Josh Turner played a 90 minute set at Mountain Park in Holyoke on Friday night
HOLYOKE _ Country music came to the mountain on Friday night with Josh Turner performing at Holyoke’s Mountain Park. Turner offered up a 90 minute set at the amphitheater.
The country crooner benefited from a Michael Buffer video introduction to help him kick off the show with the song “Punching Bag” which also serves as the title track to his latest release. Turner was joined on stage by a seven-piece band.
He used a three-panel video screen behind the band to get his not-so-subtle messages across on the traditional sounding “Your Man,” and the new country twang of “All Over Me.”
It was Turner’s big baritone that was all over the mid-tempo “As Fast As I Could,” and he took to a stool at center stage for the pedal steel-finessed “I Wouldn’t Be A Man.” He popped right back up for the pedestrian pop of “Eye Candy,” masterfully rhyming “hottest” and “goddess.”
Turner sought redemption with the gospel-tinged “Long Black Train” which featured video shots of the crowd as they pitched in on the refrain. It was the first of two faith-based songs he would sing, also giving up “Me and God.”
The next video screen shot was the tour sponsor’s logo and Turner made sure restaurant chain Cracker Barrel got its money’s worth not only touting the country-fried cuisine but also giving accurate directions to the Holyoke store.
He segued into shilling for his latest release with the single “Time Is Love” and put a charge in the crowd with “Firecracker.” Cracker Barrel got another plug when Turner announced the upcoming release of the aptly named live album “Live Across America” would be available only in the restaurant at the end of the month, his second exclusive release for the chain.
Turner introduced the band which included his wife Jennifer on keyboards before wisely choosing “One Woman Man” as the next (and last) song on his 17-song set list. His encore kicked off with the hit “Why Don’t We Just Dance.”
Country newcomer Ann Marie opened the show with a half hour set that was highlighted by the two covers she included in the mix. Performing with acoustic guitar and fiddle backing, Ann Marie worked up Guns’ N’ Roses “Sweet Child O’ Mine,” and Kris Kristofferson’s “Help Me Make It Through the Night.”