Lee Brice is Perfect in Wallingford
Friday night I found myself at the Toyota Oakdale Theater in Wallingford, Connecticut to see Lee Brice. We were all in for a special treat of story telling, belted from the heart ballads, and some good ole country music. Toyota Oakdale Theater originally opened in 1954 as a simple outdoor theater, it has transformed over the decades into a state-of-the-art indoor performance space that can accommodate up to 4,600 guests. The venue offers excellent sight-lines from nearly every seat. The acoustics were a standout feature, providing crisp and immersive sound that enhances Brice’s performance.
I have never seen Lew Brice before. I do not know how this hasn’t happened in my life, but unfortunately it hadn’t. I didn’t know what to really expect. I was thinking a typical country concert. I was wrong. It was a night of stories and reflections upon his life. Brice went into details about meeting his wife and writing a song for her. Touching moments of songs like “Boy” about his son. I think the tearjerker came when Brice played a montage of photographs of his daughter with a song he wrote and recorded with her. His daughter asked why he wrote a song for her brother and not her. This pulls at a father’s heart strings. They wrote the song and she begged him to record it…stating it was at 10:30 at night. He gave in and took her to the recording studio. The song had audience members in tears. It really was a truly remarkable experience to see at a concert.
Lee Brice’s voice. Wow. This is what I did not expect. I have listened to him for years but he never stuck out to me as having a an absolutely amazing voice. Not that he was bad at all make no mistake that’s not what I mean. But live at the You, Me, & My Guitar tour it was seriously the most impressive performance by a vocalists that I have ever witnessed. Brice absolutely blew me away. This man is underrated. His voice was strong when needed, soft when expected, and emotional the whole time. Brice’s range is seriously out-of-this-world. High notes to low octaves he sang it all.
Brice brought his signature blend of heartfelt country ballads and rowdy anthems and striped them down to its core delivering a night that fans won’t soon forget. I certainly will never forget this experience. The intimate venue, with its fantastic acoustics and well-designed layout, provided the perfect backdrop for Brice’s soulful performance. I soaked in every moment of this show. I can’t really call it a concert. It was more of watching a play at a theater type of vibe. The stripped-down emotional “I Drive Your Truck” and “Love Like Crazy,” showcased Brice’s exceptional ability to connect with his audience on a deeper level. Prior to “I Drive Your Truck” Brice paid his respects to the military and all the public service servants. Cheers of U.S.A. A wonderful moment of comradery. The atmosphere felt warm and communal, with the Oakdale Theatre’s intimate setting amplifying the emotional impact of every song. The stage setup was simple as it should have been. Dim lights surrounding Brice from the back. Guitars on stands circling his stool. A piano stage right that he would occasionally play. Just a simple setting where the focus was only on the music.
I do not say this lightly…Lee Brice has the best voice I have ever heard in country music. I did not go into this night thinking this was a possibility, but I left with certainty and I am here to tell you that he will blow you away. His performance at the Toyota Oakdale Theatre was a testament to his enduring talent and genuine connection with his fans. Whether you have listened to him from early in his career or you are a new unfamiliar fan you will be taken on a journey that you did not expect. Do yourself the biggest favor you can and BUY. THE. TICKET.