Nial Horan delivers "The Show" 2024 World Tour

Sat 6/9/24 - Martin Klunder (No Gummies) - Jiffy Lube Live - 72℉ (22 ℃) - Est Att 23k - 46$

Music 7/10 - Show (not his album haha) 7/10 - Overall Enjoyment 8/10

Yes his most recant album was in fact called “The Show” I believe the album came out on June 9th 2023. One year to the day exactly from when I attended his concert earlier this month. I only know that because someone’s sign in the pit said Happy 1 year Anniversary of “The Show”. Haha even Niall forgot, he was like “oooo

yea, wow. I forgot I did come out with my album a year ago today”. More on that soon. To give you country breakfast for short…EXCELLENT SHOW!

Quick housekeeping here. I’m gona do it because this is actually gona be my shortest

“write up” (maybe). I try to keep it real and honest with you guys as well as exciting. As you

know, results may vary. I went by myself and didn’t eat gummies. Usually that’s a recipe for a slight evening, but ya never know. Anything interesting or really anything that happens I try to put in this paper so you can really experience and see what it was like. Every concert brings about different things. Nothing crazy happened this evening.

It was the beginning of June but not the first show of the month. 21 Savage was that

Sunday June 2 nd (Remember that date for later). Jiffy Lube Live had 3 shows in a row. Chris Stapleton Friday, that I let my dad use the pass for that. I had just seen him along with Little Big Town & (King) George Straight in Charlote a couple days before on June 1st Saturday. So I was totally cool with sharing my pass. Glad he got to observe. More on that later in the next write ups with regards to the lawn(ie) pass and sharing.

Entonces Niall Horan Saturday. John Fogerty Sunday. They were supposed to have “A Boogie wit a Hoodie” a couple days later that Wednesday the 12th . Sadly that got cancelled for whatever reason I’m not sure. Still inconclusive but I was excited for that to see someone new! But three days in a row, that’s busy time for the workers and venue. The first set of consecutive shows & it happened to be a 3 set!

Its Saturday evening. I think these parts are very important cause it does factor in stuff to the experience. But I am usually leaving from my parents’ house. Which from the venue is like 25 miles. 40 km’s…after all the guy is Irish! Which I totally didn’t know. For those maybe not aware. Niall Horan was one of the members of the popular boy band “One Direction” (1D) They were huge in like 2013. “What makes you beautiful” Radio Classic!

Anyway, I thought they were all British. I was wrong Niall was Irish. So respect to the metric system. But driving to the venue usually takes a little longer then going home just because traffic. I got lucky again. The thing I realized is this. If I just go to see the last act. The headliner, usually the main thing everyone is trying to see anyway. I can pull up later and be just in time and skip out on all the traffic and lines etc.

Note there is a difference between traffic on the road and then traffic

associated with the concert and venue. Either way, I got there in excellent time with no problems at all. I will say big love to Jiffy Lube Live for posting on their Instagram stories with the set times. Very helpful. Thanks :)

Always allow plus or minus 5 minutes from what it says for scheduled start time. But I love how they have been doing that this year. Makes it very simple for me. I used to use Setlist.fm which is very accurate as well. But spoon-fed so thanks �� They

also had announced “Expect heavy delays, this is a crowded show” They only make that extra post and notice when it is indeed going to be packed or SOLD OUT. So fine with me.

I couldn’t even tell you who the opener was, but it was crowded man. Like I said different shows bring about different things. From what I’ve noticed the venue

for Saturday shows open there lots up earlier?!?! So, when I pulled up to the parking lot well

after 8pm. There was no cops outside directing traffic or staff of the venue directing traffic.

Nobody in front of me pulling in or behind me so that’s rare and very smooth to my liking.

The parking lots were packed man. I’m almost always coming along I 66 west to the

venue. I love taking exit 44. Its easier for me, makes more sense coming from that way and

almost always works out in favor for my situation. Its also closest to lot F. The biggest and

farthest away lot. Which is usually where I end up anyway.

They didn’t say it was a SOLD OUT show like they did for Chris the night before! But man it was packed. I parked right along Arto St. At the corner of Rollins Ford rd., next to the stop sign. People were parked everywhere man it was crowded, I’m serious. I’ve only seen it like that a few times. Even if the parking people were still there working, there is only so much you can do. At some point it’s a fu*k it and park anywhere.

Anway I got probably the best spot in terms for exiting after the show than anybody! Fast fording to by time the show was over. It doesn’t take a lot of cars and or a lot of time

for any of the lots to get jammed up quickly. And these lots were full baybee! So as you know I (almost) never leave until it’s over and the house lights come on.

