Stepping inside PPG Paints Arena for a wild Friday night in the Burgh, every country diehard in attendance knew they were in for an absolutely perfect show. Dan and Shay returned to Pittsburgh on The Young Tour in support of their fresh studio album Young, bringing a refined yet soaring energy that only a decade of chart-topping success can cultivate. Dan Smyers made sure everyone remembered his local roots, making the entire evening feel like a homecoming celebration right in his own backyard. Supported by a stacked lineup featuring Josh Ross and Tyler Hubbard, PPG paints Arena turned into a giant, singing, dancing community from the first chord.
Kickstarting the evening with raw energy and serious swagger, rising powerhouse Josh Ross immediately set a high bar for the night with his signature mix of rock grit and dark, mellow country vibes. Navigating the expansive double catwalk stage with ease, Ross had natural charisma that you just can’t learn, he leaned over into the crowd to grab hands and steal fans’ phones to record exclusive on stage videos that sent the floor into a total frenzy. He flexed his heart on his sleeve with “Leave Me Too,” a two year old track that landed with immense emotional weight. His tight backing band was explosive, the guitarist was shredding riffs that filled every corner of the venue. Between sipping a mini bottle of Jack Daniel’s for the rowdy anthem “Ain’t Doin’ Jack” and leading a massive singalong on “Drunk Right Now (Na Na Na),” Ross declared that Pittsburgh was already beating the previous night’s crowd.
Ross kept the crowd completely locked in as he showcased the full versatility of his rising catalog. Delivering his new track “Drink Things Through” just a week after its release, he showed off his instinct for super catchy hooks that instantly had thousands of first time listeners singing along to the refrain. His stage presence felt completely effortless, balancing party hit energy with genuine, grounded fan interactions that made the massive arena feel remarkably tight knit. Ross’ set closed with “Single Again,” and ever the showman, he spent most of it shaking hands with fans, and even let a young girl sing along in the mic.
Taking over the stage next with a wall of thick smoke and blinding spotlights, Tyler Hubbard dialed the arena party up to ten with a stacked set of solo tracks and iconic Florida Georgia Line anthems. Hubbard strutted back and forth across the catwalks, high fiving frantically cheering fans. Their smiles afterwards were positively contagious. Rolling straight into his newest material, Hubbard showed off his artistic range by test driving unreleased tracks like the upbeat, old school country jam “Playin’ it Cool” alongside his recent release “902180,” complete with its music video playing on the massive backdrops. He took time to praise the Pittsburgh crowd for their incredible vocal energy on “Back Then Right Now,” while hinting that his recent marathon studio sessions mean a wave of fresh music is dropping over the next few months.
Hubbard flexed his legendary songwriting credentials by launching into his smash hit collaboration “Meant to Be” with Bebe Rexha, transforming PPG Paints Arena into a roaring choir of voices, before casually treating the crowd to a cover of Jason Aldean’s “You Make It Easy,” a song Hubbard wrote himself, making it extra special. The crowd erupted the moment he asked if any Florida Georgia Line fans were in the house, fueling a high octane run of fan-favourites that had everyone moving and grooving. His backing band elevated every single arrangement so it hit with maximum power, giving fans the perfect balance of nostalgia and fresh solo hits. Wrapping up his set with a warm nod to the crowd, Hubbard ended with a casual “Y’all be good” while leaving everyone dancing to the addictive beats of “Dancin’ in the Country.”
Exploding onto the main stage after the perfect Pittsburgh hype tracks “Black and Yellow” and “Renegade” set the arena off, Dan and Shay brought a spectacle of arena country pop showmanship that comes from a decade of playing music with your best friend. Dan Smyers took total command of his guitars with pure infectious joy, while Shay Mooney delivered some of the most insanely smooth vocal runs in live music today. Dan declared Shay the single greatest country music singer in the business, and he is very much correct. The energy in the room was through the roof celebrating the pride of a Yinzer returning home. A fan was waving a Terrible Towel in the pit, which eventually got tossed on stage for Dan to wave proudly while getting visibly emotional over signs reading “Welcome Home Dan.” Dustin on bass also repped his local hometown roots alongside Shay, an adopted Yinzer who has lived in Pittsburgh for a year, so tonight felt like a proper family reunion that made every single song hit deeper.
Delivering a masterclass in setlist pacing, the duo seamlessly wove together classic stadium anthems and deep cuts, even pulling out “That’s Not How This Works” as a rare setlist surprise. A massive highlight came during “Dogs in Our Twenties,” the first track off their new album Young, as the video screens filled with fan submitted photos of their dogs. The song hit hard for all pet owners and defifintely brought out a few tears from those who miss their buddies. A tender, partially acoustic rendition of “Glad You Exist” was dedicated to every single person in Pittsburgh, the greatest city in the world. The duo pushed the fun to the limit by walking directly through the crowd, around the entire floor and even up the stairs while playing whatever they felt like, including “Obsession” and a snippet of Justin Bieber’s “Baby,” taking photos up close with fans, casually running into Dan’s mom along the way. They switched to a snippet of “Steal My Love” when they spotted fans wearing matching handmade Steal My Love jumpsuits. The Pittsburgh pride peaked when they ran into Ben Roethlisberger and his family who were enjoying the show after golfing with Shay earlier in the day, and the cheers for the Steelers superstar were loud enough to shake the rafters.
Looking out over sea of thousands of fans absolutley mesmerized as Dan took the piano for a powerful performance of “I Should Probably Go to Bed,” the pure connection between the stage and the crowd was impossible to ignore. Every fan in PPG Paints Arena remained completely present in the moment, singing along to every word and filling the room with an energy that Dan and Shay openly praised as the best crowd of their entire tour. A lot of people have been to Dan and Shay shows before, but this one was special, as Pittsburgh pride shone bright all night long and kicked the party into overdrive. From the opening notes to the final encore of “Tequila”, it was a flawless night of live country music in the best city in the world that left every fan smiling ear to ear.
October 9th, 2026
