On November 11th, Drake Milligan performed at Brooklyn Bowl in Nashville for the release of his new album Tumbleweed. The venue was packed well before he stepped on stage, and the crowd’s energy remained high - enthusiastic, lively, and fully engaged. The night opened with Tyler Nance, whose set was strong and confident. He held the room well and set up the rest of the show with a steady momentum. Milligan began his career long before this album cycle. Born in 1998, he first became known for playing Elvis Presley in Sun Records and the film Nobody, and later appeared on American Idol and America’s Got Talent. His debut album Dallas/Fort Worth arrived in 2022, and he has since charted with several singles, including “Honky Tonkin’ About,” which hit number one in Canada. That history showed onstage, he performed with the ease of someone used to holding attention.
When Milligan walked out, he told the crowd he would play every song from Tumbleweed. He opened with “Sounds Like Something I’d Do” and “Bad Day to Be a Beer,” both landing immediately. His delivery was clear and controlled, and the room stayed focused on him throughout the set. One audience member even called him the “upcoming Elvis of country,” a comment that lingered because of how naturally he carried himself onstage. Milligan didn’t rely on big theatrics. The strength of the show came from his presence and the tightness of the band behind him. His crowd interaction felt genuine, and the audience responded to every moment. The songs were catchy live, and the performance made them feel more grounded and direct than the recorded versions. By the end of the night, Brooklyn Bowl felt less like a typical album release event and more like a room shaped by Milligan’s confidence. Tumbleweed came across not just as a new project, but as a step forward for an artist who has been building toward nights like this for years.
- Vee Kellner Pence
Photos Courtesy of Kylie Hoover (For Bell Music Magazine)
