Cincinnati Concert Review
How do you pick which songs to perform when you have a nearly 30-year career with 29 albums?
Country legend, Broadway star and TV sitcom actor Reba McEntire pretty much did it all Sunday night, giving fans a vast retrospective of her magnificent career for the opening of the 21st season of the Riverbend Music Center.
McEntire is one of the few artists who can say in the middle of her set, "I'd like to do a little medley of my songs," then proceed to do 15 minutes sampling her hits - from 1982's "Can't Get the Blues," to 2004's "Something," with a gem like "Walk On" tossed in - and have plenty of tunes left over to fill 90 minutes.
It was a Riverbend opening where the river didn't flood and the chill in the air was quickly forgotten as fans relished the "Two Hats and a Redhead Tour" featuring three of the finest cross-generational country acts you'll find on one stage.
It all started with 10-year veteran Terri Clark, who was an opener with an attitude. She let everyone know "I'm not hear to just warm up. I'm here to party," as she went through her set filled with her breezy country pop anthems.
Clark chastised the usual opening act late arrivals for "standing in the beer line too long" and picked on some fans searching for seats by saying "if you are late you deserve to be heckled," as she singled out some folks wearing pink cowboy hats teasing, "Nice pink. That's so '04."
Clark is a charismatic showgirl and knows it, with her folksy swagger.
She even joked to the crowd, "I may not have had the biggest career, but it's sure been the longest. I've been opening for everyone."
Her sassy set, backed by a great six-piece band, featured several of her trademark female empowerment and relationship songs, ending with her signature tune "Girls Lie Too."
Up next was Brad Paisley, who may not have the charisma of Clark but makes up for it with the sly charm of a great storyteller. He is one of those rare country performers who actually can write his own clever tunes.
You gotta love his new single "Alcohol," a wonderfully wry tale sung from the personification of booze. He led into his heartfelt "Half the Dad" by playfully singing the theme to "WKRP in Cincinnati," as if he suddenly realized the hometown folks would appreciate the TV theme had a similar melody. Paisley ended the set with his rousing hit anthem "Mud On the Tires."
McEntire hit the stage with her "So Good Together" in a glitzy, bombastic opening befitting a rock act, backed by her nine-piece band.
But she was all down-home with her native Okie-feel the rest of the night.
This was no Vegas-style show where Reba changes costumes a dozen times, like past tours. But she still managed to put on a "big" show through the sheer force of her spirited personality.
McEntire was cozy staying in simple black jeans and top for the night.
(It was certainly a more relatable outfit to her fans, something likely to be easily available in her new spring clothing line featured at Dillard's. She made an appearance to promote the sportswear collection Sunday afternoon at the store in Crestview Hills Mall).
McEntire, once the big hair country redhead, now sports a fashionable shaggy, layered look, as she ran through her pocket full of hits, including such fan favorites as "You Lie," "Fancy" and the "The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia."
The big screen played a fun instant-video of shots of the Greater Cincinnati area - from Fountain Square to Northern Kentucky University and Covington's Mainstrasse - as she sang "I'd Rather Ride Around With You."
In a tremendous encore, Clark joined McEntire for the country power ballad "Does He Love You," Paisley returned for the rockabilly "Oklahoma Swing" and all three closed with the classic "When Will I Be Loved."
This season Riverbend has one of its quirkier schedules.
After Sunday's opening - one of the earliest ever - the next show isn't until another month when Tom Petty plays June 14.
Then the venue has almost half of its summer schedule during a four week run in late July and early August.
CLICK HERE to discuss in our forum.
Country legend, Broadway star and TV sitcom actor Reba McEntire pretty much did it all Sunday night, giving fans a vast retrospective of her magnificent career for the opening of the 21st season of the Riverbend Music Center.
McEntire is one of the few artists who can say in the middle of her set, "I'd like to do a little medley of my songs," then proceed to do 15 minutes sampling her hits - from 1982's "Can't Get the Blues," to 2004's "Something," with a gem like "Walk On" tossed in - and have plenty of tunes left over to fill 90 minutes.
It was a Riverbend opening where the river didn't flood and the chill in the air was quickly forgotten as fans relished the "Two Hats and a Redhead Tour" featuring three of the finest cross-generational country acts you'll find on one stage.
It all started with 10-year veteran Terri Clark, who was an opener with an attitude. She let everyone know "I'm not hear to just warm up. I'm here to party," as she went through her set filled with her breezy country pop anthems.
Clark chastised the usual opening act late arrivals for "standing in the beer line too long" and picked on some fans searching for seats by saying "if you are late you deserve to be heckled," as she singled out some folks wearing pink cowboy hats teasing, "Nice pink. That's so '04."
Clark is a charismatic showgirl and knows it, with her folksy swagger.
She even joked to the crowd, "I may not have had the biggest career, but it's sure been the longest. I've been opening for everyone."
Her sassy set, backed by a great six-piece band, featured several of her trademark female empowerment and relationship songs, ending with her signature tune "Girls Lie Too."
Up next was Brad Paisley, who may not have the charisma of Clark but makes up for it with the sly charm of a great storyteller. He is one of those rare country performers who actually can write his own clever tunes.
You gotta love his new single "Alcohol," a wonderfully wry tale sung from the personification of booze. He led into his heartfelt "Half the Dad" by playfully singing the theme to "WKRP in Cincinnati," as if he suddenly realized the hometown folks would appreciate the TV theme had a similar melody. Paisley ended the set with his rousing hit anthem "Mud On the Tires."
McEntire hit the stage with her "So Good Together" in a glitzy, bombastic opening befitting a rock act, backed by her nine-piece band.
But she was all down-home with her native Okie-feel the rest of the night.
This was no Vegas-style show where Reba changes costumes a dozen times, like past tours. But she still managed to put on a "big" show through the sheer force of her spirited personality.
McEntire was cozy staying in simple black jeans and top for the night.
(It was certainly a more relatable outfit to her fans, something likely to be easily available in her new spring clothing line featured at Dillard's. She made an appearance to promote the sportswear collection Sunday afternoon at the store in Crestview Hills Mall).
McEntire, once the big hair country redhead, now sports a fashionable shaggy, layered look, as she ran through her pocket full of hits, including such fan favorites as "You Lie," "Fancy" and the "The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia."
The big screen played a fun instant-video of shots of the Greater Cincinnati area - from Fountain Square to Northern Kentucky University and Covington's Mainstrasse - as she sang "I'd Rather Ride Around With You."
In a tremendous encore, Clark joined McEntire for the country power ballad "Does He Love You," Paisley returned for the rockabilly "Oklahoma Swing" and all three closed with the classic "When Will I Be Loved."
This season Riverbend has one of its quirkier schedules.
After Sunday's opening - one of the earliest ever - the next show isn't until another month when Tom Petty plays June 14.
Then the venue has almost half of its summer schedule during a four week run in late July and early August.
CLICK HERE to discuss in our forum.
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