Texas Comes to NYC at the 8th Annual Salute to Texas Independence Day at Terminal 5 feat. Wade Bowen, Casey Donahew Band, Randy Rogers Band and Pat Green

A packed dance floor!

“There’s a lot of displaced Texans in New York.” Pat Green got that right as Texas exes, music lovers and locals seeing four of Texas’ best for the first time piled into Terminal 5 for the largest crowd yet at the 8th Annual Salute to Texas Independence show.

“Thanks for coming out early” said Wade Bowen as he charged through a short set of songs including “Trouble,” “Songs About Trucks,” “Sun Shines On A Dreamer,” and “When I Woke Up Today” before closing (appropriately enough) with “Saturday Night,” which he reminded the crowd was his only charting single at #39. Incredibly animated, it was undeniable that Bowen was having a blast on stage with an energy that seeped into the crowd and could be felt in the air.

Casey Donahew Band was up next and as always, delivered a fun, high-energy set. Donahew reaffirmed his love of country, the military, and 2A with the best statement of the night, “Guns don’t kill people, pencils don’t misspell words and trucks don’t drive drunk” before launching into “12 Gauge.” He and his band of five (immensely talented like Bowen’s) played over half an hour set which included “Fallen,” “Crazy”, and a tune from their upcoming EP that was just quintessential CDB: fun, up-tempo and nailing country life. Donahew closed out with fan favorite “Stockyards” which had the crowd singing along.

“Happy Texas Independence Day” shouted Randy Rogers said as he proceeded to roll call Texas universities to which the crowd responded with hoots and hollers (Aggies and Longhorns shouted the loudest in case you were wondering). Incredibly chatty, funny and in all around great spirits, he and his band simply brought it, bringing the crowd into a frenzy with chants of “Randy F--- Rogers.” Old favorites, as well as songs from their terrific January album, Nothing Shines Like Neon, made an approximately fifteen song playlist that included “Flash Flood,” “Fuzzy,” “Trouble,” and “Neon Blues.” While notes of “If You’re Gonna Play in Texas” (“With TWO F-- fiddles”) fired the crowd up, Bowen returned to sing “Standards” with buddy Rogers while Pat Green pelted the band with ice chips from above. Songs for the lonely, single women and couples found the theme of love (old and new) pulsing through Rogers set with him telling the crowd that “Better than any dating app, or dating website…..is a concert” (he’s probably right). “Speak of the Devil,” “Buy Myself A Chance,” and “This Time Around” rounded out a set that left everyone wanting more.

Without any fanfare (even the typically dimmed lights), Pat Green walked onto the stage to chants of “Pat F-- Green” (causing him to comment that he thinks Bowen should also have the expletive as his middle name) from an audience who was enthusiastic and more than ready. Fan favorite Green, who also headlined last year, entertained the crowd from the first minute of the first song to the last second of the final. Besides the music, Green is quite a funny entertainer whose gestures and mannerisms kept your eyes glued to him. Like Rogers, he too had love on the mind telling the crowd he wants “10-15 Texas babies made in NYC tonight.” Green’s dynamic set included “Carry On” “Galleywinter”, “Girls From Texas”, “All Just To Get To You,” “Three Days” and “While I Was Away” before concluding well after 11pm (the show began at 7pm) with “Wave on Wave.”

“It was a Saturday night”…..filled with incredibly memorable music from four artists whose great tunes, terrific musicianship, and good time attitude were embraced by everyone in the room; we hope they felt the love.

​God Bless Texas!

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