On Wednesday night, Chance Peña brought his When I Change My Mind I Don’t Mean It tour to Phoenix’s The Van Buren, continuing the North American leg of his latest tour. Joined by support from Hans Williams, the evening centered on thoughtful songwriting, meaningful stories and an unmistakable appreciation for the people who came to listen.
Hans Williams opened the night with nothing more than his guitar and his songs, proving that a compelling performance doesn’t require much else. His easygoing stage presence and genuine conversations between songs made the room feel smaller, inviting the audience into the stories behind his music rather than simply performing for them.
At one point, he smiled and told the crowd, “If there’s a song you wanted that I couldn’t play, stick around and I’ll play it after, wherever they’ll let me… like the parking lot!”
Chance Peña took the stage to an enthusiastic welcome, moving effortlessly between fan favorites and the stories that shaped them. Throughout the evening, he invited the audience into his creative process, offering glimpses into where his music has been and where it is headed.
One of the night’s highlights came with the introduction of “Wool,” the first song Peña has written this year. He described it as a reflection on facing life’s hardest struggles, giving Phoenix fans an early listen to new material that felt both deeply personal and universally relatable.
Later, Peña shared that “Montana” was written during a week spent in Glacier National Park, allowing the audience to picture the landscape that inspired it before the first note was played. During “My Mind Drifts to You”, he picked up a harmonica, adding another dimension to the live performance and drawing an enthusiastic response from the crowd.
Another memorable moment came when Peña welcomed Williams back to the stage for a performance of “It Is What It Is”. The collaboration highlighted the natural chemistry between the two songwriters and served as a fitting reminder that this tour has been as much about shared artistry as individual performances.
Williams’ promise from earlier in the evening turned out to be more than a joke. After Peña’s set ended, he walked onto the front patio of The Van Buren with his guitar and gathered the fans who had stayed behind, playing a few additional songs in an informal setting that felt every bit as genuine as his set inside the venue.
Throughout the night, both artists demonstrated that some of the strongest moments in live music come from authenticity. By pairing heartfelt songwriting with honest storytelling and a willingness to connect beyond the stage, Peña and Williams gave Phoenix a concert that felt deeply personal from beginning to end.
