“Felt Good to Be Back”: Kenny Chesney Surprises Crowd with Impromptu Rendition of ‘Boston’ in the Home of No Shoes Nation

Kenny Chesney's uplifting, life-affirming discography has touched listeners across North America, Europe and further afield - but there are a handful of places that have a particularly special affinity with the ‘No Shoes, No Shirt, Problems’ hitmaker.

One such hub is Boston, where Chesney first bestowed the name ‘No Shoes Nation’ upon his adoring fanbase all those years ago in 2012 at Foxborough's Gillette Stadium.

Last night (Sunday, November 2nd), during the ‘Just To Say We Did’ singer-songwriter's latest tour-stop promoting his brand new HEART*LIFE*MUSIC book, Chesney surprised the Back Bay Events Center crowd with an impromptu rendition of ‘Boston’.

Chesney has long promised that he'll only ever perform the deep-cut when he's in the city, and as a result, the track has evolved into a cult favourite with No Shoes Nation. ‘Boston’ appears on Chesney's 2005 Be As You Are: Songs From An Old Blue Chair album, which remains a hidden gem within his sprawling repertoire, showcasing his compositional world-building and emotional depth.

It finds Chesney telling the hopeful, sun-soaked tale of a young girl who ups sticks and leaves Boston, before starting a vibrant new life for herself in the US Virgin Islands.

‘Boston’ stands as a prime example of the enchanting escapism Chesney offers throughout his catalogue, with the Knoxville native bringing intricate, island-inspired narratives to life throughout his career. We've come to know and love an eclectic variety of characters from Chesney's music, such as the piano-playing vagabond, ‘Lindy’, the dope-smoking ‘Island Boy’ and the LA girl who eschews the interminable traffic jams in favour of a simple, beachside life as a waitress, ‘Sherry’.

Taking to Instagram after the momentous event, Chesney has paid homage to his Boston fans, “Felt good to be back in Boston last night. Didn’t know I was gonna sing She Comes From Boston but it felt good. Thanks to everyone that came out to listen to us chat about stories in my book and my connection and bond with New England. Also thanks to [Ginnny Brophey] for the kind introduction”.

Chesney's Boston fans have an array of jubilant, celebratory summer memories of witnessing the country legend storming onto the stage at Gillette Stadium, with the ‘Old Blue Chair’ crooner closing out his 2024 Sun Goes Down Tour with three unforgettable back-to-back shows with Megan Moroney, Zac Brown Band and more.

Elsewhere during his appearance at the Back Bay Events Center, Chesney delved into the creation of his first ever book, HEART*LIFE*MUSIC, with his co-writer, Holly Gleason.

This month, the five-time CMA and ACM Entertainer of the Year heads to New Jersey, Illinois, Tennessee, California and Florida for similar events as part of his book tour. Chesney's HEART*LIFE*MUSIC is available to purchase tomorrow (November 4th).

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