Before we get to the heavy hitters, you gotta appreciate the breather songs. Tracks like “Lovin’ on You” and “When It Rains It Pours” slide in like that first comfortable stretch after you take your shoes off. One minute you’re screaming “Cold beer, hot wings, and good company,” the next you’re swaying with your arm around a stranger, thinking, “Yeah, life ain’t so bad.” It’s the part of the night where the ice in your solo cup hasn’t melted yet, and your phone is still safe in your pocket.
There’s always that one moment during “Beautiful Crazy” where every couple in the place locks eyes like they’re in a Nicholas Sparks movie. Meanwhile, you’re standing next to your buddy, pretending you’re not getting a little misty-eyed while sipping your beer. That’s the Combs effect: he makes a stadium full of people feel like they’re hanging in a dive bar, complete with the sticky floor and the guy who won’t stop talking about his lawnmower.
