Mat Kearney has been coming to Chicago often since he released Nothing Left to Lose in 2006. He started at Schubas and has since played at the Metro, the Chicago Theatre, the Riviera Theatre, and the Vic Theatre. This is his first time playing at the Auditorium Theatre. He has built his fan base solidly through all this touring and by releasing a solid stream of albums. This is the Nothing Left to Lose, Everything to Gain Tour.
For the second song of the night, he plays “Ships In The Night” from his 2011 album, “Young Love”. This is his most popular song on Spotify with over 65 million streams. It features his style of speak-singing on the verses.
Soon afterwards they play “Headlights Home” from his 2024 self-titled album. It’s a beautiful song and it instantly proves that he is still writing great music.
Late in the set, Kearney plays another song from 2018’s CRAZYTALK, “Wanted Man”. It’s just Mat on acoustic guitar. It’s so great when a band can switch gears like this. To have slow parts and fast parts really creates a full show. “I ain’t no Butch Cassidy or Sundance Kid / But I stole your heart with a-just one kiss / You were there by my side when the only reward / Was ridin’ shotgun in that Honda Accord / You’re my partner in crime when you take my hand / You make me feel like, a wanted man.” Wow, what a romantic love song for a wedding.
Soon aftewards is “Anywhere With You” from his 2021 album, January Flower. “Found there’s only so much / You wanna see alone … I’d go anywhere with you / I know you feel the same thing that I do”. This is another lovely song that has the couples swaying back and forth together.
At the end of the encore, he closes with the title track from his 2006 album, “Nothing Left to Lose” from 2006. “To a kid from Oregon by way of California Illinois!” Unlike many anniversary tours, he spreads the songs from this album out instead of doing a straight play through and it works very well. At the end he says that this was his favorite Chicago show ever!
See a similar setlist here.
Cost of a ticket: $79 (Orchestra Side)
PlaylistHQ Economic Rating: Good Value
Rating Scale: Exceptional > Good Value > Discounted > Go for Free > Don’t Bother
Quinn Delaney
