Country Music Isn't My Ministry—But Shaboozey's Amazon Music Live Performance Took Me to Church
After 11 excruciating months, Amazon Music Live is back outside.
Photo courtesy of Frazer Harrison/Getty Images/Amazon Music.
Country music isn’t my ministry, nor would it ever purport itself to be.
But since I’ve already been singing the praises of Amazon Music Live for approximately 1,079 days (and counting), I might as well keep that same energy after the latest installment of the popular live-streamed concert series.
On Thursday night, Grammy-nominated superstar Shaboozey—America’s favorite hootanany homeboy himself—descended from the heavens and delivered the kind of ethereal set that sorta kinda almost made me want to herd cattle and scour the ranch for more country music.
I said almost, dammit.
As someone who’s strongly considered filing assault charges after spending the past year getting bitch slapped by “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” every 37 seconds, the unrepetant hater in me has often wondered, “Aren’t y’all tired of this shit yet?!” But lo and behold, after 11 agonizing months, Amazon Music Live finally made its triumphant return—with Shaboozey in tow, no less—and my Black ass was front and center to bask in all of its 10-gallon hat glory.
Aside from the Woodbridge, Va. native’s quiet command of the crowd, Season 4 of Amazon Music Live introduces a completely revamped stage. This jaw-dropping new 360° setup not only allows for much more dynamic camera angles for viewers at home, but also facilitates a far more intimate experience for attendees without sacrificing the grandeur or venue capacity of East End Studios, where it’s filmed. Add some themed drinks, a Black-owned ice cream shop, a giant spin the wheel for giveaways, a Kevin Powers cameo, and a mechanical bull ride that my groin and I wanted no parts of, and you have all the ingredients for an unforgettable boot scootin’ boogie—courtesy of the fine folks at Amazon Music.
If you’re one of those poor, unfortunate souls who missed Shaboozey doing the damn thing Thursday night, you can catch the full recap here. (You’re welcome.) Just promise not to be a dumb ass and miss the Foo Fighters, Fuerza Regida, or anyone else scheduled to perform on Amazon Music Live—that’s every Thursday night—the rest of this season.
I’m gonna hit the saloon and go listen to some Randy Travis now.