Urban Cowboy: Keith Urban rocks the crowd at Conseco

David Lindquist

November 09, 2007 by David Lindquist

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Click here to write your own review of the show.

Kenny Chesney had enough votes to be installed this week as the Country Music Association's Entertainer of the Year.

But Thursday's Keith Urban concert at Conseco Fieldhouse was strong enough to rally support for a recount.

Urban delivered one show-stopping song after another, providing varied sounds and visuals while masterfully entertaining the estimated audience of 9,000.

One memorable segment involved new song "I Told You So" giving way to established favorite "Days Go By," with the tunes bridged by raucous percussion from the drum line of Franklin Central High School.

Taken from current album "Love, Pain & the Whole Crazy Thing," "I Told You So" carries an inherent marching rhythm that benefits from a banjo's Celtic accents.

The song's hopeful reunion theme meshes with get-to-living anthem "Days Go By," which showcased home movies made by Urban fans on multiple continents.

To say these clips were shown on a video screen is a disservice to the high-definition electronic canvas that stood roughly 30 feet high and 60 feet wide at the back of the stage.

The screen was central to the concert's impressive production values, which included:

  • A barrage of different camera angles during opening number "Once in a Lifetime."

  • Silhouettes of Urban and his sidemen set against fields of color to echo an iPod ad during "Shine."

  • Up-close and personal images of Urban shown while he patrolled a catwalk stretched across the arena's floor and the satellite stage placed at its end.

Yes, when blessed with the looks of Mr. Nicole Kidman, it makes sense to project your face, body and ragtag "Oklahoma Crude" T-shirt on a surface as large and as clear as today's technology allows.

Indeed, the evening's loudest cheers may have followed the line, "I'm gonna be there to meet you with a warm, wet kiss," from "Making Memories of Us."

Yet even if Urban wore a grocery sack on his head, his skills as a guitar player would carry him relatively far in show business.

While the songs "Faster Car" and "Shine" are lightweight confections on the "Pain" album, Urban's fingers picked them into winners on Thursday.

On "Car," he played bass and thumped new life during the song's closing jam. With "Shine," he played an unhinged guitar solo on a Les Paul to conjure electricity where there had been no power.

Urban's band included a drummer and four multi-instrumentalists who share their leader's passion for proficient playing.

During "Where the Blacktop Ends," a banjo and mandolin supplied a magnetic undertow of twang against an assault of electric guitars -- one more talented twist in a program that never fell into a rut.

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5 comments

Garyjunkie
Garyjunkie, November 9, 2007
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Did you miss the fact that Gary Allan opened the show? He is such an amazing artist, that never gets the credit he deserves. I drove in from Louisville, KY just to see him--and he never disappoints! I like Keith, too, and he gave a great show, but I can't believe you didn't even mention Gary's performance? If you missed it, you totally missed out.

VantheManFan
VantheManFan, November 9, 2007
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I concur - Gary Allen is a superb talent!

Dawn
Dawn, November 9, 2007
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I was there! It is a shame that Gary Allan wasn't mentioned, but I have to say, I totally agree with the IndyStar review.

Keith Urban was SO gracious. He went out into the crowd, he stayed on stage, leaning over, shaking hands and signing autographs after the lights went on and people were leaving. I don't think he has any idea how adorable he is; and he looked so happy...almost like he was there to see US (and he scored some front row seats) rather than us being there to see him.

With the exception of the Horniest Couple in America sitting right smack dab in front of us, it was a sight to behold and definitely one of the best concerts I've been to this year. Keith Urban is a rock star with the character, personality and talent of a country boy...and I LOVE that!!

kjgist
kjgist, November 10, 2007
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WOW what a concert, best I have EVER been to. I also throughly enjoyed Gary Allan and see huge success for him in the future. Keith on the other hand is there now. His unassuming presence and gorgeous smile made every woman there weak at the knees. I love the sound of his voice, but if he never sang a word his instrumentals on guitar would be enough for me. I suggest to anyone who wasn't lucky enough to catch this concert to make sure you plan on making it to the next one. YOU WILL NOT BE DISSAPPOINTED!!!

urbanrocks
urbanrocks, November 14, 2007
0 votes

FANTASTIC, AWESOME, INCREDIBLE !!!! This was the 6th time I have see Keith Urban in concert and just when you think he can't get any better HE DOES!!!! He is such an amazing artist, performer, entertainer, musician & song writer. His voice was exceptional Thursday night. We had the pleasure of being 16th row on the floor 4 seats from the catwalk. Needless to say, he was CLOSE!! And, oh so gorgeous!! I love the new catwalk and the secondary stage(which he normally does). The high-definition screen was unbelievable. He has such talent performing with him Jerry Flowers, Chris Rodriguez, Chris M. are all phenomenal musicians. Also, what an excellent job by the Franklin Central DrumLine on I Told You So! Way to go FCHS DrumLine! If you have never seen Keith - his concerts are a MUST SEE. He is clealy an EXTRAORDINARY ENTERTAINER!!!!!

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