Old Dominion • ERNEST • Redferrin • August 9, 2025 • Maverik Center
Reviewed and Photographed by Josilyn Wakkuri Lybbert
Country music fans filled the Maverik Center on Saturday, August 9th, for a stacked lineup featuring Redferrin, ERNEST, and the headlining band that Utah just can’t get enough of, Old Dominion, for their How Good Is That Tour!
I was looking forward to this show as I hadn’t seen Old Dominion since 2017 at a country music festival local to my hometown in Washington. I remember their performance being a highlight of the festival for me, so I was excited to see another performance of theirs nearly a decade later!
Redferrin
Redferrin opened the night, and while the general admission section wasn’t quite full yet, that actually made it easy to spot his die-hard fans right away. I noticed a group of ladies proudly holding up signs for the band, a guy who ended up knowing every word, and even a little girl and her dad, who also didn’t miss a beat! Their excitement radiated all the way from the barricade, and they all received recognition for how they showed up! From waves to gifted setlists to autographs, it was clear they were appreciated!
Early in the set, he grinned at the crowd and said, “Put that on the TikTok if you want to help me out,” which got some laughs and plenty of phones in the air. Before launching into “Jack & Diet Coke,” he paused and said, “You all changed my life with these next two songs!” That sentiment was received with a cheer from the crowd!
One memorable moment happened during “Just Like Johnny,” when Redferrin reflected that he’d probably be working a blue-collar job if it weren’t for that song. As he sang, a girl walking to her seat started dancing along, catching his eye. Without missing a beat, he danced right along with her from the stage, making it feel like he was just a part of the crowd’s fun!
The band itself was awesome with their sharp guitar riffs, a solid rhythm section, and just the right amount of grit in their sound. When the lights came up at the end of the set, I expected them to head straight off stage, but instead, Redferrin stayed behind to greet fans, shake hands, and take photos. That’s something I’d never seen before, and I thought it was really cool of him! There aren’t many things more special in the concert world than a personal interaction with an artist, so I was really happy for those lucky Redferrin fans!
ERNEST
Next up was ERNEST, and from the moment he stepped out, it was clear we were in for something different. Their set was the perfect blend of old-school country charm and modern energy. Frontman, Ernest Keith Smith, was awesome from the get-go, and his bandmates were so fun to watch and listen to!
The set was filled with fun covers, starting off with the classic, “The Devil Went Down to Georgia,” and a few songs later, two Toby Keith covers followed! “Who’s Your Daddy,” was the first one, then, “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue,” was next which he dedicated to the late Toby Keith. The first notes of the latter sent a wave of cheers through the crowd, and almost instantly, people were on their feet. It turned into a moving, patriotic moment, with the whole arena singing along.
ERNEST reminded everyone that he’s a songwriter first and foremost, and enjoys sharing little stories about the songs he’s written or singing songs by some of his favorite songwriters. “Would If I Could” really stood out to me. It was a song written more than 40 years ago by Skip Ewing and Dean Dillon, and Ernest had the honor of releasing himself. It was a beautiful song, and his voice was perfect for it, making it feel like it had always belonged to him.
Partway through the set, Redferrin returned for a cover of “Family Tradition,” by Hank Williams Jr., and the crowd absolutely lit up! The steel guitar filled the room, people were passionately singing along, and you could feel the shared joy between the two artists on stage from such a reaction to the performance they were putting on! ERNEST closed with a song, “Flower Shops,” that he said was pivotal to his career, and judging by the way the arena belted it back to him, it was clearly a fan favorite too. Before leaving the stage, the band announced that they would return in February, earning yet another round of cheers!
Old Dominion
By the time Old Dominion was about to take the stage, the energy of anticipation in the Maverik Center was tangible! The band took the stage one by one, each one greeting excited fans! Right off the bat, I was so impressed with how good the band sounded from the instrumental aspects to their vocals!
From the first notes of “How Good Is That,” rang out, fans immediately started dancing, many of them pulling out moves that probably don’t get much use outside of a concert setting. That carefree energy rolled right into “No Such Thing as a Broken Heart,” where lead singer Matthew Ramsey paused to say, “We’ve been here before, we’ve been here a lot of times,” before thanking everyone for always coming out. He also encouraged fans to lift others up when they’re having a hard time, which was a nice reminder and a great reflection of the band’s heart for those sharing the room with them!
The production on stage was impressive! A massive main screen behind the band was paired with multiple overhead screens that extended the visuals and made the whole stage feel larger than life. For “Nowhere Fast,” live footage of the band blended seamlessly into calming ocean waves, instantly transporting the crowd into vacation mode. Even though the song is slower, the fans were still very interactive and swayed and sang along, matching the vibe perfectly.
One of the most fun, heartwarming moments of the night came when a young teen had a sign that asked if they could sit on the exclusive couch on the stage for their very first concert. Without hesitation, the band said yes! Seeing his face light up from that spot made it clear that this would be a night that he and his family would never forget! The band even replaced a song in the setlist for “All I Know About Girls,” which was requested by the teen on his sign that got him on stage in the first place!
Audience requests gave the night such a personal feel. When someone had a sign for “Half Empty,” Ramsey laughed about how those moments can stress the crew out, but they pulled it off flawlessly. Later, they circled back to “Beer Can in a Truck Bed,” after spotting fan signs requesting it, stating that they’d seen that group at multiple shows! Old Dominion did an incredible job of making their fans feel special not only then, but throughout the show!
The setlist was full of fan favorites. “Snapback” brought pure fun throughout the arena! Everyone was up and dancing to that one! “Hotel Key” featured a hotel-themed background that had everyone clapping above their heads, and “Written in the Sand” turned the stage into a starry night sky. During “One Man Band,” Ramsey offered a special nod to solo concertgoers, saying, “If you came by yourself, you’re not alone.” That’s when the entire arena lit up with cellphone flashlights, which created a stunning atmosphere for a stunning song!
The iconic hit, “Song for Another Time,” brought the whole band to the end of the catwalk, making sure to connect with fans on all sides. The whole arena was filled with people singing at the top of their lungs! That same energy returned for the grand finale, “I Was on a Boat That Day!”
To answer the question that their tour name poses, the Old Dominion show was phenomenally good! From their infectious, encouraging positivity and love for their fans to their seemingly effortless talent, it really was an absolute treat!
The night was filled with incredible performances, heartfelt moments, and plenty of sing-alongs that had the entire arena buzzing until the very last minute. Utah will be ready and waiting for Old Dominion’s next stop here, and it seems like the band will be just as eager to return!
