Kip Moore Is Latest to Tap Cool Openers for Upcoming Tour
Kip Moore has always been a wild one in mainstream country, making his way forward outside of the Bro-Country and standard radio model (well, except for “Somethin’ ‘Bout a Truck”). Similar to Eric Church, Kip Moore has mainly been a rock artist in the country space, if not even to a greater degree than Church in recent years. Kip Moore may not be for you, but he’s one of these guys that’s hard to hate on, even if you can’t find favor with his music.
It’s certainly hard to fault him for who he’s chosen to open on his upcoming 20-city “The How High Tour.” Looking well beyond the stable of uninspiring mainstream up-and-comers that are usually tapped for a tour like this, Kip had dug deep in the well of the who’s who in actual country music to help.
This includes Triston Marez, who’s the modern traditional country performer making lots of buzz at the moment blowing off from his debut self-titled album. It also includes Gabe Lee, who’s considered one of the best singer/songwriters out there at the moment, who’s got his own buzz going from his recent album Honky Tonk Hell. Gabe was also recently selected for the upcoming American Aquarium tour, meaning the word is finally getting out about this guy.
Also joining Kip Moore for select dates will be Lainey Wilson, who is one of the bright spots in the mainstream at the moment, not just with her new record Sayin’ What I’m Thinkin’, but with the single “Thing A Man Oughta Know,” that’s rocketing up the charts. Larry Fleet is also a guy with a more traditional country sound, and a big song in “Where I Found God,” and he gets a few opening slots on the tour as well, as does Jordan Fletcher.
Whether you hit up a Kip Moore date or not, it’s good to see him digging deeper, and the amount of deserving gals and dudes getting on bigger tours is a welcomed development post pandemic. As opposed to just lining up the usual suspects as openers, performers are starting to book who they want, who inspire them, who they listen to, and who can benefit more for the opportunity. Kip Moore is just the latest.
The How High Tour Dates:
10/14 – Chicago, IL w/ Triston Marez
10/15 – Newport, KY w/ Triston Marez
10/16 – Rochester, NY w/ Triston Marez
10/21 – Fort Wayne, IN w/ Triston Marez
10/22 – Grand Rapids, MI w/ Triston Marez
10/23 – Detroit, MI w/ Triston Marez
11/4 – Knoxville, TN w/ Jordan Fletcher
11/5 – Chattanooga, TN w/ Jordan Fletcher
11/6 – Asheville, NC w/ Jordan Fletcher
11/11 – Huntsville, AL w/ Jordan Fletcher
11/12 – Charlotte, NC w/ Jordan Fletcher
11/13 – Orange Beach, AL w/ Jordan Fletcher
11/19 – North Myrtle Beach, SC w/ Larry Fleet
11/20 – Raleigh, NC w/ Larry Fleet
11/21 – Silver Spring, MD w/ Larry Fleet
12/2 – Kansas City, MO w/ Gabe Lee
12/3 – Kearney, NE w/ Lainey Wilson & Gabe Lee
12/4 – Dubuque, IA w/ Lainey Wilson & Gabe Lee
12/17 – Phoenix, AZ
12/18 – San Diego, CA
May 12, 2021 @ 11:41 am
This is very cool! Would love to catch a show with Triston opening for him, very different sounds compared to Kips more rocking stuff, but im ok with it. Ive said it for years now, have to at least venture into mainstream country to hear a decent rock record. Kip, Church, Brothers Osborne. And even a lot of Ashley McBryde’s stuff, especially or debut album is just good ol American rock n roll.
May 13, 2021 @ 7:52 am
“Ive said it for years now, have to at least venture into mainstream country to hear a decent rock record”
You’re not wrong. I never really considered that before. All the artists you mentioned are more traditional rock n’ roll than majority of artists receiving airplay on mainstream rock radio these days. Not saying that everything on rock radio is terrible though. There are decent modern bands that get airplay such as Rival Sons, Black Keys, Royal Blood etc. I enjoy alt-metal acts like Tool, Deftones, and Chevelle too. Most of the post grunge bands that have dominated terrestrial radio for years are finally beginning to fade out. They’ve mostly been replaced by watered-down metalcore bands though :/
May 13, 2021 @ 8:26 am
I will have to check some of those bands out, i do like some of Black Keys stuff from time to time, aint gonna lie. I thought Sturgills Sound and Fury owes a lot to them, sound wise.
