Keith Urban at the Great Jones County Jones Fair in Iowa

I can’t believe that I have lived in Iowa 37 years and did not know about the Great Jones County Fair just 90 minutes from me!! They really don’t seem to promote it and it took a Keith show to call it to my attention. I swear it is a bigger venue than the Iowa State Fair and it was totally packed last night for Keith’s concert.

I was so happy to have company on this concert adventure!! My daughter Annie came down from Minneapolis to go along, as well as my best buddy Joan and my daughter’s friend Sara. Although the latest weather report predicted no rain, it began to shower as we drove to Monticello so we were briefly concerned. But the shower ended quickly, just dropping the temperature from 88 to a wonderful 75!! So it was a lovely and SO much more comfortable evening than Cincinnati – what a pleasure!! Although the main parking lot (on a golf course!!) was already quite packed, I was able to slip my car into an excellent spot behind another vehicle.

The Great Jones County Fair has a huge permanent stage and grandstand and offers attendees free hillside seating (see 2nd photo) for the concerts  on either side of the reserved seating. Although the “free hills”don’t have a good view of the stage, they did have extra video screens set up for these areas. We were in the 6^th row of the grandstand, which sounded pretty good. But I didn’t realize that this was behind the maybe 12 rows of season ticket holders and behind a HUGE floor area that was jam packed. My knees cannot bear the hours of standing for the Standing Room Only floor section but I had actually bought an extra SRO ticket in case I wanted to head down toward the stage for a briefer period of time. But the floor crowd was so intimidating that I was not tempted to try to battle my way towards the stage. My daughter, however, did use the ticket to go down on the floor later in the evening. She managed to be in the vicinity of the satellite stage at the right time and managed to squeeze Keith’s shoulder as he passed her. A little “Vitamin K” squeeze by proxy is not quite the same for me, but I’m glad she had fun!

Since I did not settle into the Cincinnati venue until after Dustin had begun his set, I did not see any pre-concert video screen announcements there, so tonight I was surprised to see screen messages offering pre-ordering of Keith’s new album “FUSE” at a $2 discount on his KUFuse.com website!! That’s the first I had heard of the album’s title. Once again tonight Keith said the release date would be Sept. 10.

Tonight (not suffering from heat prostration)  I was better able to pay attention to Dustin Lynch’s  set. Even though he is cute and energetic, I’m afraid that most of his music is not my cup of tea. I like his slower Cowboys and Angels and when he sings Dust on the Bottle, but most of his other numbers I could do without, especially one that sounds more like eighties dance club music.  But to each their own…

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Little Big Town, on the other hand, is just spectacular! I’m really enjoying their set and their performance style and staging has come such a long way since they last opened for Keith (how many tours ago was that? Maybe 4?)  I recall seeing them with Keith in Sarnia and Sault Ste Marie among other places back then. Here is Bring It On Home https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_bjYIdBzq4

The general setlist of regular songs stayed the same tonight as it was in Cincinnati I believe. But I was amazed that almost every one of the little wishes/concerns that I had expressed after the first show had changed in this show, as if Keith was reading my reviews!!  So there were multiple times during the night when I exclaimed with pleasure “Oh they changed that!” Some of these changes may well be venue specific and may continue to vary over the summer.

1)      The center microphone was back!

2)      There was a little pointed triangular “catwalk” (4 foot?) pointing out from centerstage, adorned with lights (red lights when I noticed it, matching strips of red lights on the stage as well)

3)      Keith did go to side microphones too, but distributed his time more evenly between the right and left sides.

4)      There were cameramen located on platforms along the edge of the grandstand roof that were able to spotlight and video Keith’s movements through the crowd when he went off stage : )

5)      Keith ventured far out into the audience on both of his trips – once to the right and once to the left.

