Kolby Cooper Shines on the Love You, Goodnight Tour at Joe's Live

Kolby Cooper's Love You, Goodnight Tour is exactly what you'd expect from the Texas-born country star: heartfelt lyrics, raw energy, and a whole lot of emotional whiplash, in the best way possible. It's the kind of tour where you show up ready to feel all your feelings, whether you want to or not. Named after his latest album, the tour is basically Kolby's love letter to his fans, complete with bangers about heartbreak, family, and those oddly specific moments that somehow hit you right in the soul. If you're into songs that sound like they were ripped straight from someone else's therapy session but also make you want to scream the lyrics at the top of your lungs, this is the tour for you.

All Photos By: Aaron R. Shriver Photography

Kolby's been making waves since his early teens, and now, with millions of streams and packed-out venues under his belt, he’s solidified himself as one of country music's most relatable artists. And when he gets on stage? Forget it. He’s not just performing songs; he’s living them. This tour is all about inviting fans into Kolby's world, one where personal stories and sharp songwriting meet unapologetic Texas grit. Each song feels like a confession, and every lyric sounds like it was written for you. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t. But you’ll think it was.

Joe’s Live isn’t just another stop on a tour, it’s *the* spot for live music in Rosemont. If you're not familiar, this place has been holding it down as one of the top venues in the Chicago suburbs for the last decade. What started as a Toby Keith-themed bar (yes, that actually happened) has now evolved into an award-winning venue that knows how to throw a party. The sound is always on point, the drinks flow freely, and the vibe is somehow both laid-back and electric at the same time.

Pro tip: park on the top level of the garage. Not only will you avoid the chaos of trying to squeeze into a lower-level spot, but you’ll also get a killer view of the Chicago skyline and planes swooping into O’Hare like some sort of slow-motion air show. Perfect for that “look at me, I went out tonight” Instagram story.

Mac Hankins and the Moonlighters hit the stage like they had something to prove, and prove it they did. This Texas band has a knack for blending rock, grunge, and red dirt into a sound that makes you question why they’re not already headlining their own tour. Their 30-minute set was a masterclass in winning over a crowd, even one that was clearly there for Kolby Cooper. “High School Daydream” had everyone nodding along like they’d just been transported back to the most awkward, angsty years of their lives.

Click The Image Above For The Full Mac Hankins And The Moonlighters Photo Galley 

Then they dropped “Down,” their newest release, and you could practically hear people mentally adding it to their Spotify playlists. By the time they closed with “Lullabyes,” the energy in the room was undeniable, and the band had officially turned Joe’s Live into their own personal Texas roadhouse. And yes, they declared the Chicago crowd their favorite of the weekend, which might be the oldest trick in the book, but hey, we’ll take it.

Kolby Cooper hit the stage like a freight train, kicking things off with "Two Words" and rolling right into "Excuses," instantly turning the crowd into a collective scream-singing machine. He didn’t waste any time showing off tracks from his latest album, "Love You, Goodnight," with "Fighting With God" setting a serious tone before throwing it back to his teenage years with "Every Single Kiss." Yeah, he wrote that at 15. What were you doing at 15? Probably not melting hearts with your lyrics.

Fans got a blast from the past when Kolby pulled out "Diamond Rings & Cocaine," followed by the 2021 Corey Kent collab "Ain't My Day," which fit perfectly into the flow. Then, in a wild curveball, he busted out a cover of Ozzy Osbourne’s "Mama I’m Coming Home." Who knew Kolby had his Prince of Darkness phase in the 4th grade? No More Tears was one of the first albums he ever owned. He told the Rosemont crowd there will never be another Ozzy.

"Empty Handed" from the new album was an absolute show-stopper, with everyone in the room clinging to every lyric like their lives depended on it. Just when the intensity hit its peak, he and the band decided to get cheeky with the "King of the Hill" intro before launching into "Kill Me." That moment alone could’ve won the Texas crowd over, but Kolby wasn’t done.

"Hate You Too" kept the energy sky-high, leading into "Running Away," a song about Kolby’s wife that made every couple in the room exchange gooey looks. If you have ever been in the friend zone, then this song is for you. As the night rolled on, he took the crowd on an emotional rollercoaster with "Under My Skin" before heading into his epic three-song finale. You could tell by then, nobody wanted it to end, but Kolby wasn’t about to let them leave without feeling all the feels. Kolby Cooper knows how to hit you right in the feelings while still keeping it all kinds of real.

Then there’s "Fall," a track that’s basically the unofficial anthem for anyone who's ever said, "Hey, this would sound great at our wedding." Kolby wrote it back when most of us were stressing over prom or flunking geometry, and now it’s got people walking down aisles left and right. Not bad for a song from his teenage brain. Before ending the show, Kolby snuck in the 2018 song It Aint Me, as he had everyone at Joe’s Live absolutely hanging on to every word. But the kicker? His emotional closer, "Love You, Goodnight." Kolby got real about missing his wife and kids while on the road, and honestly, you could hear a pin drop. He dedicated the song to anyone grinding through life & missing home, and let’s just say there were probably more than a few teary-eyed fans pretending they weren’t crying.

Click The Image Above For The Full Kolby Cooper Photo Gallery

Kolby Cooper’s set at Joe’s Live was everything you’d want from a night of live music, unfiltered, emotional, and just the right amount of chaos. His ability to juggle heartfelt storytelling with high-energy crowd-pleasers made for a show that felt both personal and larger-than-life. Sure, "Boy From Anderson County" didn’t make the cut, but honestly, who’s complaining when you get a cover of "Mama I’m Coming Home" and a "King of the Hill" intro thrown into the mix? The guy knows how to keep things interesting. By the time the final notes of "Love You, Goodnight" hit, the crowd was collectively thinking, “We don’t want this to end,” while Kolby reminded everyone why he’s one of the most exciting voices in country music right now. If you weren’t already a fan walking in, you probably left as one, and now we’re all just impatiently waiting for his return to Chicago.

Check Out The Love You, Goodnight Tour

Kolby Cooper Set-List:

Two Words

Excuses

Fighting With God

Every Single Kiss

Diamond Rings & Cocaine

Ain't My Day (Corey Kent Release)

Mama, I'm Coming Home (Ozzy Osbourne cover)

Empty Handed

Kill Me

Hate You Too

Running Away

Under My Skin

Fall

It Ain't Me

Love You, Goodnight