Country star Luke Combs made a long-awaited stop at Penn State’s Beaver Stadium Saturday night as part of his “Growin’ Up and Gettin’ Old” tour.
Combs and his openers, Colby Acuff, Drew Parker, Mitchell Tenpenny and Jordan Davis, played through cold, misty conditions in front of 80,000 fans — the largest crowd Combs has ever played in front of — for the first concert at the home of Penn State football in nearly seven years.
Idaho native Acuff was the first performer to take the stage i, saying, “Thank you all for showing up early. We appreciate y’all!” After playing “Dying Breed,” Acuff told fans to put their drinks in the air.
Acuff also sang “Western White Pines” and “If I Were The Devil” before wrapping up his 15-minute set by saying, “Penn State, thank you so much.”
Parker graced the stage next rocking a cowboy hat, quickly saying, “Penn State, what’s up? Y’all ready to have a good time?” Parker, hailing from Georgia, began singing at age three and started with a performance of “Raised Up Right” while strumming an electric guitar.
“My name is Drew Parker, and I’m so happy to be here,” he said after his first song. Parker then went into “I’ll Love You Longer,” new song “Love The Leavin,’” and “While You’re Gone.” Parker also sang “The Truck” before thanking the crowd multiple times and exiting the stage.
With a No. 24 Penn State football jersey, Tenpenny then hit the stage by asking fans how they were doing. After playing “We Got History” and “Bigger Mistakes,” Tenpenny switched guitars and asked how the crowd was for a second time.
Tenpenny led the first “We Are” chant of the night, and responded by saying, “That’s pretty damn cool.” He then went into a former No. 1 hit in “At the End of a Bar.” He went on to say selling out Beaver Stadium can now be checked off his bucket list and said he’ll be back in the future to watch a football game.
After introducing his band that included his younger brother, Rafe, on bass, Tenpenny played “Alcohol You Later,” “Drunk Me,” and his first big hit “Truth About You.” While showing his gratitude for everyone that showed up early, Tenpenny played a cover of “Iris” by the Goo Goo Dolls while many listeners shined and waved their flashlights.
“Jordan Davis and Luke Combs up next. Let’s go,” Tenpenny said before one final “We Are” chant and leaving the stage.
During a long break between sets, a wave circled around Beaver Stadium multiple times while folks eagerly waited for the final opener, Davis, to take the stage.
After the pause, Davis jogged out in a Penn State hoodie while hyping up the crowd and quickly played his first song, “Damn Good Time.” Upon finishing, he began giving out high fives to fans in the front row and said, “Let’s get it going, Penn State.”
“Singles You Up,” “Whiskey Weak,” and “Almost Maybes,” which Davis interrupted with a story about his college girlfriend, followed. Then, he said “Let’s take a trip to Tucson, Arizona, real quick if you don’t mind” and played “Tucson Too Late.” Davis switched the lyrics by saying “I got to Pennsylvania with Luke Combs right on time.”
Davis said this was the greatest night of his life and that he’s heard that Beaver Stadium is the rowdiest place in college football, which led to an eruption from the fans. It was then his turn to lead a “We Are” chant, which he immediately called the coolest moment of his life so far.
Davis played “Next Thing You Know,” “Slow Dance In A Parking Lot,” and “Part Of It” before thanking the crowd again and giving high praise to his tour partners. He then went into “Buy Dirt.”
He got the crowd ready for the main performer when he said, “We had one job. That was to get this place ready for Luke Combs,” and played his final song, “What My World Spins Around.” At 8:38 p.m., Davis left the stage by saying, “I love you, Penn State. Thank you so much.”
Twenty-four minutes later, Combs took the stage to flashing red lights and a pounding bass while sporting a camouflage hoodie and navy blue Penn State hat. “Penn State, how we feelin’ baby?” he asked.
Combs announced 80,000 people were on site, which he said was “the biggest show [he’s] ever played in [his] whole life,” leading to a roar throughout the stadium. He said no matter the size of the crowd, he never takes it for granted and he is always thankful to step onto the floor.
Combs wasted no time in getting into some of his biggest hits, including “The Kind of Love We Make,” “Where the Wild Things Are,” and “Forever After All” early in his set. Combs then brought up the gratitude he has for his wife and two sons before playing “Houston, We Got a Problem.”
No matter how big or small an experience, Combs said he cherishes them all, and this concert was certainly one of those for him. At the end of his next song “One Number Away,” Combs shouted “Thank y’all.”
Combs told a story about the struggles he went through during the COVID-19 lockdown but while working with Parker, he realized music was the only thing he knew how to do, leading into his song “Doin’ This.” He added his first Beaver Stadium reference of the night during the song. Then, while playing “Going, Going, Gone,” many fans put their arms around one another and swayed side to side.
Before playing “Even Though I’m Leaving,” Combs said not everyone understands his songs the same way he does, especially the 2019 song. During a short break between songs, he asked if there were any repeat attendees. Then, he said he always plays a song by himself to pay tribute to the days he played in front of two people on his couch at home, which was “This One’s For You.”
Prior to his arrival on stage, fans had the opportunity to vote for a song, and the winner was “Beer Can,” but he made a lyric change, singing, “Nothing picks me up like Penn State, baby.” After concluding the song, Combs introduced each of his band members and allowed them to play a solo, one of which was a “Drops of Jupiter” singalong.
As the rain began falling harder, it became storytime in Happy Valley. Combs said earlier in the day, he met a family that flew from San Diego, California, for the show. A young girl who recently beat cancer was a part of that family, and he found out she raised $100,000 for cancer research, prompting him to match the amount and donate $100,000 of his own to the same cause. He then progressed into what he learned is her favorite song, “Fast Car.”
The concert’s speed picked up after the hit Tracy Chapman cover when Combs played his first big hit from 2016, “Hurricane,” and he told the crowd to sing it with him. During his next two songs, “Brand New Man” and “1, 2 Many,” a fist fight broke out in the pit, but Combs didn’t recognize and continued singing. During “1, 2 Many,” Combs shotgunned a beer with a fan in the pit.
“When It Rains It Pours” appeared to be Combs’ final song, as he said “Penn State, my name is Luke Combs. Thank you so much.” However, moments later, he reentered and told everyone they had time for one more, which turned out to be his classic closer, “Beer Never Broke My Heart.”
After an hour and 38 minutes of stage time, Combs showed his gratitude for the crowd again and told Beaver Stadium he’ll be back one day.
