Jelly Roll played his first of two sold out shows in Edmonton at Rogers Place for his Beautifully Broken Tour and it is safe to say it was absolutely beautiful. This marks Jelly Rolls first tour in Canada and first show in Edmonton and it is safe to say it after these two shows Jelly Roll will be back. Jelly Roll’s tours have been built up by the man himself as being “real music for real people” and the show is more than a concert, I can tell you from first hand experience he wasn’t a liar.
The show was kicked off by Savannah Dexter, an independent artist from Florida and is a friend of Jelly Roll and his wife. Savannah would be joined by her husband Brabo Gator at one point, but from my short time seeing her performance, she sounded good but just seemed uncomfortable out there, seemingly a little lost. Now this could be her still adjusting to arenas rather than halls or clubs but she did seem much more in the zone when out there later with Jelly Roll as a part of a Canadian Melody towards the end of the show.
After the Arena Rockerz kept the crowd hyped up before getting Josh Ross hitting the stage. By the time Josh hit the stage the crowd was pretty much filled in for the fast rising star’s performance. Josh kicked things off with his #1 hit Trouble, followed by Red Flags and his first Canadian #1 (not sure why he phrased it that way in Canada as he is Canadian) On A Different Night, before playing melody of songs and playing others of note like “First Taste of Gone” Ain’t Doin’ Jack” his current single in Canada “Leave Me Too” before concluding with “Single Again” which went to #1 in Canada and currently is his single in the US in the top 20. I have seen Josh perform since the 2022 Top of the Country Finale where he was a finalist and it is safe to say his performances get better and better as time goes on. Going from a guy who didn’t appear comfortable on the stage hiding his face with a ball cap lowered and not offering much in the performance to what I saw with him as an opener for Nickelback a few years ago to now where he seems in complete control of the stage and proper production. I saw similar improvements over time from other Canadian talents like Jade Eagleson as they get more comfortable on the bigger stages with time and practice.
After Arena Rockerz were done on the stage came time for the man himself Jelly Roll. Jelly would start out at the soundboard after making his way through the crowd to the stage set up that the Arena Rockerz were using. Jelly Roll told the people this was a concert with “real music for real people” before starting into “I Am Not Okay” as a burning tent like structure was lowered down. After he made his way to the main stage he would get into another fiery song in “Halfway To Hell” and “Get By.” At this point I had to go put my camera gear away and check the gear so I sadly missed “Son of a Sinner” and his covers of “Friends in Low Places” and “Good Radiance” though I could hear them. Jelly would play a few other covers in his set as well as a hip-hop meoldy that was kicked off with a story about trying to find a “skunk” that he traced to his brothers room. The melody started with some Easy-E and included DMX and Biz Markie’s “Just A Friend” which the crowd sang with and took over causing Jelly Roll to sit down and take it all in while in a state of astonishment. Another melody he performed as a Canadian one which saw him perform “How You Remind Me’ before bringing out Savannah again as she did “Ironic” by Alanis and he brought up one of the back up singers as they all sang “Life is a Highway.” Josh was mysteriously missing as you would think he would be the 3 singer much as he was with Nickelback and Brantley Gilbert for “Copperhead Road,” but he was at an after party event. Jelly would perform a number of his songs like his current single “Liar” “Need a Favor” and concluding with “Save Me,” where things got a little wet.
Jelly Roll made the show an experience, no other way to put it. He brought laughter, tears and excitement all in the same show, which I have never witnessed before with it usually being centred around having a good time. Jelly even took a fans post on stage and acknowledged it showing it to the crowd as it was about a man losing his daughter and nephew to drug addiction. Jelly Roll is more than a concert or a show, like I said it is an experience. If you get the chance to see him live, I know tickets can be an expensive thing but you need to see him, you will not be disappointed.
Check Out some photos below:
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– Everett
