Underwood concert lights up Alltel Arena

By Werner Trieschmann

OK, sure, country music is getting more progressive with each passing year but has there been a country show in recent memory with:

- Four costume changes by the lead singer?

- A couple of microphone changes (had to pull out the glittery gold one to match one of the costume changes)?

- An encore that opened with almost note-for-note rendition of "Paradise City" by Guns N' Roses?

Carrie Underwood's sold-out Alltel Arena show (a crowd of 6,924 - which wasn't quite capacity because the top half of the arena was curtained off) featured all these things as well as the performer's curly golden locks, infectious smile and supernatural vocal chords. Young girls - many clearly not yet out of elementary school - dominated the crowd and sang along to the big hits from "All-American Girl" to "Jesus, Take the Wheel" to the final number, "Before He Cheats."

Backed by an eight-member band, Underwood's approach to performing is by no means subtle. She understands her audience is paying to see her belt it out of the ballpark and that is what she did time and time again. On an emotional number like "Jesus, Take the Wheel," which is dramatic enough on record, Underwood made it even more wrenching. The notes she hit on "So Small" weren't on any human scale.

Another thing came clear during her live show: "Last Name," Underwood's new single that only recently cracked the country top ten, is likely going to be as huge a hit as "Before He Cheats." Live, it just kills.

It must be said that Underwood could use a moment in her show where her backing band drops away and she maybe sings softly with just an acoustic guitar. She wouldn't be cheating the audience if she turned down the volume and gave them a change of pace.

Opening act Josh Turner, wearing a simple white T-shirt and sporting close-cropped hair, showed off a nice sense of humor and a booming baritone. He opened with "Firecracker," his liveliest and best number. Everything else after that was gravy.