May 13, 2021 @ 8:54 am
Oh yeah for sure. The Struts are another band that might be worth checking out. I saw them open for Foo Fighters, and they did a great job. They’ve got a bit of a glam rock thing going on.
May 14, 2021 @ 8:40 am
love the struts! glam rock and cheesy but most of their stuff is a pretty fun listen
May 12, 2021 @ 11:51 am
Kip Moore is the kind of guy where you pick up his Greatest Hits album randomly somewhere for like 5 bucks and save for a song here or there you think, “This guy wasn’t half bad”.
May 13, 2021 @ 4:37 pm
Every kip moore song is a greatest hit in my mind. I’ve seen him like a dozen times and had the opportunity to meet him. Great guy. Definitely my favorite artist.
May 12, 2021 @ 12:24 pm
Something bout a truck should be a crime against humanity
And isn’t this the guy who went to the wrong place to put on a show?
May 13, 2021 @ 5:20 am
I’ll be honest….I know “Somethin’ Bout a Truck” is a bad song…it’s ridiculously stupid, but the song is kind of a guilty pleasure for me, mainly because I like those types of songs that build upon themselves, so to speak…starts with the truck, then there’s a girl on the truck, then there’s a beer in her hand pressed to her lips.
It’s sort of like that stupid song “There’s a Hole in the Bottom of the Sea.”
Like I said, I know it’s stupid, and I’m somewhat ashamed of it, but the song is one I just like for that reason.
May 12, 2021 @ 12:39 pm
Big Kip fan. Good music and seems like a good, genuine, guy who’s making the kind of music he wants to make. To balance out these comments so far, I think Somethin’ Bout a Truck is a very fun and good song. Not every song has to or needs to have Lori McKenna lyrics or Zach Bryan lack of production. Sometimes I’m happy to hear a simple catchy song.
May 12, 2021 @ 1:43 pm
He has that certain je ne sais quoi.
May 12, 2021 @ 1:44 pm
I have absolutely no interest in kip moore, but he’s not playing any of the usual suspect area pop country venues, but instead, a not necessarily country venue that is less than a 2 mile walk from my residence, and it’s a nice 2500 capacity theater where I’ve seen everything from a free jay z show, to bowie, bo diddley, megadeth, and early rhcp.
I guess I have to go now.
May 13, 2021 @ 4:39 pm
You’re going to love it. I’ve seen him about a dozen times and he’s hands down my favorite live performer. So good.
May 12, 2021 @ 5:06 pm
His music doesn’t do much for me in general but “She’s Mine” should have been a smash hit. Not country at all but so catchy with a great instrumental arrangement.
May 13, 2021 @ 8:20 am
I’m a bit shocked “She’s Mine” performed as poorly as it did on the charts. I thought the single would be a top 5 hit at least, but it received little radio support. I think the major labels in Nashville are moving on from him. Might be a good thing though. He’s fairly well known and has had enough exposure; maybe he can place more focus on doing what he wants now. He’s got a decent fanbase that can support him.
May 12, 2021 @ 10:48 pm
Kip Moore walks that line between country into country rock. I saw him at JITH quite a while back. Fun time. If he’s playing Newport KY it’s probably the Southgate House Revival. Repurposed church. Nice space for music. I’m in.
May 13, 2021 @ 8:22 am
Yeah he’s definitely country rock or maybe more accurately that “heartland rock” style in the vein of Mellencamp, Springsteen, etc.
May 15, 2021 @ 6:20 am
Beer Money is honestly one of my favorite rock songs of the last 20 years or so.
Honestly a bit of AC/DC energy.
May 13, 2021 @ 6:07 am
I just wonder why he isn’t as adamant as Gollum about having his shirt off 80% of the time when he’s way better looking.