SPRINGFIELD– Justin Moore’s originally scheduled date at the MassMutual Center was Feb. 13, a concert that was postponed because of yet another New England storm.
Routing and presumably an attempt to stay away from inclement weather brought Moore back to fulfill his obligation on Tuesday night, in the midst of a 36-hour wind, rain, and snow event that might have rivaled the initial winter storm.
So much for the best laid plans.
Moore is an up-and-comer in country music circles with three No. 1 hits to his name in "Small Town USA", "If Heaven Wasn't So Far Away", and "Til My Last Day,” and weather wasn’t about to deter fans from catching his nearly two hour performance on Tuesday night.
While the show was not sold out, it was a formidable crowd with the orchestra pit and floor completely full and only pockets of empty seats on the sides and to the rear of the arena.
Moore opened the show with the tour’s namesake “Off the Beaten Path,” backed by a five-piece band on a multi-level stage that included a mini-catwalk that jutted into the first few rows.
“I tried to come out here a few months ago,” the singer said at the outset. “But apparently you have some snow in these parts now and then.”
Claiming to be sponsored by both the NRA and Cabela’s, Moore lit into the acoustic-based “Flyin’ Down A Backroad” the first of a handful of songs that paid tribute to his professed love of all things hunting and fishing.
The crowd instantly reacted to the opening guitar lines of “Lettin’ the Night Roll,” and sang most of the chorus while Moore plucked away at the electric guitar.
Moore is traditional country, more cowboy than most of his contemporaries, and the extra twang distinguishes him from the pack. Whether playing ballads like “Til My Last Day or a searing country rocker like “Backwoods” he had the crowd fully engaged.
He did have bit of a misstep after chants of “U.S.A” prompted him into a tribute of the anniversary of the Boston Marathon bombings. After commemorating the spirit of “Boston Strong” he awkwardly segued to an introduction of his new record, specifically the song “I’d Want it to Be Yours,” a novelty song about the female form.
Moore’s heavy-handed cover of Motley Crue’s “Home Sweet Home,” won’t make anyone forget the original but the heartfelt rendition of “If Heaven Weren’t So Far Away,” again dedicated to those impacted by the Marathon tragedy proved a great showcase for Moore’s vocal skills.
Proudly declaring himself a “gun-totin’ Republican” Moore delivered the vitriolic “Guns.” He encored with “Smalltown U.S.A.”
The show included support from Randy Houser who offered a one-hour set, Josh Thompson’s half hour opening set, and a filler performance from Jordan Rager.