Gavin Adcock Parties Hard in Boston
Saturday night I found myself back at The House of Blues in Boston. Nestled on Landsdowne Street right between Fenway Park and MGM Music Hall at Fenway. Originally opened in 2009, it is part of the iconic House of Blues franchise, which was founded in 1992 by Isaac Tigrett, co-founder of Hard Rock Cafe. This location features a state-of-the-art concert hall with a capacity of approximately 2,500 guests, offering an intimate atmosphere for both major touring acts and local artists. This House of Blues features a state-of-the-art concert hall with a capacity of approximately 2,500 guests, offering an intimate atmosphere for both major touring acts and local artists. Intimate is a great word to describe the night I was in for.
9:15 p.m. The lights dimmed, and little did the crowd know, things were about to get rowdy on a Saturday night. Gavin Adcock was in town, and it was time to strap in. Brody Frazier stepped up on the riser and ripped into the opening riff of “Old Farm Drive” on his guitar. That was all it took. The crowd, mostly made up of 17 to 25-year-olds, erupted as Gavin Adcock stepped out from behind a pair of old Western-style swinging bar doors. The first thing we saw him do? Smash down a case of Miller Lights. That moment made it clear — the party had officially begun.
I’ve been following Gavin’s career for the past year and keeping up with him on all his socials, so I had a pretty good idea of what to expect—at least to some extent. If you’re a fan of country music and haven’t heard of Gavin Adcock, you must be living under a pretty big rock. Let me give you a quick rundown on country music’s savior
Gavin Adcock is an emerging country artist and is known by fans for his authentic storytelling and soulful Southern sound. Hailing from Georgia, and rocking that awesome southern accent Adcock's music reflects his roots, he blends traditional country influences (stated how he loves Elvis Presley and Hank Williams, both he would pay respects to in his setlist) with a modern edge. Before taking a dive into a musician, he gained recognition as a standout college football player at Georgia Southern University, where he played as a defensive lineman. While football was a significant part of his life, music had always been a passion for Adcock as stated in many interviews. Balancing athletics with songwriting, he began performing locally and sharing his music online. His genuine lyrics and heartfelt delivery quickly garnered fans, leading to a growing following on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram (both I suggest you follow).
Adcock cracked through the seams when he came with his viral hit "Damn Good Time," it’s a feel-good anthem that captured the essence of small-town living and simple pleasures. The song's success earned him recognition within the country music community and opened the door to touring opportunities.
The stage setup was nothing short of awesome and unique. Swinging old-western bar doors took center stage, flanked by bookshelves displaying steer skeletons, setting the tone for a true country throw-down. But words struggle to capture what happened last night. It wasn’t just a concert — it was a full-blown party. Actually, even 'party' doesn’t quite do it justice. It was a rowdy, all-out extravaganza. Yeah, that’s the word. Extravagant in every incredible way imaginable. I attend and review a lot of shows throughout the year, and I’m certain this one will go down as a top 5. Honestly, it might even take the crown as the best show of the year. One thing I know for sure — this was the best country concert I’ve ever been to. That’s saying something, considering the Nashville heavy-hitters I’ve had the privilege of reviewing. Surpassing a list like that is no easy feat, but Gavin blew past every expectation. I’m still wrapping my head around it, but this may just rank among my top 5 concerts of all time. The energy in the packed-to-the-edges, sold-out venue was absolutely electric. Country concerts simply don’t hit this hard. Gavin gave a performance that brought the roof down, and it’s one I won’t forget anytime soon
From the jump, Gavin made it clear this was going to be a party, and he wanted everyone to be a part of it. Throughout the show, he shotgunned beers like a pro, while shots of Jack Daniels were passed around. The rowdy young crowd hurled cups of liquid through the air — and more often than not, that liquid was booze. No one was spared from the spray, myself included. I wanted to call it a punishment, but in that moment, it felt like being part of the show. Gavin masterfully navigated his setlist, knowing just when to get the crowd involved. At times, he’d let the audience take over a few lines while he raised his drink for a celebratory cheers before pounding it back. The energy was infectious, the vibes were nothing but good, and it was impossible not to get swept up in it all.
The band itself sounded spot on. Knowing most of Gavin’s songs pretty well I could tell that I was in for a musical treat separate from Gavin’s performance itself. Every note was exactly on time as the recorded song. It was clear they were locked in and completely in their element. The music was perfectly balanced, the vocals were powerful and on point and infectious. They were all feeding off each other’s energy and it was very clear to anyone that was paying attention, or wasn’t drunk. The guys in the band didn’t miss a beat. I remember reading a review claiming Gavin’s vocals were off and his performance was lackluster. So, I went into the show with no expectations. Well, that reviewer couldn’t have been more wrong. Honestly, Gavin sounded absolutely incredible — it’s hard to imagine him performing any better than he did. Gavin’s interactions with the crowd happened very frequently. He was always engaging his fans making them feel apart of the show. One thing that amazes me about a Gvain Adcock show is the amount of beer throwing that occurs. I go to about 6-8 shows a month on average and this is by far more than all those shows together. In a disturbed way I love it, and Gavin does too. That adds to the party factor that Gavin obviously wants to create. If Gavin wanted Zyns, all he had to do was ask. Sure enough, they came flying in, sometimes bouncing off him or his guitar. Need a lighter? No problem — Gavin was instantly bombarded with ten of them. It was wild to watch and even crazier to be a part of. My shirt is probably still drenched. Driving home that night, I couldn’t help but worry about getting pulled over, imagining the officer questioning me after catching a strong whiff of booze from the soaked fabric. The biggest surprise might have been the sleeveless American Flag button up shirt a fan threw up to the stage. Gavin immediately put the shirt on with chants of USA all in unison. Gavin kicked things off in a button-up shirt, which he dramatically ripped open to reveal his chest. From there, he went completely shirtless, then switched to an American flag shirt, only to end up back shirtless again. I can’t help but feel sorry for anyone who missed out. The show had been sold out for at least four months before the date even arrived, and those who didn’t snag a ticket truly missed something special.
Gavin continues releasing new music almost weekly it seems and has been relentless touring. This is the beginning of where his career will take him and we are here for it. His down-to-earth personality and undeniable talent position him as one of the most promising voices in country music today. With a loyal fan base and a growing catalog of heartfelt tracks, Gavin is a name to watch in the evolving landscape of the genre. I can attest to his personality as he did a shot with me after his show. Gavin returns to the New England area on September 25 and we are really hoping to be there to update everyone on his rising success. As soon as you can go BUY. THE. TICKET. You’ll never regret it. Gavin will give you an hour-and-a-half of pure adrenaline release. Go. Now.