Kenny Chesney’s tour relies on JH Audio in-ear monitors

Kenny Chesney and his touring band use JH Audio in-ear monitors across their live shows, with a setup designed to work in venues ranging from clubs to the Sphere.

Engineers Phil "SidePhill" Robinson and Bryan "Opie" Baxley built the monitoring system around JH Audio's Layla and Roxanne models, splitting responsibility between Chesney and the rest of the band. Robinson handles Chesney's monitor mix and any stage guests, while Baxley focuses on the band. They said the division became necessary as Chesney's shows expanded into arenas and stadiums with extended stages.

That arrangement reflects the growing technical demands of large-scale touring. Performers can move significant distances from the main speaker arrays, while crowd noise can make on-stage monitoring harder to manage. In-ear monitors have become a standard tool for artists seeking consistency from venue to venue, especially on tours that move between very different room sizes and stage designs.

Robinson said the shift to separate monitor mixes grew out of years of working together on Chesney's live production. "Once we began playing stadiums on a regular basis and had a stage with a large thrust into the audience it became clear that we needed separate monitoring for Kenny and the band," said Phil "SidePhill" Robinson, Overall Monitor Engineer, Kenny Chesney. "I do monitor mixes for Kenny and any stage guests, while Opie focuses his efforts on mixing the band. Together, we're able to ensure that everyone gets what they need to perform at their best."

Baxley said isolation and fidelity are central requirements for a touring setup that must cope with different venues. "Isolation and fidelity are the most important things to master when it comes to running a show that can operate in any size of venue," said Bryan "Opie" Baxley, Monitor Engineer for the Band, Kenny Chesney. "SidePhill got everyone on IEMs when he first started, and JH Audio has been the only brand we've used since 2007."

Long relationship

Robinson's relationship with JH Audio founder Jerry Harvey goes back several decades, and he said that familiarity has shaped the monitoring choices on Chesney's tour. The production has also continued to adapt its approach as newer in-ear monitor models became available.

"I have looked into and listened to a lot of the IEM companies throughout the years, and none of them have been able to provide the sound and feel that JH Audio does," Robinson said. "The fact that they are nearby and accessible plays a big part too - they are always willing to work with us on any challenges we run into, and our approach has evolved as we've worked more closely with them and adopted the newer models."

He added that the current setup is the strongest the team has used. "JH has always been willing to find ways to improve the experience on stage, and our current IEM setup built around them is the best it's ever been," Robinson said.

According to the engineers, Chesney has used the Layla model since 2018. Robinson said that version was modified with a two-pin cable to reduce weight and make movement on stage easier during performances in larger venues.

"The Layla's offer the best reproduction of Kenny's vocals for his purposes, and the level of isolation required that he could hear himself even if the crowd is screaming louder than the PA," Robinson said. "The ability of JH Audio to 3D Scan and print the ear case instead of mold ensures a better fit and it's been thumbs up from Kenny since we got them. They keep the boss in tune, in time, and able to perform right in the middle of the crowd without worrying about hearing himself."

He said the cable modification was part of that process. "JH also customized his Laylas to take a two-pin cable to bring the weight down," Robinson said. "This allows him more freedom to entertain the crowd in those venues and not be bogged down by equipment. Jerry's team was very helpful in figuring out the best solution for this."

Band mix

For the rest of the group, Baxley said the tour uses the Roxanne model. He said that choice helps him deliver a detailed mix to the musicians on stage without having to simplify the sound for monitoring purposes.

"When working with other bands on different brands, I often had to 'dumb down' the quality of the mix to achieve what they needed to do their job," Baxley said. "The fidelity, and separation of frequencies that the Roxanne IEMs have are second to none which means that they are able to get the same great mix that I'm hearing."

Baxley said the immediate audibility of console changes matters in a live setting, where musicians rely on a stable reference during a show. "Any changes that I need to make from the console are immediately heard, which guarantees that they can perform confidently knowing we're all hearing things the same way," Baxley said.

The two engineers said they have worked with the same brand for close to two decades as Chesney's production has moved across a wide range of venues. That continuity, they suggested, has helped them maintain a consistent approach even as stage formats and audience sizes have changed.

"We've been using JH Audio for a long time and being able to start with something you know and trust, and hearing it evolve into what we have today has been a wonderful experience," Baxley said. "It makes a big impact on our day-to-day work and has satisfied every need we've had as we've had to develop for the variety of venues we find ourselves performing at."

"We've experienced great results with them over the years and confidently recommend them to anyone else looking for the best sound and feel in a set of IEMs," Robinson said. "They've been a lifesaver and a necessary tool that enables us to perform at our best at every show, night after night."