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Clint Black (Photo credit: Señor McGuire)
Special Guest Carolyn Dawn Johnson
June 19th, 2024
Enmax Centre, 7:30 P.M.
Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
By Curtis Newart
Photo courtesy Clint Black
Killin' Time 35th Anniversary World Tour
Killin' Time 35th Anniversary World Tour is Clint Black's latest concert tour and his first time playing his triple-platinum debut album Killin' Time from start to finish. Rolling Stone named Killin' Time one of the most important albums in Country music history, reaching #1 with four consecutive singles in the US (five in Canada).
The Grammy Award, Country Music Association Awards (CMA), Academy of Country Music Awards (ACM), and American Music Awards (AMA) winner kicked off his tour on February 16th, 2024 in Nashville, Tennesee at the Ryman Auditorium. His current tour dates are scheduled to November 15th, 2024. The tour is scheduled to hit 55 cities in Canada and the US.
“Time flies when you’re…Killin’ Time!” commented Black. “My band and I are very excited to play the album top to bottom."
Carolyn Dawn Johnson and Clint Black Ad (Courtesy 89.1 The Ranch)
Clint Black - Killin' Time
Clint Black receiving his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7080 Hollywood Blvd in December 1996. (Courtesy Clint Black Facebook)
Clint Black - A Better Man (Official Video)
CONCERT REVIEW
My date and I attended the show on June 19th at the ENMAX Centre in Lethbridge, Alberta. Formerly known as the Canada Games Sportsplex, I've seen Roger Whittacker, The Vampire Circus and Reveen perform here.
We immediately checked out the merch table, and bought a Clint Black t-shirt for $60, then headed to the concession for poutine and drinks.
The liquor and popcorn were flowing.
Special guest Carolyn Dawn Johnson took the stage around 7:30 P.M., and performed a powerful set.
During intermission she signed autographs and took photos with fans. When my date and I approached her, he presented her with a business card to sign (it was all he had on him). The photographer noticed the business card was from a home improvement store, and told Carolyn, "Get him to write a discount for appliances on there."
Carolyn Dawn Johnson (Photo credit: Robert Newart)
Curtis Newart, Robert Newart and Carolyn Dawn Johnson
Carolyn Dawn Johnson autograph
CLINT TAKES THE STAGE
New Jersey-born, Texas-raised country superstar Clint Black took the stage with his 6-piece band and performed commanding renditions of The Shoes You're Wearing, Summer's Comin', and State of Mind, before launching into an energetic 10 song set of his triple-platinum debut album Killin' Time. The 1989 album earned four straight #1 singles on the US Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts (five in Canada).
When naming his childhood inspirations, he mentioned Canadians Gordon Lightfoot and Anne Murray, to a raucous round of applause.
The 22 time #1 hitmaker proudly introduced his band, which included his long-time collaborator Hayden Nicholas (guitar, vocals), Dwain Rowe (keyboards), Black's cousin Wes Fowler (pedal steel), Jason Mowery (fiddle, dobro), Jake Willemain (bass guitar), and Andy Hull (drums).
Clint Black (Photo credit: Robert Newart)
Clint Black and Carolyn Dawn Johnson (Photo credit: Robert Newart)
Johnson joined Black for a beautiful version of Our Kind of Love. He told us that the Grande Prairie born Johnson had been teaching him about the localities in Alberta and how to pronounce Canadian words. He said he insisted our words were pronounced incorrectly, because Texas pronounces the words correctly. An audience member shouted out, "Eh!".
He asked the crowd if they are Oilers fans, which was met with a mixture of cheers and boos (for reference, the Edmonton Oilers are an Alberta NHL hockey team that recently lost against the Florida Panthers in the Stanley Cup playoffs). Feigning ignorance, the Texan joked that he was surprised that we could even remember the Houston Oilers (which were a Houston, Texas football team).
Clint Black and Jake Willemain (Photo credit: Curtis Newart)
The rest of his regular set included When My Ship Comes In, We Tell Ourselves, Nothin' But The Taillights, and a Waylon Jennings cover song.
When Black started speaking about his respect and admiration for Jennings, he appeared to tear up a little. Black told the story of how he went in to the studio early one morning and was surprised to see Jennings sitting on the couch, and was even more surprised that sitting next to him was Kris Kristofferson. Black commented to them how early they were to begin the day, and they responded that they'd been there all night.
