Chris Young, Kane Brown, & LANco Electrify Cedar Rapids Crowd

It was a Saturday night I think everyone inside the U.S. Cellular Center is going to remember for a very long time. The 'Losing Sleep World Tour' with Chris Young, Kane Brown, and LANco featured a crowd, and three acts, who were equally ready for each other. WOW, were they ready.

First to the stage was new group, LANco. Short for Lancaster & Company (lead vocalist is Brandon Lancaster with Chandler Baldwin, Jared Hampton, Tripp Howell, and Eric Steedly also in the band), they set the tone immediately that this was going to be one, big party. It's rare that an act so new to the national scene commands the crowd like these guys did and when they launched into their debut #1, Greatest Love Story, chills went up my spine. If there was anybody in the arena not singing along, they were definitely in the minority. It was a special moment.

When Kane Brown stepped into the spotlight, the volume of the crowd only increased. When he asked "Cedar Rapids, are you ready?" the answer was abundantly clear. Everything he sang turned into a sing-a-long and his current hit, Heaven, drew a huge response. He concluded with his first chart-topper, What Ifs, and the crowd roared. Personally, I was disappointed that the voice of his duet partner on the song, Lauren Alaina, wasn't part of the performance but few seemed to care.

The main event was worth the wait. I say 'the wait,' because there was an abnormally long set change between Kane and Chris. A Saturday night crowd in party mode couldn't have cared less and when the lights went down, the roar went up. Chris Young first graced a stage in Cedar Rapids when he played a free KHAK show at Hawkeye Downs in June of 2007. Ten-and-a-half years and ten number-one songs later, his 'Losing Sleep World Tour' has sold-out 18 consecutive shows. His rise to stardom has been a steady one and Chris delivered hit after hit including my absolute favorite, Aw Naw.

Three acts, all with a very different brand of country music, made last night an awesome one in Cedar Rapids. We'll see you for another great night of country music in just a few weeks. Little Big Town, Kacey Musgraves, and Midland promise another memorable night for Friday, March 23. It's also on the verge of being another total sellout.

We also have to say THANK YOU to everyone who helped us raise $1,093 for Children's Miracle Network/University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital in 75 minutes last night. 75 MINUTES! Congratulations to Jody Hallahan, our winner! Jody and her guest met Kane, LANco, and Chris last night at the show. Since it was the final show on this leg of Chris' tour, she may have to wait on that photo a day or two.

A big congrats to Karlee Grabau, too. She also won meet-and-greets for all three artists from an online contest here at KHAK.com.