If you were anywhere near PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, NJ on July 10th, chances are you saw a sea of cowboy boots, fringe jackets, and cowboy hats headed toward one of the most feel-good country shows of the summer. Thomas Rhett's Better in Boots Tour 2025 rolled into town with a sold-out crowd and a setlist packed tighter than a pair of Wranglers on line-dance night.
Opening the night was Dasha, a rising country-pop artist from California whose energy and vocals hit from the first beat. She moved through fan favorites like “Oh, Anna!” and “Heartbreaker from Tennessee,” delivered a powerhouse cover of “Here for the Party,” and surprised the crowd with a playful “Bye Bye Bye” mashup.
She closed her set with her breakout hit, “Austin (Boots Stop Workin’)” — a stomping anthem that had the crowd singing and boots stomping. Dasha’s blend of confidence and charisma proved she’s not just opening shows — she’s owning them.
Next on stage was Tucker Wetmore. He brought grit and charm, transforming the stage into a glowing saloon with signs like “Brunettes Drink Free” and “Drinkin’ Boots” His rugged vocals and country-rock confidence had the crowd hooked from the jump.
But the real showstopper came mid-set when the lights dimmed and a grand piano rolled to center stage. Tucker sat alone and stunned the crowd with an unexpected medley that began with Beethoven and flowed seamlessly into “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “Great Balls of Fire,” and “Easy.” It was a cinematic, genre-blending moment that revealed another side of his talent — raw, emotional, and magnetic. He closed things out on a high note with crowd-favorite “Brunette,” leaving the crowd buzzing.
From the moment Thomas Rhett hit the stage with “Boots” to kick things off, the energy in the room was electric. The crowd sang every word of chart-toppers like “Life Changes,” “Crash and Burn,” and “Look What God Gave Her.” Cowboy boots stomped, hands flew up, and it felt like one massive backyard party with 15,000 of your closest friends.
Mid-set highlights included a nostalgic trip with “Sixteen,” the touching “Remember You Young,” and the anthemic “What’s Your Country Song.” Rhett also treated the crowd to a cover of Cole Swindell’s “She Had Me at Heads Carolina” before launching into the crowd-pleaser “Small Town Girls.”
The Better in Boots Tour 2025 is more than just a concert — it’s a full-blown country celebration. With an energetic crowd, heartfelt moments, and a lineup stacked with talent, Thomas Rhett proved once again that country music hits different when it’s live, loud, and laced with love.
Here are more photos from the concert.
ALL PHOTOS BY JULIE HOFFMAN
Julie Hoffman is a concert and live event photographer with a background in broadcasting. She started out in the newsroom at ABC News in NYC, and ended up as a Technical Director at Disney/ ABC TV studios in Los Angeles. She has since left broadcasting and moved back to the east coast, where she started up her photography business.
When she is not at a concert, she is shooting print/theatrical headshots out of her studio in Livingston, NJ. For more on her visit her website at www.juliehoffmanphotography.com or her Instagram accounts for Concerts/Live Events and Headshots.
