CODY JOHNSON – ROD LAVER ARENA – MELBOURNE – 27.03.2025
Review: Craig Eriksson. Photos: David Harris Photography
It was a wonderfully uplifting evening of country music seeing Cody Johnson, Cole Swindell, Ashley Cooke and Wade Forster perform at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne on Thursday night.
Cody Johnson is a country singer, songwriter from Texas, US and has been performing country music for almost 20-years now. Cody is here on his Leather Deluxe Tour and mentioned he has been on a whirlwind 20-day trip around the world with this 2025 Tour and this is his last show in Australia before heading across to NZ, then back to the States. Cody said this is the second time he has played in Australia, having toured with Luke Combs two years ago. Johnson has certainly built up a large fanbase judging by the packed out arena. The crowd knew all his songs and sang along.
Australian Country singer Wade Forster grew up on a livestock station in Winton, North Queensland. He has gone from playing at local pubs around Mt Isa to now supporting Cody Johnson. This apparently all came into fruition due to Cody saying he wanted to win a buckle at an Australian rodeo while in Australia touring with Luke Combs back in 2023. Forster saw an opportunity and reached out to Cody on social media, inviting Cody to a Queensland rodeo circuit and it actually happened. They met and by the end of the experience, they had become good mates and Cody asked Forster to perform with him on his Leather Deluxe Tour. Forster opened the show tonight and the crowd loved him. Forster looked a little awkward on stage at times, but you could see he was loving the experience of performing to a large crowd. He was jovial, quirky and you could see him loving every minute of it.
Ashley Cooke is a Country singer, songwriter and guitarist from Parkland, Florida, US. Cooke has only been performing for 5 years and has gained popularity at a rapid rate. Releasing her debut album Already Drank That Beer in 2021 and her second album Shot In The Dark in 2023 which saw her collaborate with other artists Colbie Caillat, Nate Smith and Jackson Dean. Ashley has great stage presence and connected well with the audience. Her set was a mix of her own songs such as GOOD TO BE BACK, ALREADY DRANK THAT BEER and THE F WORD. Ashley performed a medley of songs she loved growing up which consisted of Since U Been Gone / Castle On The Hill / Complicated / Life Is A Highway / Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours.
Cole Swindell is an American country music singer, songwriter and guitarist from Glennville, Georgia, US. He has been performing since 2013 and released his self-titled debut album in 2014 which he then toured this album in the same year with Luke Bryan on his That’s My Kind of Night Tour. Swindell has had a multitude of successful songs over the past 10 years and this was showcased in the 45-minute set he performed tonight with his 5-piece band. Cole mentioned he got married last year and generally his wife travels with him, but she is back home expecting their first baby girl. His style of country music is emotional and optimistic, mixing old favourites with newer hits. Hearing songs like AIN’T WORTH THE WHISKY, YOU SHOULD BE HERE, LOVE YOU TOO LATE, FOREVER TO ME and SHE HAD ME AT HEADS CAROLINA were all wonderful. Cole thanked the crowd saying: “Thank you for choosing to spend your time coming out to see us play”.
Having been to some incredible Country Music shows this year already such as Luke Combs, Chris Stapleton and Tyler Childers, you come to realise just how incredibly popular Country music has become. The feel-good vibe is nice and to hear and see everyone in attendance having so much fun is a beautiful sight to behold. Many in attendance are families, couples and friends all out together to enjoy themselves, a lot wearing cowboy boots and attire. I also note that many Country artists like Cole Swindell and Cody Johnson use their initials to design a logo that they use for marketing purposes on their caps, tees, stubby holders and stage backdrops.
Headliner, Cody Johnson emerged on stage with AC/DC’s Thunderstruck playing and the crowd erupted. Johnson and his 6-piece band played a killer 2-hour, 18- song show that left the audience in total awe and wanting more. It was an energetic exhilarating opening with THAT’S TEXAS from the 2023 Leather album full of wonderful fiddling and a bit of honky tonk.
Johnson’s band consists of:
Jody Bartula (fiddle/guitar)
Jake Mears (lead guitar)
Joey Pruski (bass guitar)
Miles Stone (drums & percussion)
Seth Wilson (keys)
Harrison Yount (steel guitar)
This band created a magnificent full sound and depth to Johnson’s music and were entertaining, especially Jody on the fiddle. The music is a blend of traditional sounding country music, honky tonk and bluegrass. The stage backdrop had the ‘CJ’ logo/brand that was effectively used and alternated throughout the show. The logo was lassoed by rope in one song and other times appeared covered in dirt, made of timber, leather, all being earthy and relating to country living. I noticed Johnson’s music deeply connects with people including myself because it’s authentic and the songs are about everyday life, family, hard times, love and living a country lifestyle.
Johnson played a well-balanced mix of his music catalogue and having the fiddle, mandolin, steel slide guitar in their songs makes for many joyful tunes. ME AND MY KIND from Cowboy Like Me (2014) highlighted Johnsons distinctive country twang followed by DANCE HER HOME from the same album. Great fiddling and strong instrumentation by the band. They played 2 songs from the Human (2021) album with the ballad HUMAN and ‘TIL YOU CAN’T. A crowd favourite song was the beautiful ballad NOTHIN’ ON YOU from Aint Nothin’ To It (2019). Johnson played DEAR RODEO from this 2019 album along with a great cover of The Charlie Daniels Band’s LONG HAIRED COUNTRY BOY. Johnson played 8 songs from the Leather album which included HOW DO YOU SLEEP AT NIGHT? and PEOPLE IN THE BACK. At one stage during the show they all gathered around in a campfire style setting. The slide guitarist played standing up, keyboardist played mandolin, the drummer on a boxdrum, Johnson on acoustic guitar, Jody on fiddle and also joined by the two guitarists and they played a bluegrass version of GEORGIA PEACHES. When Johnson played the I’M GONNA LOVE YOU, this was a duet he sang with Carrie Underwood who they screened (videoed) on the giant back screen singing along which was so cool. DIRT CHEAP is one of my favourite songs from the Leather album and has great lyrics. During THE PAINTER, the young couple sitting in front of us got engaged. The young fella dropped down on to one knee and popped the question and the crowd around us clapped and cheered. (She said yes!)
Johnson mentioned that they almost had to cancel tonight’s show as when he woke up this morning he had no voice, was very unwell and couldn’t get out of bed. He laid in bed for most of the day trying to get some rest and a doctor paid him a visit late afternoon and gave him some medication that miraculously fixed him well enough to perform.
The encore saw Johnson sing a cover of TRAVELIN’ SOLDIER by The Chicks and the crowd once again erupted and sang along with gusto, including my sister Jodie who was next to me. Johnson then signed about 20-25 fans cowboy hats before leaving the stage. Another incredible evening of country music.
SET LIST:
That’s Texas
Me and My Kind
Dance Her Home
How Do You Sleep At Night?
With You I Am
Dear Rodeo
Nothin’ On You
Take It Like A Man
Human
Georgia Peaches
The Fall
People in the Back
I’m Gonne Love You (Carrie Underwood through video)
Long Haired Country Boy (Charlie Daniels Band cover)
Dirt Cheap
The Painter
‘Til You Can’t
Encore:
Travelin’ Soldier (The Chicks cover)
