When I knew I would still be in Nashville for fall break, I started scrolling through a list of local concerts to spice up my weekend. Kidd G’s name caught my eye. After I listened to his country hits, I knew I had to be there. His performance was set to take place at Brooklyn Bowl. As I entered the venue on Oct. 22, my adrenaline kicked in to see up-and-coming country artist Kidd G take the stage to perform some of his most popular songs.
To start the night, Graham Barham walked on stage with a witty sense of humor and a small-town appeal. Even though autumn leaves have started to fall, Barham’s music made it feel like the beginning of summer again. Some of his most memorable songs had funny titles like “BEER BY MY BED” and “NORTH OF HELL.”
Graham Barham sings with a cup in hand at Brooklyn Bowl, as photographed on Oct. 22, 2023. (Hustler Multimedia/Chloe Pryor)
As I entered the pit before the main act, I noticed that there were plenty of young children — some elementary age — as well as couples in their 30s toward the back of the room. It was clear that Kidd G’s music appeals to all ages.
Kidd G started his set with a bang and a fast-paced energy. He is the type of artist to constantly move on stage, either interacting with the crowd or with his band. His excitement and energy were evident, especially when he splashed water over the first few rows of fans mid-song. He controlled the crowd’s attention with his movements but also with his words.
“For the next four minutes, can I have everybody’s attention?” Kidd G stated. “My main goal is to have the most fun with y’all.”
Kidd G singing with hand raised in the air at Brooklyn Bowl, as photographed on Oct. 22, 2023. (Hustler Multimedia/Chloe Pryor)
Something I love about smaller artists is that they usually play an unreleased song or two at their shows. Kidd G followed this trend by playing his unreleased song “Hello Alabama.” It received cheers from the audience and myself included. I enjoyed hearing the stories behind each song. Kidd G elaborated on his song “Lesson Learned,” explaining that it was not a song he wrote out of pettiness but more as a “wish you well.” Each song had a similar story or a one-liner, which made them a little more personal for casual concertgoers and fanatic fans alike.
“Anybody single here … y’all need to be louder so you can look around for your options,” Kidd G said.
This was the opening for Kidd G’s original song “Teenage Dream,” to which many audience members sang along. This song had a special flourish to it, seeming louder than all the others. It was the last of the night, or so I thought.
“Hey, I got a question for y’all,” Kidd G said from offstage. “Do y’all want to hear one more song? I got another question for y’all, how about two more songs?”
The night continued with two encores: “Dirt Road” and “People Talk.” Both songs are quite popular ones for Kidd G’s fans — “Dirt Road” was the biggest hit of the night with most of the crowd singing along.
“I really didn’t expect this song to do well,” Kidd G stated when detailing the story of “People Talk.”
He explained that he just broke up with his girlfriend around the time he was starting his career on TikTok. His ex’s little sister started to talk negatively about Kidd G, so this song was his response. “People Talk” — which he performed in an encore — and “Teenage Dream” are the two tracks by Kidd G I enjoyed the most, and I have already added them to my playlist.
Kidd G’ made his genuinity clear as he showcased his appreciation for his fans. He is the type of country artist to have you belting about pickup trucks one minute and then crying about that one person who shattered your heart the next. Kidd G can connect with anyone, young and old.
