Concert Review
Blake Shelton (Photo courtesy of tasteofcountry.com)
By Amanda Blas Staff Writer blas13@up.edu
First, let's get one thing straight. I have never been around so much flannel, plaid, cowboy hats and boots in my life. I felt like I had left hipster Portland's Rose Quarter Arena and made my way to small town U.S.A. But then, as opening act Justin Moore reminded me, "You're at a freakin' country concert."
I can describe my overall Blake Shelton concert experience in one word: amazing. While I could've done without Dia Frampton from "The Voice" as an opening act, Justin Moore made up for her being "too cute for country" when he took the stage with his edgy performance that included everything country, from alcohol and guns, to fishing and kicking butt.
With Moore setting the tone, Shelton didn't have a problem winning the hearts of the audience. But then again, it appears the audience didn't have a problem winning Shelton's either. After singing his opening song "Footloose," Shelton confessed, "Guys hate to do this, girls hate to hear this and I hate to be premature about this, but I can tell I honestly love you guys already."
Shelton's performance was out of this world, thanks to some help from great lighting and stage effects, but the performer himself was definitely down to earth. He was conversational, genuine and he even admitted being nervous because of the huge audience and to needing a drink to calm his nerves. Well, he seemed to need to calm his nerves the entire concert. But what can he say? That's country for him.
Shelton's concert was full of surprises. He played a few of what he described as his pre-"The Voice" songs without the help of his band, performed with Frampton and Moore, tweeted that those who don't agree with his openly country values can "kiss his a**" and even told a little anecdote about being on meeting Cee Lo Green. He followed with a bit of Green's popular song "F**k you."
But the biggest surprise of the night was definitely a guest appearance from Shelton's wife, Miranda Lambert. Lambert sang her new single, "Baggage Claim," which had the audience out of their seats once again.
Needless to say, Shelton's concert more than exceeded my expectations. He may not be the youngest country singer out there, but with the way Shelton's going and performing, you can expect him to outrun all those new country singers.