Niall closed with "Slow Hands." He then stuck around a little to say goodbye to the fans etc. But once he left the stage I comfortably walked to my red van. Got right in and drove away, without waiting at all. Next thing you know I’m on Wellington Road (promise land) and on my way home with a trafficless drive home. Definitely helped bring my overall enjoyment up to a strong 8 out of 10.

By the way, on the walk back, a couple other thousand patrons are all going to their cars as well. So even if I had taken forever to get to my car, (which I usually do when I eat gummies) because of my positing of being on the grass off the street and not in the lot. I woulda been okay anyway! Big tip for those attending packed shows at Jiffy Lube Live.

Rewind though. So I park, walk up to the gate and scan my pass, I’m right in. So easy “A Caveman could do it” haha sorry Caveman I love those commercials. It’s dead outside

accounting staff or patrons. Almost everyone is in now. At this point its 20:30 (8:30pm) and its June so the sun is still up for like 5 more minutes! Crazy I know. But almost regardless of the show or wherever etc. I almost always get in and go directly to the bathroom. Usually take a pee pee, wash my hands, and then go fill up my water bottle.

There wasn’t to much time to waste

here. Niall came on at like 20:45 and played for about 100 minutes till about 22:25 (10:25pm). But don’t worry, I didn’t miss a thing. Lately I’ve enjoyed going to the top of the lawn on the

stage right side, where one of the big rocks are. For those curious, if you know the sides of the hill at Jiffy Lube there is a staircase on each side. However, the side I go to is the only side with a ramp next to the stairs. It’s the side closest to the box office and Lot A side!

Why I like this spot is cause its “Locals Only” or should I say “Lawnies Only” haha. There is this guy named Joe who I met there a couple years ago. And he almost always sits on the big rock. He’s also a big guy himself. He’s probably like 45 and white and usually will be there with his wife and or kids. I think he has two daughters.

I know for this show him and his daughter were there. He’s a super cool guy and usually has an extra chair he will let you sit in. If you go to a show and he’s there go say

hello, you will know if you see him you can’t miss him. He is a good friend of mine along with

other local lawnies that will pull up to that spot as well. Its cool we all hang out together at these different shows.

In fact this mom and daughter were there as well and said the daughter got engaged at Jiffy Lube Live recently. Maybe a Lawnie Wedding?!?! So I gave him a hug and he let me sit on the rock with him. (it’s a big rock) I didn’t move and sat and listened and watched the entire performance.

So I really feel good about that when I don’t get minded and wounder off. So, I can say I witnessed the entire concert to give you the best and most accurate rereview. Delicious show. Such a treat! Niall was showing heavy respect. To the United States, to VA and to Jiffy Lube Live. He had said he played here in 2018 and it was his first time back since then. He was very grateful and thanked the audience. Supper nice guy. He kept saying how much more crowded it was for

this show.

He said it first…”SOLD OUT” it was dam crowded, I’m not sure it was sold out but

close to it man. Huge Saturday night crowd at the end of spring in June! Gemini season. Will Arther sh*t!

One thing that I did really think was cool, was these huge curtains he had. I mean like

actually red really nice curtains. It was dope. His stage wasn’t the most elaborate or crazy, But the backdrop and design with the format of the red curtains with gold trim really made it feel fitting for ‘The Show” tour.

Listen if you really want you can go look at his setlist or YouTube

and see the backdrop and set. I’m trying to give you things you can’t find or wouldn’t know

unless you were at the show. He did have a chill acoustic set which was clean. However, my favorite part no doubt was when he took a very long break from the music for like 10 minutes.

During this he went around to look at all the signs and stuff people had made. Some serious fans for sure up front and some beautiful artwork and signs. The coolest one I think was a little girl probably 4 years old who had a sign that said “Mr. Niall when I grow up will you marry me?” Niall said yes! Haha.

Super fun night. Music was great. His band was dope. One of his musicians did shred on a lit keytar for a song or two. Probably my favorite number, can’t even remember the song but that was swag. Everything sounded good and the crowd was bumping the entire time.

I really didn’t know many of his songs. I think he only did a single 1D cover. But either way, you didn’t have to know the music to enjoy. & I certainly did just that along with (big) Joe who was on the same level of me. His daughter probably in high school definitely knew the material of the evening. I wasn’t blown away by any of this. I think like 8 or 7 scores for the categories across the “Music” “Show (performance)” and “Overall Enjoyment” is fair. I would recommend it for sure.

