It is a beautiful new stadium and they did a good job on their very first concert (although they are still working out a few bugs with the sound systems and field level porta-potties). We had thought that the sunny weather would mean the roof would be open, but no – the stadium roof was closed and the entire place was air-conditioned for our comfort until Keith and Kenny’s performances. So Luke Bryan, Gary Allan and Leann played “inside” a slightly echo-y but not bad stadium environment. After Leann finished her great set we all watched in amazement as the center panels of the roof slowly parted and slid out of view over the stands revealing the early evening skies! Very fancy!! This did mean that the acoustics were much better for Keith and Kenny.
At first it looked like they were only setting up Kenny’s video screens during the break, but finally Keith’s video wall moved out and I breathed a sigh of relief. We were on the aisle in the very last row of the B front floor section so I knew I would be needing that screen to see any detail. The near-capacity crowd had responded well to Luke, Gary and Leann but really started to come to life when the brightly colored audience shots came into view on the video wall. Then the wall went dark for a few seconds of anxious anticipation before the audience was positively electrified by that video of Keith walking towards us and the introductory notes of Days Go By!! It was finally the time that so many of us had been waiting for!!!
Keith looked absolutely stunning! His hair looked freshly trimmed and was shiny and soft, the stage lights showing off the few blond highlights. And that smile – he was obviously happy to be there and was totally spot on in his performance throughout his show. He wore a dark tee which probably some of you would recognize – sort of looks like a crescent moon with an atomic or astronomic pattern in the center of that crescent shape.
For “Blacktop” and 3 or 4 other songs Keith played a rather striking looking avocado and light green guitar – quite good looking. I didn’t see a single sign of “back problems” all night. He had his usual sashaying, prowling saunter across the stage, he crouched by the fans for his guitar solos, did more than one exciting backbend (which made me worry and also not worry about him!) and bent low to slap hands at every point of the catwalk for the longest time at the close of his set. I greatly appreciated that the camera persons last night treated us to many rear-views : ) during several of Keith’s songs (which was one vantage point that was often missing from the great camera work during the LPATWCT tour, except when Keith was down on the small stage) and Keith treated us to several “front views” as well! Good thing that the crowd was roaring because I may have whimpered or moaned a few times!
Although Keith’s time on stage is far too short for too much conversation, he did thank Kenny more than once, thanked those who traveled far to the show and those who were sitting was up high (REALLY high in this new stadium!), and thanked those who could only get to one concert a year and chose this show as the one to go to. He also commented on the stadium and the beautiful night we could see through the now open roof. He introduced all the band members and their individual solos really resounded throughout the venue. A couple little sound glitches – a high pitch guitar tone when he was about to start Who Wouldn’t Wanna Be Me which made Keith laugh at himself (wrong guitar setting I think) before he and Jerry did their guitar jousting. And some deep base rumbling vibrations at the start of You’ll Think Of Me that may have been due to the stadium sound system. YTOM was particularly passionate last night. I don’t know how he hits that mark time after time!! For some reason I was especially drawn to the appearance of the cords in his long sweat slick neck during that song last night. Not quite sure if I wanted to lick, nuzzle, kiss, or plant a big hickey on it, but I was definitely drawn! : )
During Better Half he threw in an extra “You better believe it” after “I’d rather have you by my side”. A fan presented him, at just the right moment in Better Life, with a tiny pink onesie which I think was embroidered with Sunday Rose’s name. Keith tried to hang it on the mike stand without luck but did sing out “ as big as a Sunday Rose sky”. He later had the pink onesie flapping out of his back pocket as he strolled from stage left to stage right J During a very participatory Raining On Sunday I noticed what looked like a crack in his little guitar. Bet he has a new one on order since he seems to love that little one.
You Look Good In My Shirt was a highlight (in a performance that was almost ALL highlights!) of the evening. First, a new guitar play beginning – some very fancy fingerwork that I did not recognize as any of the riffs he has played before, followed by some big swooping arm extensions of the guitar to create some nifty electronic effects. Then two huge “kangaroos” showed up while Keith was singing the first verse on stage! One played the guitar and the other big fat one danced around with some kind of Down-under flag. Keith totally cracked up and could not sing for several seconds (even more so than in the YLGIMS video!). Love that laugh!! Finally Keith sauntered down to the end of the runway and sat down with his legs dangling into the sandpit for the end of the song. He didn’t actually jump off stage (but looked sorely tempted to do so) but had a big crowd of sandpitters gathered at his feet as he sang. I think this must have been pre-arranged because I did not see any anxious security worrying that he was going to go out into the crowd. A very fun song!
The band seemed very animated and emotional during their final bows. They walked , arm in arm, all the way to the end of the runway (something I don’t think they have done at the other stadium shows) – clearly a special “last concert” for them too. The other guys then retreated to the stage, throwing out picks and drumsticks, but Keith slapped hands for as long as he could. What a sweetie pie!
Kenny’s “closing show” was special in many ways. He (and his friends) played over 3 hours, changed up the set list, did many covers (even U2’s With or Without You!), had special solos and guest appearances (a bit much for me with 4 or 5 songs by Uncle Cracker), began to party with the crew while on stage, but somehow it still did not have the “heart” of Keith’s closing show in Lexington. The most moving part of it, for me, was (no surprise) Keith’s reappearance to sing Take It to the Limit with Kenny. They did a great job, but Keith’s voice in particular was just as clear and soulful as a bell when he sang his closing verse – the best I have heard him on that song. And the long hug that Kenny gave him before Keith left the stage was very touching – country brothers they are!
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