Flores keeps it honest on another great night

Wyatt Flores has come far fast, and he is making the most of it. A year ago, the buzz had already started about the Oklahoma native playing country music. He also suffered from the weight of his early success, talking openly about mental health issues he was facing.

Hopefully, he is overcoming and dealing with that, but one area there is absolutely no concern at any level is this guy's musical chops.

In an engaging, captivating show, Flores proved yet again that the accolades and attention were well deserved.

He raced out of the gate with the title track of his full-length, major-label debut, "Welcome to the Plains." It's a song that focuses on what's become of Oklahoma as Flores sings:
"Red dirt tears and broken mirrors
And a little trailer park just south of here
End of the world is getting near, but I still feel the same...
Where dreams go drying up like rain
Welcome to the plains"

It may not be a pretty life necessarily, but Flores sure made it sound good in songs like "Little Town" where "After everyone else is movin' on/I've never felt the need to go seek higher ground" because he has his woman right there.

He did have some fun on the upbeat, frolicsome "Wildcat" about being the mascot who did his thing at Friday night lights (true story although Flores is not 6-5).

It was this kind of sincerity and honesty that came through with Flores (well except for donning a Red Sox jersey later in the show).

At one point, the music stopped because Flores thought there was a problem with the crowd. No problem whatsoever as a couple decided to get engaged right during the show. Flores enjoyed the moment himself, saying that had never happened at one of his shows before. With that, he dedicated the song "Right Here With You" to the couple.

That was only indicative of the music emanating from Flores. You can't go wrong when you're plying honest music from the heart. Through trial and tribulations that he has personally faced and a lot of songs dealing with death ("I Believe in God," "When I Die" and "Wish I Could Stay" among others), the authenticity arising out of Flores rang true.

The interaction with fans happened a few songs later when a fan, Abby, came on stage to sing "Running Out of Time" with Flores.

This was a show – 105 minutes in length – that got better and better as it went along, closing strongly.

Opener Evan Honer came out to help sing "I Believe in God" before Flores tore into the personally meaningful cover of The Fray's "How to Save a Life" (on his previous visit to Beantown, Flores related that his grandfather committed suicide), the pleading "Please Don't Go" and ending the regular set with Flores chestnuts "Oh Susannah," "Milwaukee" and heading south with "West of Tulsa."

If only Flores lived up to the title of his closing song of the night, "Don't Wanna Say Goodnight." Flores was that good.

Honer leaned more into the singer-songwriter end of the Americana music spectrum than country. He proved to be a most compatible and engaging table setter for Flores. With his upbeat new song "idk shit about cars" among others, Honer made the most of his 45-minute set.

The Arizona native has a well of songs that are up to snuff with his reedy voice pushing them. Flores came out mid-way to help out on "Take Me As I Come" (Flores also appeared on Honer's recording of the song). Of course, Honer covered the song that put him on the map, Tyler Childer's "Jersey Giant." Well done live as well.

Based on the very enthusiastic crowd reception, Honer only solidified his status as an artist to keep tabs on as he made a most favorable impression.