TIM McGRAW AND THE DIXIE CHICKS, July 8, Thursday night, 7:30 p.m. one performance only.
What do you get when you play a country song backwards? You get your truck fixed, your dog comes home and your wife or husband comes back. Country music is the butt of a lot of jokes, but that doesn't mean the genre is to be taken lightly.Thursday night, the E Center was sold out for Tim McGraw's "A Place in the Sun," tour. Plugging his newest CD, "A Place in the Sun," McGraw sang to thousands of screaming girls holding carnations and roses out to him, and to young cowboys in their Justin boots and cowboy hats, shamelessly singing along in adoration.
Surrounded by dramatic spotlights and backed by his band, the Dancehall Doctors, McGraw struck poses while he belted out his older hits like "Where the Green Grass Grows," "Down on the Farm," "Refried Dreams," "Everywhere" and "Just to See You Smile."
He would wink, grin, show off his flawed face and strut like a rooster across the stage. Even those who were sitting where they could only see McGraw's back, were given peeks at his front when he would turn around and look at them.
His tracks off "A Place in the Sun," were a hit as well. "Seventeen," "Senorita Margarita" and "Carry On" were definite hits, and most fans knew them anyway from listening to the radio.
Though McGraw's voice was weak at times, and lost at others, this didn't diminish the performance one bit.
For an encore, McGraw sang "No Son of Mine," by Phil Collins. This came out strained and off key. He also sang the title track from "A Place in the Sun," as well as "Cherokee Outlaw." However, it was "My Best Friend," which received the loudest applause. Singing into a cell phone, McGraw serenaded his wife, the country great Faith Hill. When he introduced her to the crowd, everyone exploded and he let out a huge smile.
Despite his strong performance, it was the opening act, "The Dixie Chicks," who stole the show with their audacious new brand of country.
Wearing funky, rock-and-roll styles designed by Todd Oldham, the Chicks sang every song off their quintuple platinum, five-million-copies-sold album, "Wide Open Spaces, " as well as a few new ones.
Natalie Maines, Martie Seidel and Emily Robison proved that their talent isn't skin deep as they tore through their short, 60-minute set.
Finishing with the song "I Can Love You Better," the Chicks threw the feather boas that had been tied around their mikes into the audience.
So, joke if you will about the strange twang and depressing lyrics of some country music, but bear in mind that country shows are bigger, louder and more fun than anyone could possibly imagine.