Hudson Westbrook Brings the Hits Me Tour to Corpus Christi

"Made You Look" got Hudson Westbrook's set underway at Concrete Street Amphitheater on Saturday, Oct. 17, with a loud welcome from Corpus Christi. He'd visited the city as an opening act back in April. Now, the Hits Me Tour gave him a full evening to share with Ethan Burdick and Kenny Whitmire, along with an audience that sounded pleased to have him back.

Having the headline slot meant getting to hear more sides of Westbrook. The Stephenville singer could put some force into a song, but he was just as engaging when he eased up. His love songs benefited from that affectionate delivery, while the roughness in his voice gave the harder country material some character. He also gathered with his band to perform "Pretty Privilege," "Thin Ice," and "Mine Tomorrow" acoustically. Those songs were a welcome part of a set that gave both his singing and the musicians around him time to be heard.

Earlier in the night, Ethan Burdick had made his introduction through songs that felt candid and close to home. There was a gentleness to his part of the evening, and he seemed comfortable letting people get to know him through the music. It was an inviting introduction for anyone hearing him for the first time.

Kenny Whitmire followed with a fondness for traditional country and a voice well suited to singing it. His full, smooth delivery was a pleasure to listen to, giving the songs a warmth of their own. He had an approachable manner, too, and his affection for his wife came through whenever he spoke about her. Those moments were sweet without feeling like a speech, adding some personality to the time between songs. You came away from his set having enjoyed both the singing and the company.

There's something nice about a show that sends you home with a few more songs to spend time with. Burdick and Whitmire gave people a reason to dig further into their music, while Westbrook made his return to Corpus feel like time well spent. The acoustic songs, shared performances, and moments with fans gave the night a friendly feeling. He seemed glad to have the extra time with the city, and the crowd sounded glad to give it to him.