I am putting thoughts together for a likely-to-be-controversial post, which will defend modern country music against its numerous nay-sayers. But now, I just want to report on the truly excellent show I saw last night at the Nissan Pavillion.
If you're at all open-minded to country radio, it's not hard to see why Brad Paisley dominates the genre's many award shows. Here's what he's got going for him.
(1) He's an ace song-writer, somehow able to churn out funny country-rock and moving country-ballads with equal skill. Even the stuff that ventures into power ballad territory where I have a strong gag-reflex (like the new single "Then") is redeemed by Paisley's thoughtfulness and ability to write "sounds-like-a-standard" melodies.
(2) He's a ridiculously talented performer and musician. I'll tell you, I've never been one to get excited over fast fingers on a guitar (Eddie Van Halen may be a virtuoso, but he never had any soul.) But Paisley has those kinds of guitar chops that do make your eyes widen a bit, especially as he simultaneously carries off the not-easy task of running back and forth along the various stage platforms in traditional solo star style. (More talent on parade: he even personally does the nerdy-but-endearing animation that flashes cleverly behind the stage to play off his songs.)
(3) His persona is the ace-in-the-hole here. He's celebrates small-town pleasures ("mud on the tires" and all) but with zero of the silly redneck-and-proud-of-it vibe that country-haters would expect. He's shows the love for tradition and family, but also for the modern world. ("when i was 10 years old... I woulda given anything to have my own Pac-Man game at home/ I'd have to get a ride to the arcade; now I have it on my phone...") He's thankful for all the right things, admits his ornery side and keeps it in check, and is 100% on-target with the things he makes fun of (prima dona celebrities, metrosexual habits, etc). And of course, his very normal and enviable personal life seems to confirm that he walks all that he talks.
So I'll say that the first time I was dragged out to see Brad Paisley, circa 2003, I was pleasantly surprised to enjoy the show. This time I went willingly, even excitedly, and will unabashedly say that it was a better show than Pavement ever put on.
I should tell you, though, about the one part of the show that I thought was poorly conceived, because it did give me a laugh. The song "When I Get Where I'm Going" is really one of the more beautiful ballads you'll hear (especially in the recorded version, where Dolly Parton duets with BP), and of course, it's all about a bittersweet acceptance of death. It was a little weird letting the song be eclipsed by the stage visual -- a montage of departed famous people, from Johnny and June Cash to Cronkite and Jacko -- as the audience weighed in with applause to showits level of affection for each displayed image. Of course, as a Reagan man, I was --for a second anyway -- delighted at the loud cheers that celebrated Ronnie. But I quickly became dismayed as the next image got an even louder response -- it was Don Knots. Yeah, it may have been a right-of-center crowd at the Paisley show. But Mr. Furley owns their hearts more than the Gipper does.
A large grouping in my opinion, very different styles between Sammy and David Lee but for both there was a great moment all this and supporting Halen made magic among the musicians of the moment, hopefully and we again gathered to see this band.
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