Concert Review: Indie-Folk Artist Daniel Nunnelee Brings a Special Night to Dallas
By: Taarena Rathore
With a blend of calming instrumentals, folky tunes, and vibrant energy, Daniel Nunnelee is an artist you don’t want to miss. This august, Nashville-based artist Daniel Nunnelee set out on his headline tour, inspired by his latest album release June, Baby. His second day on tour was spent at Sons of Hermann Hall in Dallas, Texas where he delivered an intimate and beautiful performance.
As soon as Nunnelee stepped on stage his energy immediately captivated the audience. The set had just begun and they already began clapping and singing along. In the song “What’d You Expect” he had fans participate, and they took the lyrics away by singing the repeated phrase “Baby, we’re still growing up.”
Before coming to Dallas, Nunnelee and his crew had driven from Memphis, Tennessee, but he assured the crowd by saying “there’s no place I’d rather drive seven hours for.” He explained how touring and being away from home can feel crazy and hectic, but went on to say that “it’s already settling in so well and this is already such a beautiful night for us.”
Many of Nunnelee’s songs have a deeper meaning behind them and he wasn’t afraid to open up to his audience. Before going into the “ily ily ily,” he told the crowd how he wrote the song about a past relationship and that “there’s a lot of love in this song”. The track begins with fingerstyle guitar, and the lyrics end with a line in Portuguese. Nunnelee explained how the words “Te amei, te amo, te amarei eternamente” translate to “I love you, I loved you, I’ll love you forever.” The song also references the album title, and when he reached the lyrics "Guess I'll see you in June, baby" fans immediately cheered.
Through this night it was clear that in Nunnelee’s career he aims to create a connection between himself and his fans. Before performing “Tired Eyes” he mentioned how it wasn’t originally on the setlist. A group of fans near the front of the stage cheered as they realized he was about to play the song they requested.
As the setlist neared its end, Nunnelee repeatedly told the crowd, “This is the last song.” He and his band then playfully tried to hide behind the curtains, keeping up the joke. Although no one fell for the trick, it brought a good laugh to the audience. The night concluded with everyone singing and dancing to his most well-known song, “Oak Trees”. After the show, Nunnelee spent his time conversing with fans and taking photos, making the evening even more special.
View the full gallery by Taarena here.