Concerts of the summer

The Red Ledger staff reviews a few of the many concerts that came to Dallas this past summer.

Natalia Martinez, Mia Reaugh, Campbell Lester, Ava Miller, and Grace Steed • August 21, 2024

Noah Kahan

I’m sure you’ve attended concerts here and there, but nothing will compare to Noah Kahan’s “We’ll All Be Here Forever Tour”. If you haven’t heard, Noah Kahan is now a renowned artist throughout the US. Kahan has grown from 7 million listeners to racking 2 billion after releasing his popular song ‘Stick Season’, making him #6 worldwide. I was able to attend and see Kahan in concert and it was the performance of a lifetime. The show lasted 2 hours and there was never a dull moment. Kahan made sure to keep everyone engaged and entertained at all times, even during set breaks. He provided an emotional yet upbeat and enthusiastic atmosphere that’s unbeatable to any artist I’ve seen. Left and right there’d be people dancing having the time of their lives. Even during the slow songs, I’ve never seen so many people emotionally connected with the songs. In other words, this concert left me and others astonished, and I will be waiting for his next tour.

Natalia Martinez – 10/10

Zach Bryan

Zach Bryan’s “The Quittin Time Tour” was an unreal experience, as expected. 80,000 country music fans packed into AT&T stadium to witness Zach Bryan’s catchy songs and raspy voice. Another attraction was the infamous Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit being the opener. I personally loved hearing ‘Vampire’ and the original ‘Cover Me Up’. Bryan began his performance with ‘Overtime’ that commanded the audience. Along with Bryan’s catchy songs, his band commanded the audience. I’ve never heard a better banjo player or fiddler. Other than the fist fight that occurred in the pit, the concert was perfect. Songs like ‘East Side of Sorrow’, ‘Heavy Eyes’, and ‘The Great American Bar Scene’ sounded even better in concert. At every concert, Bryan brings out a special guest. Dallas was extra lucky as he brought out Wesley Schlutz, the lead singer of The Lumineers, to sing their song ‘Spotless’. The crowd went crazy because the two have never performed live together. “The Quittin Time Tour” came to a fabulous end with a fifteen minute long rendition of ‘Revival’ where each of his band members had a solo. Each chorus, AT&T stadium screamed the lyrics, danced around, and raised their glasses. Overall, the concert exceeded my high expectations.

Mia Reaugh – 10/10

Grey Day

The Suicide Boys “Grey Day Tour” was the best experience of my life. Since its debut in 2019, the Grey Day tour has become one of the “absolute coolest” summer tours, uniting rap and hardcore genres. New Orleans duo Suicide Boys founded Grey Five Nine records, which is where the tour gets its name. The tour consists of every artist on that label. When I saw the lineup for this year’s tour, I knew I had to go. The concert was held at American Airlines center, and had 5 opening artists including Shakewell, Haarper, Exxstacy, Pouya, and Denzel Curry. I was mesmerized by all of my favorite artists in front of me while singing their songs with them. At the end of all of their concerts, the boys prepare a speech reaching out to the fans struggling with mental health. Hearing them tell not just me, but everyone else not to give up and keep on going encourages me to keep moving. I had an amazing time and I would give this concert a 10/10. I am so thankful I got to experience this tour for a second time.

Ava Miller – 10/10

Morgan Wallen

When my friend told me that we were going to the Morgan Wallen’s “One Night At A Time Tour” in Arlington, I was over the moon. Although I didn’t know almost anything about Morgan, and I only knew a couple of his popular songs, I was still very ready for a summer concert. The entirety of AT&T Stadium was filled with boots and cowboy hats. When Morgan got on stage, everyone was so excited. I was really relieved when I knew almost all of the songs. I was entertained the entire show because of Morgan’s smooth voice and his talented band. Overall, the concert ended up being so much fun. I went into the experience worried that this wasn’t a concert that would be fun for me, but I ended up having a great time and was so grateful to have gotten the opportunity to go.

