Last night at the historic Midland Theatre in Newark, OH, Lonestar delivered a high energy and heartfelt performance to a central Ohio crowd, reminding all in attendance why they’ve remained a staple in country-pop music for over three decades. The stage show was electric with every ballad carrying emotional weight, and each uptempo number prompting a sing-along from the audience despite the Texas natives suffering a UT loss to the Ohio State Buckeye’s earlier in the day.

Formed in Nashville in 1992 under the name “Texassee,” the band founded by current guitarist Michael Britt, drummer Keech Rainwater, and keyboardist Dean Sams moved non-stop through a long set of favorites and well-thought-out covers to an appreciative crowd. Lead vocalist Drew Womack and bass guitarist Robby Wilson rounded out the unstoppable live touring band that has been selling out show after show on their current cross country run.

Lonestar comes to 2025 with a long list of successes, including more than 20 hit singles such as fan favorites “I’m Already There,” “My Front Porch Looking In,” and “What About Now.”  Arguably though, the band’s biggest crossover hit topping both Hot Country Songs and the Billboard Hot 100, is “Amazed” from 1999’s album Lonely Grill.

The evening’s entertainment included quite a bit of humor from the band interspersed with their stage banter. A late arriving couple, singled out early in the set, was asked about their favorite Lonestar song only to be informed that particular number was played before they arrived. The band later posed for a group shot from the stage with the audience in the background. Before the snap was taken, Sams cautioned any audience member not sitting next to someone they should be might want to get up and move.

The evening’s 105-minute set included all of the band’s greatest hits and several well-curated covers. Show opener “Come Crying to Me” hooked the crowd early with “Tequila Talking,” “My Front Porch Looking In,” and “Mr. Mom” maintaining the momentum throughout the evening. Surprise renditions of Fleetwood Mac’s “You Make Loving Fun” and “Here Comes the Rain Again” from Eurythmics were clear favorites from their latest EP, Iconic, a nod to iconic women artists. The final treat of the evening was expected encore opener, “Amazed” with a strong show ending medley of 80’s favorites “In the Air Tonight” / “Another Brick in the Wall Part 2” / “Jump” / “The Boys Are Back in Town” / and “Life in the Fast Lane” that had the crowd on its feet, cell phones alight.

Lonestar continues their tour through 2025 with stops across the US. If you missed the Newark, OH show, be sure to check their schedule to find an upcoming location close to where you’ll be.

Where you at the show? I’d love to hear your favorite moment!