Dorton Arena will be a little bit country as Joe Nichols brings his chart topping hits to the N.C. State Fair on Saturday, Oct. 19.
Nichols started his career as a musician in the fast lane with back-to-back No. 1 hit singles, “The Impossible” and “Brokenheartsville,” in 2002. Those songs earned the young artist a Grammy nomination and a slew of other awards.
In the midst of his insta-success, Nichols remained level-headed, never once forgetting that the music industry is about creating art, not just commercial sales. His raw and authentic talent for creating music has earned him an impressive repertoire of seven albums and several chart-topping singles.
But there’s more to Nichols’ music than his country melodies; his lyrics are genius, and I’m not the only one who thinks so. Nichols is known in the industry as “one of country music’s best judges of material.” He manages to pick clever words that balance the good with the bad and the lighthearted with the sorrowful parts of life.
One of my favorites, “Who Are You When I’m Not Looking,” uses clever lyrics and a softer tune to tell the story of getting to know someone more.
“My, oh, my, you’re so good looking;
Hold yourself together like a pair of bookends,
But I’ve not tasted all you’re cooking;
Who are you when I’m not looking”
And of course, not all of his music is so sentimental; Nichols does a great job of mixing romance with humor to create variety. His other popular hits are “Sunny and 75,” “Gimme That Girl” and “Size Matters.”
Nichols’ concert is in Dorton Arena at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10, and doors open at 6:30 p.m.