What I did notice was that there was a lot of families and kids which is chill. Obviously,

there is going to be a lot of teenage girls haha. But it was a diverse crowd of multiple ethnicities at the show. He’s a global man what can I say. He even spoke some Spanish when there was a guy in the front row with a Messi jersey who had a sign that said he flew all the way from Argentina for this show. Respect to that fan! I’m just a local with a season pass haha.

O I almost forgot. This was very cool. At the end on the video board as the house lights came on and people were leaving. There was credits…I mean a lot. From the band to all the truck drivers, to the USA promoters. Very cool. Very appreciative. I mean he covered everything and everyone. I sat and watched every single last credit then I left to go home. That’s rare from what I’ve seen. So big respect and thank you to Niall and all his crew etc for a wonderful evening observing “The Show” world tour.

Also I forgot to mention this was the first show of the 2024 season announced for Jiffy

Lube Live. It was like a year ago during summer 2023 or maybe even spring 2023 that this was announced. His tour started in Europe I think then came across the pond to us in the States. But it was all announced at once. So I remember seeing this a long time ago and being like oooo. This is for June next year! (2024) Well its June 2024 now. So I’m glad I got to go the show and it was on the calendar for a longgggggggggggg time. xoxo Martin ��

Finally that HOUSEKEEPING I was mentioning. I’m going to really try to do a write up

for every show. That might not happen. But I will make sure for every show at Jiffy Lube Live

that I attend (hoping for a new pr of 25 this year) there WILL be a write up review. Some will be longer than others etc.

Also, I try to do it as soon as possible after the show. It’s just better that way and makes my mind fresh when writing. As to remembering what happened etc. There might be some delays, and the write-ups could get outa order. Currently it is June 25 th Tuesday. So, there are some others I gotta go back and do. Hoping to do those before they get too far behind me. I’ll try and keep them coming in order.

For the fist couple write ups (ex Neil Young) I did a basic (1’in margins) border

Microsoft Word document. 12-point font. Single spaced with a header and footer. Along with a big title of the headliner. I wanted to format that on a single page so I wouldn’t go on and on like I did today. Even though I said it would be a shorter one. I can’t fit all the juiciness onto one page #Sorry

I have been sending these to Ray. He has done a great job putting them on the website. He’s also added a single picture of the artist in the middle. For example, the one of Neil Young playing the guitar. If you go to the Livenation website to purchase tickets that is the picture that comes up on the left of the screen. There is always one per act. So thx Ray.

That being said the format of this write up when moved to the website has made things a little less clean then they are now on this word doc. Were still troubleshooting here but its on the run. I got the original if you care to read it in this way.

The date and name are pretty self explanatory up top. If I eat gummies I will try to put the correct amount and type I = Indica , H = Hybrid , S = Sativa . Each number accounting one 10 mg legal gummy from a Maryland dispensary.

The weather in Fahrenheit is what it was like at 21:00 (9pm). By then usually the final

act, the headliner is one, the artist everyone came to see. I love looking at the weather, but for this we’re only taking account what it is like in prime time during the show.

The price $ is given on the website of the official venue. I think I went and looked last

month in May before opening night to see the prices. I got them all written down. That is the

number after fees. So 46$ for Niall total. Code is ALWAYS look at the cheapest option which is usually a lawn general admission ticket. LiveNation Jiffy Lube Live, you can type it in for your self.

Sometimes it pays to wait to acquire your ticket, sometimes not so much. Prices can lower and or raise. There are different sites as well as utilizing the box office. I’m only here to tell you for the second (year) season in a row I have a general admission ticket for one. To (almost) every show at Jiffy Lube Live.

Livenation does this every year at participating venues. Now called the “Lawnie

Pass” It is 199$, after 40$ fees comes out to 239$. VB, Charlotte, and Raliegh to name a few

other cities where this is also a thing at their local venue. There are exceptions with what shows are included/ excluded with the pass but to keep it slight, I just trust the pass man.

Finally, the Estimated Attendance #. I almost always try and ask multiple guest services

staff what the attendance was. I also try to eyeball it the best I can. We know the capacity is 25k. 10k in the seats under the pavilion, 15k in the lawn. So maybe depending on how many Lawnies show up numbers could be askew. But that’s a pretty accurate estimate for attendance which I’m always minded over!!!

This was also my first write up in weeks so maybe I had a lot to say. I’m not going to

repeat this stuff at the end. But assume I am driving my car from my parent’s house in Northern Va to and from Jiffy Lube Live for shows. All of this is important in my 3 scores at the top of the page. Thanks #LawniesOnly “Locals only” – Ernest