Brad Paisley Headlines His First London Show

Brad Paisley took the stage last night at Shepherds Bush Empire in London, his first show as a headliner in the United Kingdom.
 
He headed overseas on Sunday, with hopes to fit in some vacation time. This trip, however, would be different from any he’s taken there before.
 
“I don’t know what to expect,” he said. “I’m super-excited because I love England. I’ve been there, I had a great time, but it’s been 10 years ago. And I noticed at that time, I went with Reba [McEntire],and it felt a bit like a struggle for all of us — even her, to some degree. People went to see Reba, but it’s this feeling of, ‘Let’s go see what this is all about.’ It wasn’t like doin’ shows with Reba here. There was curiosity more than there was pandelarium, to borrow a Jeff Foxworthy word — the pandemonium that usually comes with fandom in the United States.”
 
English fans, however, are very different from American fans in that they come prepared knowing the musical details. Some fans study the liner notes and are often as familiar with the supporting musicians as they are with the lead singer. This played out well for Paisley, who uses his touring band members on his albums.
 
“What I’m really excited about is I think it’s a different audience,” he observed. “This’ll be a whole different show for me. I might do a couple of instrumentals. I know there’s a big instrumental community, a big guitar community. I’ve gotten more tweets from Telecaster guitar players over there that are ‘I finally get to see you play live.’ So I’m really gonna work that.”
 
Paisley actually has two shows scheduled at the Shepherds Bush Empire, which is well known for being where the Dixie Chicks’ Natalie Maines took a jab at George W. Bush, losing a large group of Country Music fans.
 
Paisley hopes to keep his fans and return to London soon.
 
“I’d like to start this process of you go once and then build this [audience] and come back again,” he said. “I’m not gonna be playing Wembley Stadium there, but it’d be nice to build a loyal fan base and selfishly be able to go over there and visit. It’s a great country.”
 
Source: GACtv.com