Sony Boat Show: 10 Acts And 1 Cheap Trick

Brad Paisley performs with the night’s show-closing special surprise guest, Cheap Trick.

You have to be fearless to start a boat show with “Ready Set Roll,” but that’s exactly how the Sony Music Boat Show began last night (Feb. 26) as Chase Rice took the stage first, setting the tone for a spirited ride on the General Jackson down the Cumberland. Rice admitted this was the first time he had sang since having vocal surgery in December, but after following up his Top 10 hit with “Gonna Wanna Tonight,” no one would have known.

(L-R): Jake Owen; Trisha Yearwood; Sony Music Nashville Chairman & CEO Gary Overton; Arista Nashville VP Promotion Lesly Simon; RCA Nashville Sr. VP National Promotion Keith Gale; Cheap Trick’s Rick Nielsen, Daxx Nielsen, Tom Petersson, and Robin Zander; and Columbia Nashville VP Promotion Norbert Nix.

In its 29th year, Sony Music Nashville Chairman/CEO Gary Overton greeted the invitation-only audience of radio and industry VIPs beforehand while radio exec Lon Helton served as the night’s emcee. The show treated attendees to a packed night of performances from rising stars and established superstars alike, Tyler Farr, Jake Owen, Brad Paisley, Chase Rice, and Trisha Yearwood. Logan Mize, Steven Lee Olsen, Cam and Josh Dorr, all featured on the cover of MusicRow‘s current country radio print issue also performed, each taking their turn on the stage. Dee Jay Silver provided beats between performances keeping the show at a fever pitch all night.

Trisha Yearwood

Logan Mize continued the party with an appropriately title single, “Can’t Get Away from a Good Time” while Cam’s performance included her debut single, “My Mistake,” from her upcoming album. Tyler Farr jumped on stage to sing his hit, “A Guy Walks Into a Bar,” followed with “Hello Goodbye” earning Farr the first standing ovation of the night.

Cam

The second and third standing ovations went to Trisha Yearwood after performing “I Remember You” and the Linda Ronstadt cover, “Blue Bayou.” While radio audiences are notoriously known for being loud, this audience was transfixed into a state of paralysis as the superstar showed everyone why she’s one of country’s greatest vocalists of all time.

Jake Owen performance of his hit ballad “What We Ain’t Got,” pleased the audience, getting everyone back on their feet for the fourth standing ovation of the night which led into Brad Paisley’s performance of “Crushin’ It” the third single from his 10th studio album, Moonshine in the Trunk. After performing the Van Halen cover “Hot For Teacher” Paisley closed the show with iconic rockers Cheap Trick as this year’s special surprise guest with “I Want You to Want Me.” Cheap Trick dazzled guests with “Dream Police,” “Surrender,” and “Ain’t That A Shame.”

And if you weren’t there, I guess it was.

Sharing a moment at the Sony Music Nashville Boat Show on Thursday night were label group recording artists (L-R) The Swon Brothers’ Zach Swon, Josh Dorr, Chris Young, Tyler Farr, and The Swon Brothers’ Colton Swon.

Logan Mize.

Dee Jay Silver

Steven Lee Olsen

Josh Dorr

Jake Owen

Brad Paisley

Chase Rice

Tyler Farr