Midway through Tyler Childers’ Wednesday night concert at Minneapolis’ Target Center, the 33-year-old Kentucky native took to a satellite stage in the middle of the arena floor for a series of solo acoustic numbers.
Dramatically lit from soft lights below and two spots above, Childers looked a bit amused, a bit bewildered and a bit amazed as he sang “Born Again” to a full house of youthful fans hanging on his every word. For a moment, it felt like Childers wasn’t basking in the glory as much as he was wondering just how he got there.
To be sure, Childers is one of the most unusual country stars to come along since Zach Bryan, who went from active duty in the Navy to headlining stadiums in just three years. I’m guessing Bryan’s breakaway success helped boost the fortunes of Childers, who surely shows up in many a “since you listened to, you might like” playlists.
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Yet Childers is a different, and far more talented, beast than Bryan, who would probably be the first to admit it. He grew up in the same county that gave country Loretta Lynn, Crystal Gayle and Chris Stapleton and recorded his first album while he was still a teen.
Wednesday night, Childers and his well-oiled band the Food Stamps surveyed his career, from the title track of his 2011 self-released debut “Bottles and Bibles” to “Rustin’ in the Rain,” the title track of his sixth and most recent album. With the prominent fiddle, gospel-inspired keyboards and Childers’ nasal twang of a voice, it’s tempting to call him a classic country act.
Yeah, sure, his sound brought to mind both the early days of country and the outlaw turn the genre took in the ’70s. But there’s also something utterly modern about Childers’ approach and his direct, heartfelt songs that feel like old friends after the first spin. (Clad in a well-worn Kentucky sweatshirt and pleated Dockers, Childers clearly doesn’t care much about cultivating the image of a superstar.)
What’s most amazing about Childers is that he’s now at the point of filling arenas without hype or trickery, but sheerly on the strength of his songs, which he delivers with infectious passion. He’s a true storyteller who has captured the hearts of his audience, who sang along to the acoustic numbers “Shake the Frost” and “Lady May” but spent the rest of the night grinning and swaying along, from the raucous love song “All You’n” to the heartbreaking “In Your Love.” This kid is going places.
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