Jameson Rodgers: Go Behind-the-Scenes of the Beer Never Broke My Heart Tour

A quiet moment ahead of soundcheck.

The night marked the 2019 AIMP Nashville Rising Songwriter of the Year nominee's first time performing in New York City.

"I've been out on the road for several years, but this is the first full arena tour I've been a part of and we're getting to play all over the country," Rodgers tells PEOPLE.

"I'm looking forward to coming back to each of these venues as a headliner someday."

Rodgers has a moment to take in the empty venue.

"I've heard a lot of stories about Hammerstein Ballroom so I was really looking forward to playing that room. It has a lot of history and there's a kind of mystique to it. Just the aura of being there was really cool."

"My first concert was Garth Brooks at the Pyramid in Memphis, and that was kind of the first moment I remember thinking how cool it would be to get to do that one day. It wasn't something really I took seriously until I got to college, but I think I strive to make people feel the way I remember feeling when Garth smashed his guitar on stage."

Rodgers warms up before the sold-out show.

Time for the show — heading to stage.

"I, and I think a lot of artists, always get asked if I still get nervous before going onstage. It's more like an anxious and exciting feeling. Every crowd is different so you always hope they have good energy and are in the moment so you can feed off that."

Rodgers and his band huddle before taking the stage.

Rodgers rocked the crowd with his hit songs "Some Girls" and "Like You've Been There Before."

"Playing to so many people out on this tour has been such an amazing opportunity for me. It's important to me to not take it for granted and really take advantage of every minute I have on stage. I've really been taking everything in and watching Luke, too, and how he works."

In addition to songs from his self-titled EP like "Missing One," Rodgers got the crowd warmed up with songs he's written, including Florida Georgia Line's "Talk You Out of It" and Chris Lane's "I Don't Know About You."

"This was probably the smallest venue we played on the tour, and the energy was insane. It reminded me of being back in the clubs and the bars where I first started playing live and getting my bearings as a performer."

Rodgers let the crowd know he's set to return to New York City for a headlining show at Mercury Lounge on May 30.

And don't miss Rodgers on the Beer Never Broke My Heart tour as it rolls on throughout 2019. Visit jamesonrodgers.com for details and to catch up with Jameson Rodgers on the road.