The Resident Blog Archive Carrie Underwood Thrills MGM Grand Theater
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Carrie Underwood Thrills MGM Grand Theater
Wednesday, August 20th, 2008
by Alexa Jaccarino
Agreeing to cover the Carrie Underwood concert in the MGM Grand Theater at Foxwoods on August 1, was not a daunting task. Given the fact that Carrie earned her fame by winning a national singing competition, it was a safe bet that the girl could sing. Her girl-next-door public persona convinced me that her show would contain the same wholesomeness. However, when I left the theater that evening, I gained a newfound respect for Carrie’s musical abilities. It turns out, she can do more than “G-rated.”
The evening began with the band Blue Country playing a decently entertaining, but appropriately short set on their guitars. Then a brief intermission preceded Carrie’s entrance. At 9:40 p.m., the theater lights dimmed and the viewing screens lit up with enticing desert images. Then, devoid of any superfluous and distracting smoke, flames, or lights, Carrie took to the stage and immediately filled the theater with “Flat on the Floor,” the first song off her new album, “Carnival Ride.” Carrie then offered a quick “Hello, CT,” and then finished up her light-hearted hits “Wasted,” “Get Out of This Town,” “The More Boys I Meet,” and her new single “Just a Dream.”
After a quick costume change, Carrie emerged in a stunning purple gown and gave a captivating performance of her emotional ballads “Jesus, Take the Wheel,” and “I Know You Won’t.” Underwood then interrupted her singing to tell her audience about the simple life she lived in Checotah, OK, and how her dreams of being a singer finally came true when she auditioned for American Idol in the spring of her senior year of college. As Carrie revealed a new, flashier dress beneath her long skirt, she also revealed the person she grew into with her mounting fame through her song “I Ain’t in Checotah Anymore.”
Once again, Carrie expressed her gratitude for American Idol for “making (her) the luckiest girl ever” before finishing up the main part of her show with the chart toppers “Don’t Forget to Remember Me,” “Twisted,” “All American Girl,” and “So Small.” For her finale, Carrie donned a silver bomber jacket and performed a very bold cover of the Guns N’Roses classic, “Paradise City.” Rather than doing what was expected and putting a country spin on the hit, Carrie went for the song as it was first sung, and proved that she is capable of rock n’roll as well. To finish out the concert, she performed her inspiring, crowd-pleasing, number 1 single, “Before He Cheats.”
Watching Carrie grace the stage in outfits as diverse as thigh-high leather boots and a chain belt, a classy purple gown, or jeans and a plain t-shirt as she sang songs just as varied, showed me that she was not just the girl-next-door country music singer I envisioned. Carrie Underwood is undoubtedly a talented performer; no matter what genre she chooses to sing. Perhaps it was because of her start on American Idol, where she was forced outside of her singing comfort zones, but she successfully keeps the focus of her shows on her music, rather than sets or intricate costuming, making for a very honest show. Carrie Underwood: a little bit country, a little bit rock n’roll, and hopefully, a great deal more in the future.
Posted on August 20th, 2008 | category: MGM Grand at Foxwoods | Print
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