Why Not? An Evening With Johnny Blue Skies

Sturgill Simpson at the Petersen Event Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 

A few evenings ago, I was fortunate enough to be offered an opportunity that many would jump at. So, in the spirit of Sturgill Simpson’s Why Not? tour, I said, “Why not?” and took up a pair of tickets from Sturgill and his label, Thirty Tigers. I brought along a good friend and massive Sturgill fan to experience the Sturgill Simpson featuring Johnny Blue Skies show at the Petersen Event Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

The Climb to Will Call: A Journey Before the Show Even Began

Arriving at the Petersen Event Center, we initially found ourselves at the ground level, thinking we were at the correct entrance. But, as luck would have it, we were told to make our way up a seemingly endless set of stairs along the side of the building to reach the will call box office. So up we went, climbing and climbing, each step making us feel farther from the action we’d come for.

On the way up, we could see down through the glass into the main lobby, where the merch table was drawing a crowd. The line kept growing as we climbed, and I couldn’t shake the worry that the evening’s poster—something I’d set my sights on—would be gone by the time we made it inside. Finally, after what felt like a small pilgrimage, we reached the box office, got our tickets, and found our way into the venue. But by the time I made it to the merch line, I’d missed my chance—the show poster by artist Kory McGeehan had sold out.

A Unique View and Solid Sound
The small letdown of not getting a show poster instantly subsided as we found our seats. Seated stage-right, close enough to see the whites of people’s eyes, we were so close it almost felt like we’d stepped backstage. From our vantage point, we could watch the guitar techs in action and admire the impressive lineup of gear Sturgill’s team had assembled. For any musician or those who are into the inner workings of live performances, this was a dream.

The Crowd: A Mosaic of Fans

As the seats continued to fill, the Petersen Event Center turned into a unique blend of cowboy hats, tie-dye shirts, and band tees. Speaking of band tees, I had expected to spot maybe one or two King Gizzard shirts, but finding six throughout the night was a fun crossover with my own music taste. With a mix of ages, styles, and stories, the crowd was as eclectic as Sturgill’s music, reflecting his knack for bringing people together across musical differences. It wasn’t long before the arena was packed with fans.

A Marathon Performance

Sturgill hit the stage right at 8 p.m. and didn’t let up until nearly 11. Three hours, nonstop. His setlist was an amazing mix of covers, classics, and deep cuts, showcasing not just his versatility but also his deep respect for genre-crossing and reinterpretation. Opening with “It Ain’t All Flowers,” he moved seamlessly into classics like “Life of Sin” and “Turtles All the Way Down,” throwing in jaw-dropping covers like “Purple Rain” (yes, Prince!) and “L.A. Woman” by The Doors. His alter-ego Johnny Blue Skies made appearances throughout, adding that unmistakable touch of bluesy soul with tracks like “Right Kind of Dream” and “If the Sun Never Rises Again.”

One noticeable fact about the show was Sturgill and the bands' ability to hold people's focus. During the 3 hours of music there were a minimum of people on their phones. Surprisingly, the vast majority of people were there: living in the moment and enjoying the music.

THE SET LIST : 

1. It Ain't All Flowers
2. Long White Line (Moore & Napier cover)
3. Welcome to Earth (Pollywog)
4. Best Clockmaker on Mars
5. Right Kind of Dream (Johnny Blue Skies song)
6. All Said and Done
7. A Good Look
8. L.A. Woman (The Doors cover)
9. All Around You
10. Life of Sin
11. Turtles All the Way Down
12. One for the Road (Johnny Blue Skies song)
13. Purple Rain (Prince cover)
14. Just Let Go
15. I Don't Mind
16. Living the Dream
17. If the Sun Never Rises Again (Johnny Blue Skies song)
18. You Don't Miss Your Water (William Bell cover)
19. Mint Tea (Johnny Blue Skies song)
20. Fastest Horse in Town
21. Brace for Impact (Live a Little)
22. Sing Along
23. The Promise (When in Rome cover)
24. A Whiter Shade of Pale (Procol Harum cover)
25. Scooter Blues (Johnny Blue Skies song)
26. Jupiter’s Faerie (Johnny Blue Skies song)
27. Voices
28. Midnight Rider (The Allman Brothers Band cover)
29. Call to Arms

Here’s a breakdown of the set:

• Cover Songs: 13 songs
• Metamodern Sounds in Country Music: 6 songs
• Sound & Fury: 5 songs
• A Sailor’s Guide to Earth: 4 songs
• Cuttin’ Grass Vol. 1: 1 song
  
  

An Unforgettable Night of Music

The entire night was an affirmation of Sturgill’s artistry, his commitment to sound, and his genuine connection to his fans. The sound quality at Petersen Event Center was surprisingly solid for an arena of that size (kudos to the sound engineers for pulling that off). And with no opener, Sturgill gave us a full evening with no filler—a pure, undiluted show from start to finish.

I left the venue that night feeling lucky not just for the experience but for sharing it with a good friend who got to see his all-time favorite artist up close. Sometimes, in an extremely online world, it takes a night like this—a room full of people and three hours of live music—to remind you why we fell in love with music in the first place.

Oh, and by the way, I ended up getting a copy of the show poster directly from the artist Kory McGeehan— the perfect cherry on top!

Thanks again to Sturgill Simpson, and our friends at Thirty Tigers for the memorable evening.