Kane Brown performs at Chase Center in San Francisco on Jan. 30, 2022. Sean Liming/STAFF.

SAN FRANCISCO — With three stops left in his quest to become the first country artist to hit up all 29 NBA arenas on a single tour, country superstar Kane Brown brought his show to Chase Center Sunday evening.

Kane Brown performs at Chase Center in San Francisco on Jan. 30, 2022.

The 28-year-old Tennessee native opened with an unreleased tune in “Riot.” Brown then shared a couple of stories about the neglect he experienced growing up with an abusive stepfather, getting bullied over the color of his skin and rising up from a humble beginning after losing many of his friends to drugs and gun violence. 

“It does not matter where you come from or the color of your skin. If you have a dream, you can do anything,” he said before launching into “Learning.”

Despite the pain of the past, Brown has found many things to celebrate in the last couple of years. He spoke about the letter he received from his father that revealed siblings he knew nothing about—one of whom was a DJ who spun records before the bands took the stage.

Kane Brown performs at Chase Center in San Francisco on Jan. 30, 2022.

As he performed “For My Daughter,” heartwarming images flashed on the screen behind Kane Brown; of his family life with his wife and 2-year-old daughter. Despite growing up without his biological father, who has been in prison since Brown’s childhood, the artist said he pledged to be the caring and loving father himself. 

He also shared that he fell in love with music after his mom bought him CDs that he used to try to mimic in middle school. This story led into a series of covers of some of his favorites, such as “Ol’ Red” (George Jones), “Beautiful Girls” (Sean Kingston), Stand by Me (Ben E. King), “Crank That” (Soulja Boy) and “Hot Girl Bummer” (Blackbear).  

Kane Brown saved his biggest chart-toping hits for the latter end of the set. These included “Memory,” “Famous Friends” with openers Chase Rice and Restless Road, and “Heaven,” before he concluded with “What Ifs.”

Chase Rice performs at Chase Center in San Francisco on Jan. 30, 2022.

Chase Rice, who has followed an interesting career path, preceded the headliner. Rice is best known for No. 1 country single “Eyes on You” in 2019. Before that, he played football at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (an injury ended his football career), was a pit crew member for NASCAR’s Hendrick Motorsports, came in second on “Survivor: Nicaragua” in 2010 and made a guest appearance serenading a date on “The Bachelor” in 2014.

His varied background shined through in his performance, which swung from country-fried anthems to poppy love songs, such as hits like “Ready Set Roll,” “Gonna Wanna Tonight,” “Eyes on You.” Rice also played his newest single, “If I Were Rock and Roll.” In between songs, he told stories, such as one where he spent 10 days in a van with his best friend while they drove from San Diego to Sausalito, which he joked took 10 years off of his life.

Rice’s set also included covers of “Cruise” by Florida Georgia Line, Billy Joel’s “Piano Man.” 

“I’ve never been this hungover on a Sunday, but you guys are pulling my through,” he said.

Restless Road performs at Chase Center in San Francisco on Jan. 30, 2022.

Country trio Restless Road, signed to Kane Brown’s label after performing on “X-Factor,” opened the show with songs from their 2020 self-titled debut EP.

The band’s performance—which the members said was their first in San Francisco—included best-known songs like “Bar Friends” and “Hometown Tonight,” as well as notable covers like Jason Aldean’s “Big Green Tractor,” Toby Keith’s “Should’ve Been A Cowboy,” George Strait’s “Check Yes or No” and Def Leppard’s “Pour Some Sugar on Me.”  

Restless Road also had early arrivers participate in a TikTok for a preview of song “Growing Old With You,” which the band will be performing on—you guessed it—”The Bachelor.”

Follow photographer Sean Liming at Instagram.com/S.Liming.