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THE CROONER AND THE COWBOY TOUR HITS THE BAYCARE SOUND

Posted by Wyatt Combs
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by photojournalist Wyatt Combs

Clearwater’s The BayCare Sound celebrated a milestone Monday night, its 100th show since opening, and what better way to honor the venue’s diverse list of past performers than with the juxtaposition of The Crooner and The Cowboy Tour.

Texas musicians Charley Crockett and Leon Bridges may be seen as an unlikely duo to many. Crockett clearly draws from the tradition of cowboy country music, and Bridges from the soul and R&B sound, but the influence of their Texas roots is evident in both of their music. That’s why this tour just works. Both are undeniably inspired by a classic sound—a sound that many other performers of the current era unwisely left behind decades ago. That being said, neither artist’s music seems dated or overused. Quite the opposite, actually. Both bring new life to what many thought was a dead tradition. Crockett has said that the two had been wanting to put on a tour like this for many years, so when their schedules finally aligned in 2025, The Crooner and The Cowboy Tour hit the road to bring their shared roots and longtime friendship to the fans here in Clearwater.

Before the co-headliners took the stage, the audience was treated to an opening set from Reyna Tropical. The group, originally founded in 2016 by Fabi Reyna and Nectali “Sumohair” Díaz, blends Latin and African influences into a unique sound. After Díaz’s sudden passing in 2022, Reyna wrestled with whether to continue the project. Ultimately, she decided to carry it forward in his honor. During her set, she spoke about the music’s deeper meaning, making it clear that she saw it as bigger than one person, and that Díaz’s influence would always be present. Her passion for uniting cultures through sound made for a fitting prelude to the rest of the night.

Then came Charley Crockett, one of Texas’s most prolific modern troubadours. Crockett and his incredibly talented band, The Blue Drifters, took the stage by storm, instantly elevating the crowd’s energy. His set included many songs from his recently released album Dollar A Day. For this album, his 15th studio release, Crockett has added a plethora of hard-driving new songs that lend themselves well to his animated and energetic style of live performance. Songs like Tennessee Quick Cash, Destroyed, and Crucified Son seemed to be instant favorites for those in attendance.

Mid-set, Crockett dropped a line that raised some eyebrows. With a chuckle, he said, “This one goes out to my buddy up in Nashville,” before launching into his song $10 Cowboy. While subtle, it may have been a nod to his ongoing feud with Gavin Adcock, who has recently criticized Crockett’s authenticity as a “cowboy.” Adcock has been quoted as saying, “I got more cow s— under my pinky than you have seen your whole f—— life.” Crockett didn’t linger on the drama, though. Aside from the one subtle jab, it was all business for Charley. Every strum and every lyric was delivered with his usual passion, reminding everyone why he’s becoming one of country’s most captivating performers.
Closing the night, Leon Bridges brought his own flavor of Texas music. Where Crockett embodies the grit and storytelling of classic country, Bridges radiates smooth soul and modern swagger. Bridges travels with an immense band of musicians that create a full, rich, and moving sound to underscore his voice. Every musician had their place to fit in, and like a completed jigsaw puzzle, every piece was exactly in its right place.

Bridges himself was in constant motion, gliding across the stage with effortless charisma. He used every inch of it to his advantage, connecting with fans on both ends of the venue. His voice was as silky and commanding as you’d expect it to be from his studio albums, and paired with the energy of his band, the performance had the crowd engaged start to finish.

Together, Crockett and Bridges—two proud Texas musicians from very different, yet somehow similar, musical traditions—gave The BayCare Sound a 100th show to remember. With Reyna Tropical’s vibrant opening, Crockett’s country storytelling, and Bridges’ soulful stage mastery, the milestone celebration was a great reminder of all the wonderful music that The Sound has brought us so far and all that is to come in the future.

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Photojournalist Wyatt Combs discovered his love for photography at an early age, often experimenting with the cameras his parents kept around the house. Music also became a central part of his life, with his father being a professional musician. Following in those footsteps, Wyatt became a lifelong musician himself, singing and playing guitar and drums, and has been performing professionally for more than a decade. His passion for capturing music extends into the studio—he runs a small recording space for local bands and has studied audio recording through St. Petersburg College’s Music Industry and Recording Arts program as well as Florida State University’s Commercial Music program. Today, he channels his creativity into documenting Tampa Bay’s vibrant music scene, while also enjoying landscape and wildlife photography inspired by his love of the outdoors.