6)      Little Big Town (or “the incomparable and crazy talented Little Big Town” as Keith called them tonight) DID return to stage to sing with Keith tonight!! No. they did not do a “special” song, like they did at the awards show. They, like Dustin, came out to collaborate on one of Keith’s regular songs (You Gonna Fly). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tAbDawiypw

7)      I thought there was much more showcasing of Keith’s guitar wonder today – both sweet plucking and torrid shredding with  some major flippage. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjwq9KJaVAw

Here is a better view of the surprise banjo introduction than I caught in Cincy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXTVzSPeaIY
What a great way to bring out each of the band members!

After the first 4 songs (LHS, ST, ITYS and  SB ) Keith came out with a big IOWA!!!  greeting, then saying “What a hell of a night! Beautiful!! And greeted each area of the arena. He went on to say this was like the most amazing party in the world, but I didn’t quite catch his additional description that it was like the party of  Shawna Hill and Chandler Taylor(?)  or something like that. (guess I am not in the know)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g279h9SBTz0

Although I had to rely on the big video screens for my close-up views of Keith, being at a distance is a totally different perspective with its own benefits. I had a better view of the entire big screen and could see all areas that Keith traveled out to. Although before the show I had looked all around for signs of the satellite stage, somehow I had not noticed the fairly substantial satellite stage about 20 feet to my left! We had, in fact, noticed them testing sky-facing spotlights at that location early on, but did not realize that they were lighting effects for the satellite stage. So watch for those spotlights before your show!  

Somethings I newly noticed tonight may not have been new to the concert – perhaps I was just too distracted by the man himself in Cincy to pay attention to the video screen. Tonight I noticed that Even the Stars Fall For You was backed by a Disney-flavored video offering the lyrics to the song. I like the idea of seeing the lyrics to a brand new song. But my daughter (a graphic designer and professional letterpress printer) was rather appalled by the hodgepodge of fonts and layout they used and is actually going to write to Keith offering her graphic design services! : ) I too found it a little too sweet and bubbly, like it was prepared for Hannah Montana or some other pre-pubescent girl audience.

Another thing I had not noticed from watching the videoscreen coverage of Keith’s trip out to the lawn area in Cincy: the satellite stage is big enough for both Jerry and Chris, with an extra drum set, to be out there with Keith! I think Danny and Brian only stay back on stage because they have to be playing while while the rest of the guys venture to and from the distant stage. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0306viBVveU

Chris gave a longer drum demo after his introduction tonight and two of the guys changed up their song demos! Tonight Danny did the Rolling Stones “Start Me Up”!! : ) (I am a long time Rolling Stone fan) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kD8TrQ7blX0 preceded by Keith playing a bit of that’s song distinctive opening. A bit of a surprise at an Iowa family event like the county fair, Brian had switched his song to “Your Sex Takes Me to Paradise”!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Zb7kit7PmY

And a treat that I hope will be repeated and varied over the summer – while at the piano Keith gave us a bit of a cover song: REO Speedwagon’s Keep On Loving You https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VZiW94xzuI  Keep It Up Keith! Maybe a different song at each show!?

A few other highlights:
Keith leading the audience before the SLY closing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69p2x0Ccsao
Out in the crowd for YLGIMS   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AQlSdyF3qQ

After Keith’s personal’fireworks’ and lighting of our fuses, the Great Jones County Fair set off fireworks over the venue after the guys left the stage providing a beautiful ending to a GREAT night!

Don Williams in Waterloo, IA

I left Peoria early enough that I would be passing through Iowa City in time to have brunch with my daughter Annie. We went to a new place she had been meaning to try (Her Soup Kitchen), a casual funky spot on the south side of town. Annie had a breakfast sandwich but I thought I should try soup and sandwich. My turkey artichoke sandwich was pretty good but I wasn't thrilled with my soup. But I'm always game to try most any place once!

Back home in Cedar Falls-Waterloo, I got ready for my third show in 3 days. Old time country singer Don Williams was performing in a small arena on the National Cattle Congress grounds.

Since I had seen the billboard announcing his visit before tickets went on sale, I was primed and ready and got a front row seat! : )

A talented young singer/songwriter named Drew Smith opened for Don. He was quite good and I wish he could have done a couple more songs.

