Only his third stop (and first time ever performing in Iowa) on the There I Go tour, Vincent Mason packed the house at the Val Air Ballroom in West Des Moines, IA this past Saturday night, January 24th. The Art Deco building (recently renovated in 2024) with its neon lights shining above, saw hordes of fans lined up outside in single-digit temperatures, just waiting to get inside to see this fantastic country singer/songwriter take the stage.
Opening for Vincent was up-and-coming country artist Cole Goodwin. Cole was on his third show on this tour with Vincent Mason. His traditional country sound got the fans warmed up for the evening’s headliner. He and his band performed some great tunes; a favorite of mine being “Girlfriend’s Got a Boyfriend.”
Vincent Mason’s There I Go tour is part of the 2026 Monster Energy Outbreak Tour, which showcases the biggest new names in music each year. Not so subliminally advertised, the bright green Monster Energy logo adorned the backdrop of the stage, as well as a few Monster Energy Ultra cans strategically placed atop the risers on stage.
Vincent kicked off his set with “Anything Took Everything,” a song off of his full-length debut album There I Go, released in late 2025. Fans were screaming immediately, enraptured with his mere presence on stage, as well as his traditional country sound with that opening number. Along with a few songs from this debut album, such as “She Loves Leaving,” “Little Miss,” and “Painkiller” to get the evening’s set started, he performed a few of his 2024 singles including “Train of Thought” and “Heart Like This.”
With purple lights aglow on stage, the familiar sound of the 1982 hit by John Mellencamp (John Cougar Mellencamp at that time) “Hurts So Good” blared through the amps, as they performed a phenomenal cover of this tune. The crowd started to sing along with this one (admittedly, so did I), and the energy level increased throughout the ballroom.
Afterwards, a sole spotlight was on Vincent, with just a hint of purple glow around the stage for the beginning of his 2023 single “A Little Too Good.” Once the tempo picked up after the first few verses, the stage lights went brighter, and the band members were once again clearly visible.
After performing “Days Are Numbered,” another off his debut album, he paused a bit to talk to the fans about his songwriting. A sole white spot fell onto Vincent now, as he broke into “The Breakdown” from his 2023 EP album A Little Too Good.
Lots of white flashing lights began illuminating the stage, as well as the crowd, as the upbeat sounds of “Really Don’t Love Me,” began. This 2024 single is about the heartbreaking realization when one’s partner isn’t as invested in the relationship. In a complete juxtaposition, he followed up this number with one of two romantic ballads.
“Sink Or Swim,” another song off the There I Go album, kicked it into a bit of a higher gear. Despite the crowded venue, there was still plenty of room for fans to swing and dance to this lively tune. The dancing was abundant throughout the evening. After all, it IS a ballroom! This was truly one of my favorites he performed that night. Another one of my favorites (another from the There I Go album) was “Old Flame.” The lights dimmed to an orange and red glow, a bit of haze fell upon the stage, and the beautiful sounds of Mason on the harmonica accompanied this song.
After “Waitin’ on You to Wear Off” and “Speak of the Devil,” where the keyboardist had the opportunity to sneak up front with his guitar a bit for this number, it was on to another familiar cover. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ “Mary Jane’s Last Dance” started to wrap up the setlist for the night. Opening artist Cole Goodwin took the stage once more during this number, and joined Vincent and his band to perform along with them. The crowd sang loudly along with this one, and the energy was at one of its highest peaks of the night. It was truly a moment!
The tempo went down a few notches, as did the lights. Nothing but a few white star strobes lighting the stage from behind as Vincent strummed that guitar for “Hell is a Dance Floor.” Several fans began finding some shoulders to sit on to obtain a different perspective than they had for a majority of the evening. Aptly, at the end of the set, “Wish You Well” followed. Strobes now continuously lit the crowd, showing their smiling faces after enjoying an evening of storytelling through the lyrics of Vincent Mason.
A show like this wouldn’t be complete without an encore. The band left the stage (briefly), and popped back on for a two-song encore. As one does, the fans went crazy when they returned to the stage, breaking into “Damned if I Do.” Of course, the evening would not have been complete without the performance of the title track of his debut full-length album, There I Go, and the tour of the same name. This was when he took the time to pause during the song and introduce his band members. It was then one more bridge and one more chorus, then a heartfelt thank-you and goodnight.
With several shows left on this tour throughout the continental U.S., and one date in Toronto, Canada, there are still plenty of opportunities to catch this amazing country artist at a venue near you. After his final show of this tour on May 15th at Citizens House of Blues in Boston, MA, he’ll be on tour for a couple of shows in Denver, CO with Morgan Wallen, and then several shows touring with Parker McCollum.
GALLERY: Vincent Mason at Val Air Ballroom in Des Moines, Iowa (January 24, 2026)
