Las Vegas Weekly

May 15, 2010 · 4:06 PM

Unrehearsed Kenny Chesney still at the top of his game at The Joint

By Don Chareunsy

Kenny Chesney at the red carpet premiere for his Summer in 3D at Rave Motion Pictures in Town Square on April 17, 2010.

Photo: Tom Donoghue/www.donoghuephotography.com

By Don Chareunsy, Vegas DeLuxe editor

Country superstar Kenny Chesney told the audience last night at The Joint in the Hard Rock Hotel that his band and he hadn’t rehearsed and performed together since last September as part of their break this year from arena touring, but neither Chesney nor his fans missed a beat in an energetic two-hour and 30-song performance that include a small catwalk, giving fans on the floor an up-close-and-personal, hand-shaking and high-fiving experience.

From the opening “Ain’t Back Yet,” Chesney’s latest and gazillionth hit, to his final song, John Mellencamp’s “Hurts So Good,” an especially tan Chesney, in his requisite muscle T, tight faded blue jeans and (white) cowboy hat, had the audience dancing, singing and partying the entire time. Chesney is widely known for his stamina and endurance onstage, performing his big catalog of hits before launching into covers of other artists’ songs, and last night was no different.

His set list: “Ain’t Back Yet,” “Live Those Songs,” “Beer in Mexico,” “Keg in the Closet,” “Out Last Night,” “Guitars and Tiki Bars,” “No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problem,” “I Go Back,” “Anything But Mine,” “Summertime,” “I Wanna Know How Forever Feels,” “Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven,” “When the Sun Goes Down,” “Don’t Blink,” “Don’t Happen Twice,” “Me and You,” “On the Coast of Somewhere Beautiful,” “She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy,” “Young” and “Living in Fast Forward.” Chesney received extended applause and an ovation after performing the 20 hits.

And then it was his always fun “encore,” or the extended jam of covers: The Eagles’ “Take It Easy,” Alabama’s “Dixieland Delight,” The Steve Miller Band’s “The Joker,” Bob Marley’s “Everything’s Gonna Be Alright,” Tom Petty’s “Mary Jane’s Last Dance,” Bruce Springsteen’s “Hungry Heart,” Jimmy Buffet’s “Why Don’t We Get Drunk,” Violent Femmes’ “Blister in the Sun” and “Hurts So Good.”

Unfortunately, media photographers weren’t allowed at last night’s concert, so we’ll make due with photos from his Summer in 3D premiere last month and his concert in April 2009 at The Joint, an incredible five-hour show -- yes, five hours -- I also covered that included Lady Antebellum and Miranda Lambert as opening acts.

Chesney returns to The Joint tonight at 8. While the concert is reportedly sold out, it never hurts to check with the box office for cancellations and others newly available tickets. Otherwise, Chesney returns for a two-night run at The Joint on July 2 and 3.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.

Follow Vegas DeLuxe on Twitter at Twitter.com/vegasdeluxe.

Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter at Twitter.com/VDLXEditorDon.

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