Don was pretty laid back and pretty much sang one song after another without chatting very much with the audience. He did take one shouted request for a song that he said he hadn't played in years. Don had a lot of ardent and vocal fans in the audience who shouted out their love throughout the show. Here are a few favorites:

I Believe in You http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWLvnjKnYq4
Livin' on Tulsa Time http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4aHtWCZQuck
It Must Be Love http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqWmZeU85aI
If Hollywood Don't Need You http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULT9daZSZ74

More Than 'Alright' - A Great Night With Darius Rucker in Sioux City

One benefit of being on Ticketmaster's and Live Nation's online mailing lists is that I sometimes find out about small concerts that I never would have been aware of in the past. It was via one of those emails that I learned that Darius Rucker was going to headline in a theatre in Sioux City, Iowa. I had thoroughly enjoyed hearing DR's rich voice live at the CMA Fest last year and then again when he opened for Brad Paisley and was excited to see what he would do with a full show. It was going to be a Wednesday night concert so it would take some planning, but who knew if he would ever headline in Iowa again.

Not being a native Iowan, I had never been Sioux City - due west of my current hometown, but way over on the western border of Iowa. My timing would be tight but I figured I'd hop onto the 4 lane Highway 20 after my last class, set the cruise control, and listen to a book-on-CD during the 215 mile drive. Well, it wasn't quite that easy. I hadn't realized that the 4 lane version of 20 has only made it about 100 miles of that distance so I would have to travel more slowly on 2 lane road passing through several tiny Iowa towns part of the way. I knew Darius had an opening act, so I resigned myself to possibly missing that, but knew I'd be there before it was time for the headliner. But happily I did not get stuck behind any semi-trailers or farm implements so made it to Sioux City before showtime and beat the later rain showers.

The Orpheum Theatre is a beautifully renovated old vaudeville theatre originally built in 1927.

It was part of the large Orpheum Circuit of theatres that stretched across the nation. Only 15 of those theatres are still operating. The Sioux City theatre seats about 2500 and has been faithfully restored - complete with half circle "boxes" along the sides of the mezzanine, hand-carved and hand-painted ceiling with gilded ornamentation and crystal chandeliers.

I was not familiar with the opening act - Drew Davis - and frankly was not expecting him to be my cup of tea from what I turned up on the web. But Drew turned out to be a performer that has a certain amount of charisma and stage presence. He is constantly on the move, expressing his music through both actions and voice (instead of just standing there and strumming) so you can't help but watch him. He had some funny personal stories to introduce his songs and put on an engaging set. Unfortunately his sound system (like that of so many openers) was not up to par, so it did not project his voice properly and his lyrics were often lost. But I did enjoy his set - here is a bit of his fun Rub a Little Dirt On It.

The Sioux City audience obviously loves Darius Rucker. The entire theatre (at least as much as I could see from my 9th row floor seat) stood up when he came out on stage and remained standing for his entire 90 minute performance. He sampled from both his old and new country albums and included at least a couple"Hootie" songs (Alright and Let Her Cry) and a couple covers (You Never Even Called Me By My Name and Family Tradition). The excited audience frequently called out for favorites (apparently before the songs were scheduled in the setlist) until DR got a little piqued and had to tell them to cease and desist "or I might not sing it at all"! Despite my good seat I had a hard time catching many videos of Darius between the many heads in front of me since DR wanders back and forth across the stage more often than he stands still at a microphone.

I only drove half way home in the dark and stayed overnight in tiny Sac City to shorten my early morning drive to get back for my classes the next day. But it was definitely a worthwhile mid-week adventure!

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Kenny Chesney Goin' 'Coastal" on the Des Moines River

I was surprised when Iowa was one of the very first stops on Kenny Chesney's Goin' Coastal Tour and was happy that it would occur before Keith's tour began. I had hoped my youngest daughter might be available to go with me, but things were hectic at school for her so I ended up buying a single ticket. I lucked out with a seat in the risers close to the stage (but 20 rows up) and was pleased to be seeing Kenny in an arena rather than a huge football stadium.

