Multi-platinum Eli Young Band plays drive-in concert at Montage Mountain in Scranton on June 5
From a press release:
Today, multi-platinum country music hitmakers Eli Young Band have been added to the growing roster of spring and summer drive-in concerts taking place in the Montage Mountain parking lot produced by DamnMillennial Promotions and Stage West in Scranton.
While selling out venues as a headliner from coast-to-coast, EYB has toured with Jason Aldean, Dave Matthews Band, Kenny Chesney, Rascal Flatts, Toby Keith, Tim McGraw, and Darius Rucker. They will come to Scranton for a live show of fan favorites on Saturday, June 5 with support from Jessica Lynn, known for her singles “Crazy Idea” and “Let’s Don’t.”
Gates at Montage (1000 Montage Mountain Rd., Scranton) open at 6 p.m., and the all-ages concert runs from 8 p.m.-10:30 p.m. Tickets, which are $169 for general admission parking (up to four passengers), $259 for gold circle parking, and $309 for center-stage platinum parking, go on sale this Friday, March 26 at 10 a.m. via Prekindle and stagewestlive.com. Fifth passenger add-on tickets are also available. The show will be held rain or shine.
With momentum still high following their fourth career No. 1, Eli Young Band released the introspective single “Break It In” through The Valory Music Co. in 2019. Under producer Dann Huff, the tune explores lessons in life and love that are only learned over time well spent. As showcased through vivid Benjy Davis, Brandon Day, Daniel Ross, and Michael Whitworth-penned lyrics, EYB further delivers a booming chorus: “Like these dusty boots that walked me through / The work that got me here / And these faded jeans with Skoal can rings / I’ve worn out all these years / When the shine wears off, when you lose that gloss / There’s so much more underneath it all / You think that good is good as it can get / Then you break it in.”
“We definitely didn’t just start a band and have instant success. We’ve continued to build it up over the years – we broke it in,” the band shared.
“We’ve been blessed to have had our moments of being able to sit back and soak it all in. ‘Break It In’ carries a message you learn with time, and we’re so excited for these lyrics to be heard far and wide!”
“Break It In” closely followed “This Is Eli Young Band: Greatest Hits,” which features chart-toppers “Love Ain’t,” platinum-selling “Drunk Last Night,” two-times platinum “Even If It Breaks Your Heart,” and three-times platinum “Crazy Girl.”
EYB has always been unique in modern country music as a true band of brothers who cling fast to their Texas roots, maintaining an impressive trajectory with singles earning Billboard’s No. 1 Country Song of the Year and the ACM Awards Song of the Year. They have previously earned multiple nominations from Grammy, CMA, CMT, ACA, and Teen Choice Awards.
In 2020, Eli Young Band and Jimmy Buffett combined their signature sounds on “Saltwater Gospel (Fins Up Version).” In the chaos of our current climate, the refreshed anthem is a fitting sonic mantra to wash away the troubles of everyday life.
“We’d always known from the early days of playing ‘Saltwater Gospel’ live that it was special. Crowds would sing along as if it was already a huge hit. Our team noticed a massive swell of streaming recently, and some radio stations began playing it again. With signs there was more life to this song, the idea of re-releasing a fresh version was really exciting for us to explore,” frontman Mike Eli said.
“We aimed high thinking how cool it would be to have Jimmy Buffett, but finding out he was interested, we were pumped! He’s an icon who’s made a huge impact on the world with fans completely devoted to his persona and laidback party environment. Plus, he likes a drink now and then, and so do we.”
“Before we even recorded the original version of the song, we thought of Jimmy the first time we heard ‘Saltwater Gospel.’ It sounded and felt like the lifestyle he embodies – calming yet rejuvenated. Now to come full circle on a collaboration with him, it’s really cool and beyond what we ever could have expected,” bassist Jon Jones continued.
“It was Mac McAnally who turned me on to Eli Young Band a while back. I started listening to them and heard that song when it came out. I thought that’s a very cool song because it immediately got my attention since I am a child of the Gulf Coast, having grown up around Mobile Bay and every stretch of water between Key West and Corpus Christi. I also love the Texas side to them, as someone who spent a lot of time in my early solo career running around playing colleges, bars, and honky tonks in Texas. So of course I said, ‘Yeah, I’d love to do this,’ and thought it was a great idea. I can’t wait to go out and play it with EYB on the road when it’s safe and we can have fun and go down to the Saltwater Gospel!” Jimmy Buffett added.
Originally launched in 2016 with 40+ million on-demand streams to date, esteemed songwriters Nicolle Galyon and Ashley Gorley penned “Saltwater Gospel” alongside Ross Copperman, who co-produced the track with Jeremy Stover. The latest version also credits Mac McAnally, who recorded vocals for Buffett. The lyrics juxtapose the mystical healing of the ocean’s vastness to feeling rooted in something greater than ourselves.
To promote the song, the band surprised fans during a special Facebook Live, chatting with the singer/songwriter/author and pop culture legend, who has composed such classic songs as “Margaritaville,” “Come Monday,” and “Cheeseburger in Paradise.”
