Contemporary country musician Ian Munsick embarked on his Horses Are Faster tour earlier this winter, making his eighth stop in Lexington, Kentucky. This country-rooted town might have been the perfect place to fully experience his performance since the audience was packed with long-time country music lovers who perfectly fit his target audience. Fans began lining up two hours early in the below freezing weather, huddled together with blankets. One eager fan I spoke to even drove five hours from Asheville to see Munsick perform.
Not only is it the name of his favorite song that he’s written, but the tour’s name itself, Horses Are Faster, has a deeper meaning to Munsick. Before his performance, he explained that he wrote the song for his two best friends, who were brothers to each other, after they had passed away in a tragic car accident. The lyric, “Friends I wish I never lost and love that could never last,” in particular, hits the hardest when considering the important meaning of this song to Munsick.
The show opened with Texas-born country artist Hudson Westbrook. It wouldn’t have been surprising if Westbrook needed to be escorted from the venue to the safety of his tour bus after his performance because of the buzzing frenzy of girls in the audience. It’s not often that an opener is equally, if not more, anticipated than the headliner, but Hudson Westbrook may be the exception.
With Ian Munsick’s performance positioned in the middle of his tour, he was well warmed up as soon as he hit the stage and maintained his energy throughout his entire set. Munsick’s obvious intelligence translates from his hands into his guitar. He made performing look easy, which likely originates from his years of experience dating back to when he was a child playing music with his brothers and dad on his family ranch.
The stars of the night were Munsick’s backing band, Rocky Mountain Fever. Equally engaging and talented as Munsick, they delivered musicianship on a higher level. Their facial expressions alone kept the audience captivated and showcased how much they clearly love to perform together. Regular fiddle and guitar solos from the members of Rocky Mountain Fever made sure the audience couldn’t forget their talent. Munsick played alongside his bandmates for some of their solos but made sure to give them their moment to shine. Together, they delivered a show that left the Lexington crowd full of energy long after the performance was over.
Listen to Ian Munsick's newest album, Horses Not Hears, here:
