Review by Katrina Gelety
It was up to Josh Ross and Tyler Hubbard to get Pittsburgh ready and excited for Dan + Shay’s The Young Tour at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA on October 9, 2026. Both artists delivered opening sets that felt personal and energetic, giving fans plenty of reasons to get on their feet before the headlining performance.
Josh Ross took the stage first, and he made it clear from the start that connecting with the audience was a priority. Moving along the barricade, he held the hands of fans in the front row, creating personal moments that made the arena feel a little smaller. He also took a moment to thank everyone for coming out early to watch his set start at 6:55 p.m., acknowledging that he knew many people had work and other responsibilities on a Friday. There was another moment during the set where Ross acknowledged that the Pittsburgh show was “better than last night,” continuing to give out his appreciation for how the crowd showed up for him.
Ross kept the set moving with a mix of familiar favorites and songs that carried personal significance. Performing “Drink Things Through,” a song currently receiving radio airplay, he gave fans a chance to connect with a track they possibly have already heard beyond the arena walls. He then performed “Leave Me Too,” his oldest song in the set. He explained that the song means more to him now than when he released it, making its return to the setlist especially significant. The energy ramped up with “Ain’t Doing Jack,” when fans tossed Jack Daniel’s onto the stage in response to the song. Later, Ross encouraged everyone to stand for “Drunk Right Now (Na Na Na),” prompting plenty of jumping and hands waving in the air as the crowd let loose for the high-energy moment.
Ross closed his set out with “Single Again,” his first No. 1 hit. It was a fitting finale for an opening performance that balanced his growing success with the personal connection that helped make the set memorable. I can imagine how intimidating it may be to have the first slot on a tour lineup, but Ross commanded his entire set as if it was his headline show, and I was beyond impressed.
Tyler Hubbard then took the stage with his song “Park,” launching a set that blended the hits fans know and love with a glimpse of what is next in his musical journey. With new music on the horizon, Hubbard made it clear that he wanted to give Pittsburgh a little bit of everything.
He shared that he spent time in the studio this year and that new music will be arriving over the next couple of months (which I’m personally hoping includes a song he wrote with Johnny Franck of the band Bilmuri that Hubbard teased on Instagram a couple of years back). While promising to sing as many hits as possible, he also expressed a desire to introduce the crowd to some unreleased material. That included “Playin’ It Cool,” which I absolutely loved and was sad I could not immediately stream on Spotify after the show. The guitar riff in that song is delectable, and I am eagerly waiting to give the song more listens. Hubbard also performed “902180,” a newer release that has been out for only a couple of weeks, adding another fresh track to the set.
Hubbard approached his role as an opener with a sense of responsibility, recognizing that he needed to get the crowd warmed up vocally for the rest of the evening. He said that the audience would have to “keep up with Shay Mooney (of Dan + Shay) the rest of the night,” which gave me a good laugh.
Of course, Hubbard knew exactly how to get the arena moving. A medley of Florida Georgia Line hits brought the crowd to its feet, tapping into the familiar songs that helped Hubbard become a staple in country music. The medley was a natural highlight, including hits like “This is How We Roll,” “Stay,” and “Sippin’ on Fire.”
It wasn’t just the music that made Hubbard’s set stand out. He repeatedly showed his appreciation for the Pittsburgh audience, ultimately declaring the crowd so awesome that he decided to give away a t-shirt as well as the hat he had been wearing by throwing both out for lucky fans to catch.
By balancing new material, established hits, and genuine audience interaction, Hubbard delivered an opening set that celebrated both where he has been and where he is headed next.
Josh Ross and Tyler Hubbard brought different strengths to The Young Tour’s Pittsburgh stop, but both understood the importance of making the most of their time onstage. In doing so, Dan + Shay most likely knew they would have to bring their A game to the rest of the evening. I highly encourage everyone going to The Young Tour to arrive early and catch both Ross and Hubbard’s performances or make it to a show whenever either artist is in your area. It will undoubtedly be worth it!
