Hudson Westbrook
Corpus Christi didn’t have to wait long for another night with Hudson Westbrook. He’d been in town opening for Bailey Zimmerman back in April, but on Saturday, Oct. 17, he returned with his own name at the top of the bill. With Ethan Burdick and Kenny Whitmire along for the ride, Westbrook brought his Hits Me Tour to Concrete Street Amphitheater — and this time, he had a little more time to spend with South Texas.
Ethan Burdick looked right at home getting the night started. His mix of folk, country, and pop had shades of Noah Kahan and Lizzy McAlpine, and it was easy to get drawn into the stories he was telling. “I Get the Picture” was a crowd favorite, and it wasn’t hard to hear why. The feeling of falling for someone and being left behind gave the song an ache that felt familiar.
For all the space around him, Burdick’s songs still felt personal. He seemed comfortable sharing the feelings behind them, giving the set a warmth that made it easy to settle into the evening. It was a good place to start before Kenny Whitmire took over with his rich voice and traditional country sound.
Kenny Whitmire brought a little old-school country with him, and he had the voice for it. Rich and smooth, his singing called to mind Keith Whitley and Randy Travis. There was a warmth to his delivery that made you want to stick around and hear what he had to say.
Whitmire was easy to like between songs, too. He spoke so lovingly about his wife that it was hard not to smile, and it was nice to hear him share that side of his life. He also talked about how much Vince Gill had influenced him, making the Gill cover he worked into the set feel especially fitting. Between the songs and those conversations, it felt like we’d gotten to know Whitmire a little better before Hudson Westbrook took over for the night’s final set.
When it was time for Hudson Westbrook to take over, the Stephenville native brought a little Texas grit with him. His warm, textured voice drew you into the love songs, and he had plenty of bite when the music called for it. You could hear some George Strait in his delivery and the drive of the Turnpike Troubadours in the music. That mix of traditional country and Red Dirt rock was easy to get into, even if you didn’t come in knowing every song.
If the screaming was anything to go by, Corpus was pretty happy to have Westbrook back. He walked along the front of the crowd, touching hands as fans reached for him. He talked about how much he loves Texas, and you got the feeling he was enjoying being there as much as everyone watching him. Bringing Burdick and Whitmire back out during his set was a fun touch, too. Each came back out to join him for songs, and it was nice to hear a little more from both after their own sets earlier in the night.
The Hits Me Tour gave Corpus a full evening worth showing up for. Burdick and Whitmire each made a strong impression, and Westbrook delivered a headline set that made the excitement around him easy to understand. There was enough difference between the performances to give each its own appeal, and enough common ground to make the bill a good match. Everyone had something to contribute, and the show was better for having all three on it. There’s plenty ahead for Burdick, Whitmire, and Westbrook, but they gave a good reason to pay attention right now.
