Laine Hardy's returning to a familiar spot Saturday night — The Texas Club stage — where he says the audience will see a different version of the Livingston recording artist.
Hardy, 23, has played the club several times before and after his 2019 "American Idol" win.
"I'm going to just go back on stage and be able to go up there like I've never been on stage before which, by that, I mean I love music and that's what started everything for me," Hardy says. "And that's the whole heart of why I do it, is because I love to do it.
Channeling his inner Elton John, Livingston singer Laine Hardy performs 'Something About the Way You Look Tonight' on 'American Idol' in 2010. Hardy went on to become Louisiana's first 'Idol' winner.
"So they'll see the kid's side, because since I was a kid, I've always wanted to play music on a stage."
This evolved Hardy, according to the "Memorize You" singer, is the result of much introspection following his April 2022 arrest on an eavesdropping count. At the time, police said he admitted to his ex-girlfriend that he had left an audio-recording device in her dormitory room and captured “very candid” conversations.
As a first-time, nonviolent offender, Hardy was eligible for a pretrial intervention program through the East Baton Rouge District Attorney's Office. If he successfully finished the program, he would avoid jail time and keep a clean record. Hardy completed the pretrial intervention program in October, District Attorney Hillar Moore confirmed Wednesday morning.
"I've been able to see and go back to the main reason why I do it. I do it 'cause I love to do it. And to just make people happy," Hardy adds.
Hardy recalled a post-"American Idol" visit to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.
"I got to go sing some Christmas songs to some patients, to some kids. It was just a bunch of kids rallying around me … so their reaction is what I do it for. The reaction they gave me told me and made me feel the reason why I do what I do," he says.
Former 'American Idol' finalist Jovin Webb will open the Laine Hardy show at The Texas Club on Saturday night.
The Southern rock-country-blues singer inspired by Elvis won't be performing holiday tunes on Saturday night, but there are some must-do songs for his loyal following.
"Oh, I can't play a show without doing 'Hurricane' (Band of Heathens, 2011)," he said. "And I gotta do a song I wrote called 'Other LA' because when I was out in California (after 'Idol'), I got that title from being out there, and why Louisiana's my home. I love to come back to it. And 'Ground I Grew Up On' or 'Tiny Town.'"
Aside from "Hurricane," the other aforementioned songs are from Hardy's first album, "Here's to Anyone," released in September 2021.
"There's gonna be new songs I play, too, the ones I haven't had released yet that I wrote in the past year or two," he says. "Some are ones people have heard, some probably haven't, but some nobody has heard that I'm deciding to break out."
Over at The Texas Club, which has a capacity of 1,350 people, Faith Sherman, marketing manager says, "It'll be a very busy night. (There's) lots of interest in the show."
An added draw: "American Idol" Season 18 finalist Jovin Webb will open the show. Post-"Idol," the 33-year-old Gonzales native who now lives in Baton Rouge brings his soulful style to area nightclubs pretty much every weekend. He recently signed with blues label Big Pig Records.
Hardy expects to be backed by his original touring band of Aaron Adair, Trent Thibodaux and Casey Hardy.
Hardy divides his time between Louisiana and Nashville, Tennessee, where he does most of his songwriting collaborations.
Livingston Parish's Laine Hardy performs Christmas songs during the annual City of Denham Springs Christmas tree lighting at Old City Hall on Nov. 24, 2023.
"I did a songwriting round with Country Outdoors (channel). So I invited some people — Erik Dylan and Mark Chandler came. Erik's written songs for Luke Combs. And (songwriter) Mark Chandler is a retired U.S. veteran. He's a great songwriter and a great dude."
Hardy does his solo writing in the backyard studio of the family home in Livingston but says he prefers the interaction of collaborating with other songwriters. He's performed a handful of shows in and outside Louisiana since his legal troubles and the COVID-19 shutdown.
"Songwriting has been pretty good, actually. And being able to, I guess, convey my emotion in just a positive way on paper to hopefully influence people to feel the same way," Hardy says. "That's what I'm learning how to do. I want to be positive with the music and just kind of lift people up with my gift."
Although fluid in form at this point, Hardy will say he's releasing new music before next fall. He also has another upcoming Louisiana show and a Mississippi show. The details of those will be announced soon, he adds.
Meanwhile, Hardy the person considers himself a work in progress.
"I'm still constantly working on myself. It doesn't mean who they see (on Saturday) is like the finished product," he says. "I'm gonna work on myself for the rest of my life, you know? … I have a goal and I have a motivation."
And a renewed faith to go with it.
"I've been able to grow my faith and get closer to God during this time," Hardy said. "And I really needed that."