Hey, remember me telling you that Montreal is becoming a country music hub? Well, guess what? Just a week after I reviewed The Red Clay Strays, nominees for New Artist of the Year at the CMA Awards, we’re welcoming in the same venue, MTelus, to celebrate the incredibly talented Megan Moroney, the winner of New Artist of the Year at the 2024 CMA awards! And let me tell you, Montreal was buzzing with excitement for this event.
The venue was already packed, great news for singer-songwriter Georgia-born singer-songwriter Vincent Mason. He came out with another guitarist and they rocked a short 25-minute set. The crowd was absolutely captivated by his storytelling and his beautiful voice.
He mentions being influenced by artists like Parker McCollum and John Mayer, and it definitely shows in his music. I had a blast watching him and loved that he had a story for every song and connected with the audience so well. This was his first time in Montreal, and we welcomed him with open arms.
He started his set with his first single, “Wish You Would,” and then we had a honkytonk moment when he played the wildly popular song “Drink in My Hand,” an Eric Church cover. He closed out the set with “Speak with the Devil” and his first massive hit, “Hell is a Dance Floor.” It was just fantastic! Big things are coming for this artist, and he’s only 23.
The anticipation reached its peak when a roadie came out to do some last-minute checks around 8:50 pm. Fans went wild, most wearing merch they had bought that evening. Then, the speakers blasted Hannah Montana’s (Miley Cyrus) hit song “Best of Both Worlds.” The crowd was ready!
A moon appeared on the video screen and went through all its phases, with the lights closing on the band and Megan Moroney taking her spot atop the massive set. We were off to the races with “Man on the Moon.” We could feel like we were witnessing the rise of a superstar.
The band was incredible, and Megan shone brighter than the moon. We were in for an unforgettable night. In her 23-song set, she gave us a taste of everything. Like, if you were a fan of her new album “Am I Okay?” Well, you were in for a treat because she played every song and even sprinkled in a few from her debut album “Lucky.”
The night was filled with amazing moments. She would chat with the crowd, share little stories about her songs, and it felt like she could fill an arena. Fans shouted out to her, and she sometimes responded. I loved seeing her react to a girl calling herself a French Emo Cowgirl, a play on her self-described moniker Emo Cowgirl.
I love that her songs connected with the crowd, and she even played “Mama I Lied” and “The Girls” for the first time. She ended her set strong with “Tennessee Orange” and “I’ll Be Fine,” and the lights closed. She came out for an encore, and the fans erupted in a collective roar to the tune of “Am I Okay?” It was absolutely spectacular!
To say I had a great night is an understatement. It was a night of pure perfection, and this is just the beginning of the tour. I’m going to say something bold here, but this show felt like we were witnessing greatness. It could very well be a moment we’ll never forget, as I truly believe Megan is destined for mega-stardom. I imagine this is what it felt like being at early Taylor Swift shows. Get on this rocket ship; it’s blasting off to the moon!
Review – Eric Brisson
Photos – Mason Goodson
