometown shows that I’ve been to have been special, but with it being her first headlining tour and the whole thing selling out, this one was different. The whole room, full of all ages and genders, could feel what it meant to Lauren the moment she walked on stage to lead the show with a new song called “In My Veins” following a home video montage juxtaposed with a short speech about her journey.

That feeling lasted throughout the show as Alaina performed songs new, old and all the ones in between. Early hits “Georgia Peaches” and “Like My Mother Does” were definite crowd pleasers as I’m sure half of the crowd was from Georgia and there were plenty of mothers who brought their daughters. I even witnessed a mother/daughter duo get emotional and hug each other as the song ended. Lauren also made sure to include singles “Next Boyfriend”, “Barefoot & Buckwild”, “History”, “Doin’ Fine”, “Three”, “Ladies in the 90s” and “My Kinda People” – this wasn’t a single, but she includes it as an opportunity to speak about her charity of the same name, which helps families and individuals with special needs. I was pleasantly surprised that she included three new songs that’ll be on her new EP in March – “In My Veins”, “Somebody Else’s Problem”, and “The Country in Me” – along with her song with Hardy and Devin Dawson called “One Beer”, which she performed with opener Filmore. Of course, it was her number one hits, “What Ifs” (with Kane Brown) and “Road Less Traveled” that really got the crowd excited. Personally, I think her solo spin of “What Ifs” should also be included on the EP because it’s straight fire and she slays the vocals. That literal “look mom and dad” moment, though, came at the end of the night when Alaina kept her favorite tradition with “Road Less Traveled” alive by getting the her hometown crowd to light up the room with their cellphones and wave them in the air as they sang along to every word.

However, the most emotional part of the night came with her song “The Other Side”, which she wrote in memory of her late stepfather. Admittedly, it’s her most emotional song to date, but on this specific Friday night tour stop, the song was significantly harder for Lauren to even introduce as her entire family was in the crowd. Through tears, she shared her testimony of how losing her stepfather, Sam, changed her life forever. She shared the story of Sam’s last day, the Heaven he saw and how he made the family promise to keep living their beautiful lives so they can tell him all about it one day. This sold out tour, specifically this sold out hometown crowd, is what she cannot wait to tell him about when she sees him again someday. These are the moments that make Lauren Alaina’s hometown shows so special. First, in 2017 at her last hometown show – her first one after nearly 5 years – with her single “Three” as her baby nephew got see her perform on stage for the first time. Now, with “The Other Side” as she experiences one of her proudest moments after the loss of a loved one.

One thing is certain, Lauren Alaina pours her heart out into her songs and leaves everything out on that stage when she performs. I’ve said it before and I’ll keep saying it, not only has she been blessed with a voice to be reckoned with, but she knows how to connect with a crowd. She was born to be on that stage sharing her story and her God-given talent, and I’m so proud to have been a fan for the last 10 years. To watch her grow through all the ups and downs – from public break-ups, an eating disorder, vocal cord surgery, family drama, loss and country radio’s lack of female inclusion to opening up for the biggest country stars, winning awards, starting her own foundation, writing #1 songs, making the finals on DWTS and now selling out her first headlining tour in 13 cities – has truly been one of my favorite things to witness as a fan. Watching her own that stage, as her sold-out hometown crowd sang along to every word, was chill inducing. She’s worked her tail off and deserves all the good things that are coming her way.

Follow along with her journey on her social media: Twitter, Instagram & Spotify

Lauren Alaina’s “Getting Good” EP comes out on March 6^th, 2020.