Joe Nichols wsg Audrey Ray at District 142 in Wyandotte, MI - Written By: John Reasoner for Splice Magazine

Wyandotte, MI (October 12,2023) – On Thursday night, country music fans fill the new downtown concert venue in Wyandotte to welcome the evening’s entertainers, Joe Nichols and Audrey Ray. 

Since opening their doors in March of 2023, District 142 has become the hot new mecca for live music in south metro-Detroit. With a 800 person capacity, they have seen many footprints through their doors at the all genres venue as they produce multiple show per week. Not only will you see national acts of today and yesteryear, you will also be introduced to the new faces of the local music scene. 

The show on Thursday evening sees local artist Audrey Ray and her full band open the night’s festivities for an hour long set.  As a singer/songwriter, Audrey performs a mixture of hits that are of her own writing and top covers from artist that have touched her one way or another. Ray kicks the show off being “Reckless” before introducing her latest single “Temporary Fix.”   

Growing up inside a home with music always playing, music has become a large part of who Audrey is. She makes it evident with the personal connection to the Merle Haggard cover of “Who I Am.” 

Because of the special evening of playing in the District 142 and being surrounded by many friends, family and fans, Audrey and band make a music video for her song “Would You Stay.” 

With her love of music and wanting to get the crowd excited and ready for Joe, Ray makes a run with a medley of rock hits that includes Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’,” U2’s “With Or Without You,” Beetle’s “Let It Be,” Lady Gaga “Paparazzi” and Keith Urban’s “You’ll Think Of Me.” 

As a surprise to the concert goers, Ray introduces a new song “Sparks” to them before ending her set with “White Liar” by Miranda Lambert and “Can’t You See” by The Marshall Tucker Band. 

Performing in June as part of a sold out Secret Country Concert, Joe Nichols vowed to return back to District 142 for a regular ticket buying show. On Thursday night, Nichols stands true to his word as he once again takes the stage to an upbeat, energetic crowd. 

Joe starts off his set with a Stevie Ray Vaughan cover of “Crossfire” before his own “Hard To Be Cool” and “Impossible.” As the crowd has been properly warmed up from the show opener, the crowd immediately joins in with singing and dancing. 

With a career that began in 1996, Nichols had created nine studio albums before his latest 2022 release of Good Day For Living.  From the new album, “Good Day For Living” and “Brokenhearted” have become the latest single releases with the latter being his current.   

After welcoming the audience to his show, Nichols talks about his age and how he is becoming more favorable to older country classics. With his respect and love of the classics, he performs “Footlights” by the legendary Merle Haggard and later adds the popular Keith Whitley hit “When You Say Nothing At All.”   

As Joe interacts with the crowd, he gives them what they came to hear in his own classic tunes that include “Size Matters,” “I’ll Wait For You,” “What’s A Guy Gotta Do,” “She Only Smokes When She Drinks.” 

With a successful career that has accomplished six No. 1 singles, Nichols includes his first #1 single “Brokenheartsville” from 2002 and another from 2009 with “Gimme That Girl.”   

While being known as a country artist, Joe unleashes a bit and and shows off a bit of his wild and rebellious side as he and the band expands on the energy in the room with the rock tune “Rooster” by Alice In Chains and the Hank Williams Jr hit “A Country Boy Can Survive.” 

After a fun evening in Wyandotte with his fans, Joe concludes his show with two signature singles “Sunny and 75” and the crowd favorite “Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off.” 

Although Joe Nichols had just recently performed at District 142 less than four months prior, he and his fans show that he has a big fan following and his show is worth visiting often. The crowd that exists on this evening consists of all ages having fun singing and dancing, regardless of being on the main floor or upstairs in the mezzanine overlooking the crowd below. The evening was a great way to jumpstart for an early weekend.   

Be sure to keep up with Joe and his band so as to be alert of more new music releases, shows or current news by clicking on the links below. Links are also provided to stay up to date with future show schedules and news from District 142.   

Photos Taken By: John Reasoner

Article Written By: John Reasoner for Splice Magazine Published 10/14/23