Black said he was honoured to have Jennings agree to sing a verse on Black's new recording of Jenning's song Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way, with the new name Are You Sure Waylon Done It This Way.
Black performed the song with images of Jennings on the screens behind the band.
Wes Fowler and Clint Black (Photo credit: Robert Newart)
Black's encore songs included Like the Rain, and A Good Run of Bad Luck. At one point, he thanked the woman who threw her bra on stage, but was quick to add he had no clue what to wear it with.
Clint Black and Wes Fowler (Photo credit: Robert Newart)
Clint Black and Jason Mowery (Photo credit: Robert Newart)
As he said his goodbyes, the crowd thanked him with a third standing ovation of the night.
Clint Black (Photo credit: Curtis Newart)
SETLIST (email us for additions or changes)
5. A Better Man
7. Walkin' Away
8. You're Gonna Leave Me Again
9. I’ll Be Gone
10. Nothing's News
11. Winding Down
12. Killin' Time
13. Live and Learn
14. Our Kind of Love (with Carolyn Dawn Johnson)
17. Are You Sure Waylon Done It This Way
18. Nothin' but the Taillights
Encore
19. Like the Rain
*Special guests may vary throughout the tour.
Source: Clint Black
CANADA & US
Jul 3 - Vienna, VA
Jul 5 - Detroit, MI
Jul 6 - Waterloo, NY
Jul 11 - New Salem, ND
Jul 13 - Fort Loramie, OH
Jul 14 - Farmington, PA
Jul 30 - Interlochen, MI
Aug 1 - Cedar Rapids, IA
Aug 3 - Abingdon, VA
Aug 8 - Savery, WY
Aug 9 - Beaver Creek, CO
Aug 10 - Colorado Springs, Co
Aug 15 - Ridgefield, WA
Aug 16 - Toppenish, WA
Aug 17 - Warm Springs, OR
Aug 18 - Elko, NV
Aug 23 - Waterville, WA
Aug 24 - Moscow, ID
Aug 25 - Kalispell, MT
Sep 6 - Mankato, MN
Sep 7 - Fort Madison, IA
Sep 8 - Wisconsin Dells, WI
Oct 4 - Ocean City, MD
Oct 5 - Hampton Beach, NH
Oct 6 - Red Bank, NJ
Oct 12 - Waco, TX
Oct 17 - Saratoga, CA
Oct 18 - Sacramento, CA
Oct 19 - San Diego, CA
Oct 24 - Bowling Green, KY
Oct 25 - Evans, GA
Oct 26 - Richmond Hill, GA
Nov 2 - Surf City, NC
Nov 7 - Mayetta, KS
Nov 8 - Catoosa, OK
Nov 9 - Lake Charles, LA
Nov 15 - Wichita, KS
PREVIOUS DATES
Feb 16 - Nashville, TN
Feb 17 - Nashville, TN
Feb 18 - Nashville, TN
Feb 23 - Durant, OK
Feb 24 - San Antonio, TX
Feb 29 - Roanoke, VA
Mar 1 - Roanoke Rapids, NC
Mar 2 - Cherokee, NC
Mar 23 - Lancaster, PA
Mar 24 - Nashville, IN
Apr 6 - Carlton, MN
Apr 21 - Georgetown, TX
Apr 26 - Chandler, AZ
Apr 28 - Indio, CA
Jun 13 - Abbotsford, BC
Jun 14 - Penticton, BC
Jun 15 - Prince George, BC
Jun 16 - Dawson Creek, BC
Jun 19 - Lethbridge, AB
Jun 21 - Edmonton, AB
Jun 22 - Strathmore, AB
Jun 25 - Saskatoon, SK
Jun 27 - Moose Jaw, SK
Carolyn Dawn Johnson
Winner of awards from the ACMs, AMAs, Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA), and the JUNO Awards, Carolyn Dawn Johnson recently released the second single, “Stubborn Clock”, from her upcoming full-length album, “There She Is.”
Carolyn Dawn Johnson - Stubborn Clock - Official Music Video Buy or Stream Now
A Canadian country music singer-songwriter, Johnson co-wrote Chely Wright's 1999 single, "Single White Female," which reached number one on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart in September 1999. Johnson has also written hit songs for Patty Loveless, Jo Dee Messina, and Chris Stapleton.
Curtis Newart is a Gen Xer who grew up listening to 80s music in cowboy country.