The show was on a Thursday night so I had to head to Des Moines after my last class and arrived about an hour before showtime. I had not even heard who would be opening the show but, what the hey, I was ready for a good time evening of sing along and island rhythms. Although it was officially spring, Des Moines was nippy with the temperatures hovering around freezing.

Although, in retrospect, I should have guessed, I didn't initially recognize the opening group. It took a couple songs before I realized that it was Uncle Kracker - he looked younger and in somewhat better shape than the last time I saw him closing Kenny's show two years ago. I wish he didn't crouch over as he sings every song, but have to admit I really enjoyed his performance of Drift Away. He and his band were on stage for about 30 minutes before they made way for Billy Currington.

Billy, being a curly head cutie with a number of popular hits, always seems to do well with the audience. I enjoy his music, but I must say there have never been any surprises or any really moving moments in the 4 or 5 times I have seen him perform. He is enjoyable, but may always be an opening act. Here is a bit of his ballad Let Me Down Easy and also his song that much of the usual audience can relate to - Pretty Good at Drinkin'Beer. Billy played for about 40-45 minutes and then it was time for Kenny.

After Billy's band's equipment was rolled away, a rectangular canvas-looking curtain decorated with Kenny's typical island beach motif was lowered to hide the stage. During this arena tour Kenny has a catwalk going out perhaps a third of the length of the arena and a crosswalk going off to the right and left about halfway down the length of the catwalk. I didn't see any signs that Kenny might "fly" into the stadium like last tour or do a surprise entry at the middle of the arena like the tour before that, so I was guessing we would first see him on stage when when the curtain was raised. As has been his habit in the past, Kenny's appearance was preceded with a little video of him and his island friends and Kenny greeting and thanking the audience for coming.

Since Kenny has a new album out, I wasn't sure how much of the setlist would be from "Go Coastal". Although I had downloaded the album, I hadn't had the chance to listen to much of it and Itunes would not let me burn a disk to take in the car with me (what is with that Itunes??!!), so I was a little worried he'd be singing mostly music I didn't know. That worry was unfounded though - although he performed about 4 songs from the new album (here is the namesake Go Coastal), most of the concert was made up of old familiar favorites (like my favorite Anything But Mine). And, in fact, if you can believe his comments to the audience, Kenny kept deviating from his setlist to include even more old favorites like Old Blue Chair. It was a pretty mellow evening all in all with lots of singing and swaying. Here's a bit of No Shoes, No Shirt. I think Kenny is moving a little more slowly than he used to (aren't we all?)but he still made very good use of all ends of the catwalk and crosswalks. He perhaps spent a little more time walking in the center of the catwalk (out of fans' reach), than I recall. Late in the show he brought Uncle Kracker back out for When the Sun Goes Down, and then brought Billy out for She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy. A good time was had by all and a satisfied audience held onto the warmth of the show as they went out into the not-quite-beach-like (ha!) Iowa weather.

I stayed in Des Moines overnight and woke to find 2 inches of fresh snow on my car! Drivers must have already packed away their winter driving skills because northbound Interstate 35 was at a standstill for about a half hour because 3 or 4 vehicles rear-ended one another on the snow-slick highway. Luckily I still made it back home for my Friday classes but wondering when the sunny warmth Kenny had teased us with will finally make it to our Iowa 'coasts'!

Great Big Sea!

Had front row seats to see a great Irish/Canadian band from Newfoundland called Great Big Sea the night before last. A lot of their stuff is contemporary rather than classic Irish tunes and reminded me, in both theme and melody, of some of Keith's music. They will be coming back to town for our third annual Irishfest in downtown Waterloo, IA the last weekend of July. They definitely got the audience up on their feet and participating and were easy on the eyes too! I'm looking forward to seeing them again when they are in town this summer! Don't miss it!