Brad Paisley Shifts Gears And Goes Back To Basics For Vegas Shows

Since 2021, Brad Paisley has been building a unique success story in Las Vegas that’s steered clear of the go big and glitter mentality of Sin City and zoomed in on 100% Paisley. Untouched, up close, and often unintentional, his sell-out performances at Encore Theater at Wynn Las Vegas have been striking a different chord with audiences and giving the artist a springboard of insight for new projects. He’s poised to do it again November 4 and November 5, 2022 when Brad Paisley: Acoustic Storyteller returns to the Encore Theater.

Paisley’s four shows in 2021 and 2022 packed the 1400+ seat theater, selling over 5,600+ tickets combined— not a surprise from an artist who can fill a stadium, but a welcome one for all parties.

A longtime Grand Ole Opry member, Paisley’s penned 21 of his 24 No. 1 hits, won three Grammy Awards, two American Music Awards, 14 Country Music Association Awards, 15 Academy of Country Music Awards, and 2010 CMA Entertainer of the Year.

“It’s always special to have the opportunity to see a world class performer like Brad Paisley in such an intimate setting,” says Chris Hammond, Vice President, Talent for AEG Presents Las Vegas. “It’s like he has invited you over for a backyard cookout and surprises you by bringing out his guitar, crackin’ open a beer, and telling some hilarious stories. You can’t get experiences like this anywhere else.”

Back to Basics

On the heels of the pandemic lockdown, Paisley used the Wynn invitation to shift gears and pitch an intimate evening (just Paisley and his guitar(s)) with hits and stories, but one where the audience dictates the show and the setlist. No bells or whistles. No throwing production at it.

“We really went the exact opposite of this, where it’s like, ‘Let’s see how stripped down this can be’,” explains the artist about conceptualizing the shows.

The introspective approach worked “It was one of the most magical things I can remember,” says Paisley about the first 2021 show. He worried that it couldn’t be topped. But each show outdid the other.

All were exhilarating and exhausting. “It’s a workout,” he admits. A customized in real time show in a city with a ticket-buying population that is ever-changing, means zero predictability and the need to read the audience from start to finish. The audience may dictate, but Paisley’s clearly in charge, accentuating hits and guitar mastery with poignant revelation and signature pieces of comedy.

Working The Room

Working a room is second nature to the performer whose early training and longterm practices are marked by off the cuff storytelling with a touch of improv.

“The first weekend, I didn’t know what to expect. And I felt a little guilty showing up with no, like preparation. But I’ve been kind of playing this way since I was a kid…so, you know, in my hometown I had to learn to entertain the Fraternal Order of Antelopes, or whatever it was on any given day at a luncheon or a weekend dinner thing where they needed a half an hour of entertainment or more. And so I was 14 and getting up there and doing a funny Ray Stevens’ song and then a serious, you know, Vince Gill song or whatever it was and then telling stories and had to learn to do it.”

Listening to The Crowd

Brad Paisley: Acoustic Storyteller has given Paisley an opportunity to move beyond the introspection and solitude many artists faced in 2020 and take the stage to share his insights and work. He’s also gaining audience perspective via the transactional nature of the intimate setting.

An added bonus—“There are no distractions from the guitar, the voice and the song,” explains Paisley. “Anything new that I want to try, if it works in that setting, I’ve got something. And it’s been fun to do that. I’ve probably played four or five new things over the course of these and I plan to do that this time, too. And it’s like anything. It feeds you and you learn from it. I learn from it every time I do one of these.”

Beyond The Music

Paisley seems skilled at taking on projects he enjoys and values. He’s got clothing line Moonshine Spirit with western and work wear outfitter Boot Barn featuring boots, hats, shirts, and jeans. “The Boot Barn Connection has been so much fun,” notes Paisley. “What a great company…a great group of people. And it’s so much fun too to walk a red carpet.” In an environment where carpet walkers name drop Prada and Gucci, he delights in telling the Fashion Police that he’s wearing Boot Barn.

Paisley’s Bourbon brand America Highway Reserve in partnership with Bardstown Bourbon Company has also been “a blast” for the singer-songwriter who has found more than a few similarities between the beverage and country music songwriting. Paisley says you can’t rush either one and sometimes there’s a little unexplainable magic that yields a true winner.

Giving Back

Beyond Vegas gigs and business ventures is another project that is as down to earth as the artist and any of his tunes. An important initiative and labor of love for the singer-songwriter and his wife, actress Kimberly Williams-Paisley, The Store is a non-profit and free referral-based grocery store that aims to empower low-income individuals and families in the Nashville area. Designed to help people get the food they need and can’t afford by allowing them to shop with dignity, The Store has become an essential resource and model for communities trying to eliminate the stigma of poverty.

As always, Paisley’s using his voice to share a story and others are noticing—including writer/producer friend Phil Rosenthal (Everybody Loves Raymond). The Store and its co-founder can be spotted in the Season 6 Nashville-based episode of Rosethal’s NetflixNFLX
food and travel series Somebody Feed Phil.

Kimberly Williams-Paisley introduces the story behind The Store.