Providence Journal Review: Carrie Underwood Goes Big At The Dunk

davilas · 03-13-2010

Carrie Underwood goes big at the Dunk - Projo Arts Blog

Quote:

Concert
Carrie Underwood
Dunkin' Donuts Center, Providence
Saturday night
BY RICK MASSIMO
Journal Pop Music Writer

PROVIDENCE - "My job is fun," Carrie Underwood said Saturday night at the Dunkin' Donuts Center, and all you could do was agree.

Her quip came after she swung from a giant porch swing during the war-widow ballad "Just A Dream," but it could just have easily come when she opened the show by rising from underneath the stage wearing a tuxedo, seated on a red divan, singing "Cowboy Casanova" (one of nine songs in the 90-minute show from last year's "Play On" album).

Or when she sang "Take Me Home Country Roads" while standing in the back of a pickup truck flying over the audience.

Or when she sang "Change" wearing a dress that doubled as a video screen.

You get the idea - it was a high-budget, multi-costume explabbatacular that visually underlined the progression from modern country into the pop world that Underwood began on last year's "Play On" album (nine of whose songs she played Saturday night).

The set list didn't include "I Ain't In Checotah Anymore." That much was obvious.

The connecting thread was Underwood's powerful voice - sort of a countrified version of Heart's Ann Wilson - which reached the height of its power on the old favorite "Wasted" and the frankly religious breakthrough single "Jesus Take the Wheel" (which segued into "How Great Thou Art"). And the highlight might have been another Underwood concert staple, the gorgeous Randy Travis ballad "I Told You So" (with Travis accompanying her on video). She knows how to throw the high hard one.

The new songs were a mixed bag. "Someday When I Stop Loving You" and the faith-filled "Temporary Home" were some of the best parts, working a mix of gentle twang and radio pop. But the crunching stomps "Cowboy Casanova" and "Undo It" could have been sung by anyone.

It's not like she can't fuse the two genres and add some personality - rock songs such as the banjo-fueled "Last Name" and the revenge anthem "Before He Cheats" are some of Underwood's biggest hits and most distinctive songs, and they occupied prominent places near the end of the set.

Craig Morgan, who preceded Underwood, began by walking a quarter-lap around the hockey boards of the Dunk before launching into the backwoods-party anthem "Bonfire." After the similarly rocking "A Little Bit of Life," however, the set got ballad-heavy. "That's What I Love About Sunday" (with an "Amazing Grace" quote in the intro) and "This Ain't Nothin'," a sweet ballad about resilience, were highlights, but "Love Remembers" and a cover of "Easy Like Sunday Morning" went too far.

He did finish with the rocking ode to slow tractor driving, "International Harvester," though - a good capper showing the Everyman quality of his songwriting. He came back to accompany Underwood on Alan Jackson's "Neon Rainbow."

Openers Sons of Sylvia, who won the "Next Great American Band" reality show in 2007 as The Clark Brothers, started off with a snippet of "Gimme Shelter," and most of their short set continued in a rocking vein.

While Adam Clark plinked a mandolin, Austin Clark squealed on a dobro and slide guitar and Ashley Clark stuck mostly to an acoustic guitar, and the highlight came when the three brothers took to center stage for a bona fide bluegrass breakdown (Ashley Clark on fiddle), most of the songwriting owed at least as much to Bon Jovi ("Revelation") and U2 ("Fifty Ways") as to country music. That said, it was catchy and energetic.

They came back on stage to accompany Underwood on the sleek ballad "What Can I Say," as they did on the record.

davilas · 03-13-2010

Here are 2 reviews the same guy'd written for Carrie's CR tour in 2008.

http://www.carriefans.com/forums/car...ied-night.html (Underwood reveals more personality, but her voice carried the night)

http://www.carriefans.com/forums/car...epertoire.html (Strong delivery, lackluster repertoire)

Ty · 03-13-2010

Good review. And, he looks to be quite the critic.

I just don't get how the tour is elevating Carrie's status in Pop music.

pklongbeach · 03-13-2010

The voice that will not be denied.
She certainly knows how to throw the high hard one.

davilas · 03-13-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ty

Good review. And, he looks to be quite the critic.

I just don't get how the tour is elevating Carrie's status in Pop music.

I don't either but since he thinks SWISLY is a combination of "gentle twang and radio pop" maybe he means something different by pop than what we think. He also says Carrie's fusing genres which IMO is right. I'm just glad he said TH and SWISLY were among the best parts.

epicamends · 03-13-2010

Considering how hard this critic has been on Carrie in the past, I'll grade this as an excellent review.

teesharky · 03-13-2010

^ Agree. He used to really dislike Carrie it seems, so this was a really good review overall.

Maybe he is a traditionalist?

cassie2 · 03-13-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ty

Good review. And, he looks to be quite the critic.

I just don't get how the tour is elevating Carrie's status in Pop music.

BY RICK MASSIMO
Journal Pop Music Writer

He's a Pop Music Writer lol I think we all know where he's coming from.

Nontheless he had many very nice things to say about Our Carrie

jaylee50 · 03-14-2010

"she opened the show by rising from underneath the stage wearing a tuxedo, seated on a red divan, singing "Cowboy Casanova

" (one of nine songs in the 90-minute show from last year's "Play On" album).
I thought Carrie's portion of the Reading, PA show was almost 2 hours long. Why would her performance at the Providence show take only 90 minutes? Does anyone know, or was the article writer, wrong?

Ty · 03-14-2010

For some weird reason many publications are stating that the show is 90 mins. long. In reality, the show is as you said 1 hour, 50 mins long.

kewlie78189 · 03-14-2010

not bad of a review!

vacarriefan256 · 03-14-2010

Time flies when your at a Carrie concert. The show is always longer than it seems, and who checks the time anyway

robinannhunt · 03-14-2010

I consider this a great review.
Is "explabbatacular" a real word? Where is nannygirl?

Claire2004 · 03-14-2010

Great review, I think, from someone who clearly is not a diehard fan of Carrie.
I also don't get the pop reference, though. Oh well, still a positive review

JB172 · 03-14-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by Claire2004

Great review, I think, from someone who clearly is not a diehard fan of Carrie.
I also don't get the pop reference, though. Oh well, still a positive review

The "pop reference" is because what country music is today is a lot closer to pop than it is what real country is.

cary78663 · 03-14-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by JB172

The "pop reference" is because what country music is today is a lot closer to pop than it is what real country is.

I don't agree with the term "real country". However if by "real country" you mean traditional country, then I understand your statement.

JB172 · 03-14-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by cary78663

I don't agree with the term "real country". However if by "real country" you mean traditional country, then I understand your statement.

Real country/traditional country or whatever you want to call it is what country actually is.

robinannhunt · 03-14-2010

I was listening to traditional country this morning at my Starbucks!! They didn't play real country because I didn't hear any new country artists, lol.

Hi James!

JB172 · 03-14-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by robinannhunt

I was listening to traditional country this morning at my Starbucks!! They didn't play real country because I didn't hear any new country artists, lol.

Hi James!

Don't most country stations only play about 8 to 10 artist, anyway. lol

Texasstarfan · 03-14-2010

"And then there is her voice, it is a gift from God." Times Review