Review: Country superstar Tim McGraw lights up Vancouver

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Tim McGraw brought fellow country musicians Carly Pearce and Restless Road to Rogers Arena Wednesday night for the Vancouver stop on his Standing-room only tour.

And it turned out to be an energetic evening filled with country tunes, new and old.

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American country music band Hectic road They began the night, the band’s first date on the McGraw tour, with the goal of becoming fans’ “new favorite country band.” The Nashville-based trio, consisting of members Zach Beeken, Colton Pack and Garrett Nichols, buzzed throughout their set as fans continued to filter in for the main event.

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Dazzling in a silver and black sequin jumpsuit, Carly Pearce She then took the stage, warming up the crowd with a selection of her radio-hit songs such as “Easy Going”, “Never Wanted To Be That Girl”, “Every Little Thing”, “Country Music Made Me Do It” and his current single, “We Don’t Fight Anymore” featuring Chris Stapleton.

“Where are all my ’80s and ’90s country fans?” Pearce asked the still-filled stadium. (Vancouver, it can be a tough city for early acts with all those late arrivals!)

With her strong country sound, Pearce provided receipts, as if they were needed, for her Grammy-winning vocal chops. Backed by a four-piece band, Pearce proved she’s one of those country singers who can effortlessly glide between the genre’s timeless drawl and the chart-topping crossover of pop and country.

The Kentucky-born country singer-songwriter gave a nod to McGraw’s famous wife, Faith Hill, with a performance of her 1995 single “Let’s Go to Vegas.” Hill’s voice is legendary in the halls of country music, and Pearce did a good job of tackling the fun, feisty song.

With vocals reminiscent of ’90s country greats like Sara Evans, Martina McBride and the aforementioned Hill, Pearce’s set turned out to be a warm country welcome peppered with smiles and waves for the main event that is Tim McGraw.

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A rock ‘n’ roll opener, complete with electric guitars and even more electric lights (ahem, lasers), was the start of the country superstar’s set.

Appearing on stage in his trademark sleek black cowboy hat, McGraw set the tone with the single Truck Yeah from his twelfth studio album, 2013’s Two Lanes of Freedom.

McGraw has been a mainstay of country music since his debut album in 1993. And it’s easy to see why. He has all the stage swagger of a seasoned (and celebrated) stage veteran, plus that style.

A regular fashion writer, of course I paused to take note of his set. A stack of turquoise and beaded bracelets and a matching turquoise belt buckle contrasted an all-black ensemble that included a luxe-looking black knit polo shirt paired with fitted black pants and sleek black boots. Look who got a little fancy on you, Vancouver!

Moving through singles like “Southern Voice,” “All I Want” and “Tiny Dancer,” McGraw leaned into new and old material for her stellar set. Backed by an exceptional eight-piece band, their energy was high from the start, with guitar riffs and standout solos galore.

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Pausing between songs to turn on the arena lights so he could talk to the crowd, McGraw introduced himself with a mischievous smile: “My name is Tim, better known as Faith’s husband,” he said. “Or James Dutton.”

The brief interlude marked the transition into a medley of some older fan-favorite songs, such as “Just to See You Smile,” “Over and Over” (remember, that 2004 release with rapper Nelly?) and “Shotgun Rider.” There were more tunes in the set than I would have expected, but the slower moments were buoyed by an impressive high-definition screen that played video montages and offered close-ups of McGraw and his band.

Things kicked off with a sand sing-along of “Something Like That,” “Red Ragtop,” and “Where The Green Grass Grows,” McGraw’s ode to the allure of abandoning the big ol’ city in favor of rural life.

The stadium got a taste of the Taylor Swift effect when McGraw’s 2013 single, “Highway Don’t Care,” featuring the superstar singer-songwriter, played. It’s safe to say that Swift’s lines were enthusiastically covered by her fans in the crowd.

As the evening progressed, McGraw danced and swayed through some edgier songs like “I Like It, I Love It” and “Felt Good On My Lips.” Set to finish perfectly on time with “Real Good Man,” McGraw wasn’t done yet.

Return to the stage for an encore preceded by clips from the popular show. 1883, a prequel to Yellowstone After McGraw co-starred with his wife, he returned to the stage for a few more songs, including “The Cowboy In Me,” “Humble and Kind” and “Live Like You Were Dying.”

The final songs rounded out a full concert in Vancouver that showed that McGraw, more than 30 years into his career, is still a truly good (showbiz) man.

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