Grace Steed – 7/10

Jon Pardi

To start the summer off, I went to the Jon Pardi concert at the Durant Choctaw Casino. Pardi knows how to throw a party to say the least, because the entire concert was fun and energetic. He started off with ‘Last Night Lonely,’ which immediately got the crowd excited. Everyone was dancing and singing along, an indication of a fantastic performance. I was not as familiar with the song ‘Tequila Little Time,’ but the words were clever, and the music video playing behind him added to the experience. The sage setup was simple, but the graphics were engaging and caught my attention. He ended with ‘Heartache Medication,’ ‘Heartache On The Dance floor’, my personal favorite, and finally, ‘Night Shift.’ Overall, it was a great show, and I would definitely go watch him again.

Campbell Lester – 8/10

About the Contributors

Natalia Martinez, Staff Writer

Natalia Martinez is starting her sophomore and is ready to take on the new year! This is her first year on staff, and she is excited to get involved. If she’s not at the track, she’s at home learning a new hobby or scrolling on Pintrest finding new inspiration and motivation. Martinez loves playing the guitar, climbing, and anything and everything outdoorsy. She loves spending time with her family and friends, and takes pictures 24/7 to remember all the fun moments. Martinez loves to travel and experience new cultures. She is so excited to write and share stories and accomplishments throughout the school, making sure everyone is heard. She’s ecstatic to begin a new year with friends and make new memories.

Mia Reaugh, Editor-In-Chief

Mia Reaugh is going into her senior year of high school and fourth year on staff. Reaugh is ecstatic to be co Editor-in-Chief with her overachiever bestie Campbell Lester. Reaugh and Lester had a beast of a junior year and are ready for the excitement and ease of senior year. Other than writing sports stories, creating videos, and editing, Reaugh runs for the track team and has hefty goals for her senior season. In her free time, Reaugh is always watching trashy reality TV: The Bachelorette, Love Island, Survivor, Perfect Match, and American Idol. If you have any show or book recommendations, Reaugh would love to hear them. As a lover of family, sports, and animals, Reaugh plans to spend her senior year cherishing her time with her parents, siblings, team, and pets. Reaugh is eager for everything that senior year brings and hopes to leave a lasting impact in this program.

Campbell Lester, Editor-In-Chief

Campbell Lester is ecstatic to be entering her fourth and final year on staff with her fabulous co Editor-In-Chief, Mia Reaugh. After an eye opening junior year, Lester has seen the dark side of Lovejoy High School *cough cough* AP Physics. However, after a fantastic summer spent frolicking through the vineyards of Italy and running at Celebration Park, Lester is ready for the best senior year ever. Although she mistakenly did not sign up for an off period or take any dual credit classes, Lester will get through the year with her best friends, country music and a Chocolate Peanut Power Plus smoothie from Smoothie King. With only one year left, Lester hopes to take in every moment with her friends and family by her side.

Ava Miller, Staff Writer

Ava Miller is a senior returning for her second year on The Red Ledger as a writer. Miller enjoys spending time with friends and listening to music. She enjoys all genres of music, and her favorite band is The Cure. Ava spent most of her summer working and exploring new places. This is her fourth and last year at Lovejoy High School, and when she graduates, she wants to pursue a career in journalism. She's looking forward to her last year on staff and making new friends.

Grace Steed, Staff Writer

Grace Steed is an incoming sophomore who enjoys dance and hanging out with friends. Most of the time, you will find Grace at her studio or with her friends. This year, she is looking forward to making new friends and having classes with her close friends. This is Grace’s first year in The Red Ledger, and she is very excited to be a part of the organization. Grace is very excited for her sophomore year and she is looking forward to the years to come!

Grace Gonzalez, Graphic Designer

Excited to start off her sophomore year and second year on staff, Grace Gonzalez is a second time graphic designer. Gonzalez is involved in many things including Lovejoy volleyball, FCA and Skyline Volleyball club. Gonzalez spent her summer everywhere but her house. She went on a cruise with her family to the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and St.Thomas. Shortly after, they stayed in her beach house in Florida for the rest of summer. Gonzalez is a lover of hugs, muffins and Jesus. Gonzalez loves to listen to all types of music, especially Taylor Swift. Gonzalez is eager for all the things sophomore year brings and is ready to dive into another year on TRL.