Keith Urban was a guest this July 4th on Rise Up Country, a syndicated inspirational program that features country artists and country music. If you'll recall Keith gave a great interview with John Ritter last year. Unfortunately audio or a podcast of this new show is currently unavailable. But lucky for us an STS reader did catch the show. It's just a matter of them getting the audio to us in a digital format....we're dealing with an old-school KU Fred Flinstone cassette tape here! So bear with us, as soon as STS gets the interview we will be posting it!
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We've got filming dates for Nicole's film with Nicolas Cage, Trespass!
What's Filming In Louisiana
The independent feature film Trespass starring Nicolas Cage and Nicole Kidman will shoot from August 16th to October 8th in Shreveport.
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Urban steps up in Dauphin after Brooks and Dunn cancel
DAUPHIN -- Thank God for Keith Urban.
That was the sentiment at Dauphin's Countryfest Friday night, where the temperature soared, the clothing was sparse, the cowboy hats were plentiful, and the music was great.
When Brooks & Dunn, who were originally scheduled as Friday night's headliner, pulled out of the festival because of a band member's illness, organizers were at risk of ending up with a lot of upset country fans.
But they pulled out a big save, booking superstar New Zealand singer/guitar player Urban as the replacement. Click on "Read More" below for the rest of the review.
Linda Hamilton of Dauphin was looking forward to seeing Brooks & Dunn, but had a big smile on her face as her and her husband donned their Keith Urban T-shirts in the grandstands.
"I was disappointed when the two of them cancelled. I'd never seen them before. But when they said Keith was coming -- that was a pretty good buffer," the 57-year-old said.
Trudy Steiner of Dauphin agreed that they couldn't have found a better replacement, as rumors swirled that his wife, actress Nicole Kidman, accompanied him to the festival.
"I think it'd be nice if he brought her on stage. That would be a treat for everyone," said Steiner.
Stephanie Allen of Winnipeg was thrilled with the switch in performers.
"Keith is my favourite artist ever. I come to Countryfest every year, but I was thinking about selling my pass. But then I found out Keith was coming, and it was the best summer gift," the 21-year-old said.
Countryfest president Eric Irwin said Urban, who performed at the festival in 2005, deserves a lot of credit for stepping in.
"He had some time off, which I'm sure he has little of, but he changed his plans for us."
Irwin says the festival has been running smoothly, except for a few weather glitches, including high winds and 35 cm of rain overnight Thursday.
"We had to cut off Aaron Pritchett's performance half way through because the wind was so gusty. But we got him going again fifteen minutes later," said Irwin.
Terri Clark, the evening's last performer, just got her last song in before the rain.
Irwin says this year's Thursday night crowd might have been the biggest ever. But the big group has been fairly well behaved so far.
RCMP received three calls from the site Thursday night -- one hit and run and two disturbance calls. Three people were taken to the drunk tank.
Dauphin RCMP Const. Robert Tuff says he believes the number of calls received so far are down from last year, though no official comparison has been done.
Since the festival began, police have issued 58 speeding tickets, seven tickets for failure to wear a seat belt and seven tickets for other traffic offenses. Five people were charged under the Liquor Control Act.
Miranda Lambert performs tonight on the main stage. The four day festival ends Sunday night with Kelly Pickler and Blake Shelton performing.
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Greality: Surprise! Kidman had a salad
With country singer Keith Urban coming to Greeley for the Stampede, the town was buzzing over whether his famous wife would come along.
Though Urban apparently kept a low profile in town, he and actress Nicole Kidman were spotted at The Tavern at St. Michaels Square. Urban, his wife and a friend enjoyed lunch Saturday at The Tavern.
(Photo) The Tavern owners Brian Hill, left, and Brett Hill pose with country music superstar Keith Urban and his wife, actress Nicole Kidman, during their visit to The Tavern.
“They were riding their motorcycles around and saw The Tavern and decided to stop by,” Tavern owner Brian Hill said.
“Urban, Kidman and their friend watched the U.S. soccer team play in the World Cup as they ate.
“‘They were very friendly and they asked about the restaurant: when it had opened and when other restaurants in the area would be opening,” Hill said.
“The group stayed about 45 minutes. Urban ate a chicken, avocado and bacon sandwich; Kidman and their friend ate salads.
“Before leaving, Urban and his wife signed autographs and took a few pictures.
“‘They were very pleasant people to talk to,” Hill said of Urban and Kidman. “We went to his show that night and it was a great show.”
Want a laugh?
Jakra777 / Oh " so" Leery: Have you caught the one where she finally dubbed herself into a photo with Urban and a couple guys. Funny, she was in her generic wear at the end of the lineup. Usually when she is having a photo taken with a group of men shes right in the middle. Instead shes stuck on the end. hmmmmmmm LOL
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We reported earlier that Nicole was possibly in Monte Carlo for Monte Carlo. Unfortunately that tweet was misinformed as Nicole and Keith were together on the road and then spotted in Green Hills at their usual movie theater. Perhaps the person saw it was the shoot and thought Nicole was still starring, just as some thought she was doing Bel Ami after filming had commenced.
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Keith is on the cover of the current issue of Country Weekly. 
It's amazing what a career on death's door can be like with an alleged waning fan club, award-winning music that's allegedly noise, and an alleged hated spouse within the industry!
Here's skeptic nomorefan's favorite....The Joker, with Keith, Brian and Jerry. Enjoy!
July 6, 2010
Keith Urban & Nicole Kidman Updates 07/06/10
June 30, 2010
Keith Urban & Nicole Kidman Updates 06/30/10
Nicole Kidman is gracing the cover of UK magazine SO Guilford. Although the article and accompanying pics are a cut and paste from old interviews, photo shoots, and screen shots, the piece is quite elegant. You can find full high-quality scans around the net if you are so inclined. The cover is below
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With Selena Gomez revealing that filming of Monte Carlo is drawing to a close, there's rumblings that Nicole is in fact in Monte Carlo to shoot a small appearance.
TheRealCC Nicole Kidman shooting a scene for a film in the city of Monte Carlo. Traffic stopped. This is eating into my gambling time at the casino.
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Keith Urban and Monkeyville have chosen the winner of their "I'm In" fan competition.
06/30/2010
READ SOME OF OUR FAVORITE "I'M IN" CONTEST ENTRIES, INCLUDING THE GRAND PRIZE WINNING STORY
We received thousands of amazing entries for Keith's "I'm In" story contest and we wanted to share some of our favorites with you. Check them out!
Congrats to the grand prize winner who won an autographed Defying Gravity guitar. Here is her entry:
Click HERE for more great entries.
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Click HERE to listen to Keith talk about his life and career now.
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The 4th of July is almost here and Keith talks about what this country means to him and his family
Neil Haislop Updates
With Canada Day and U.S. Independence Day now upon us, and we recently asked Australian-born, Keith Urban, about his citizen status in America and he explained why he loves living here.
"I'm a U.S. resident and have been for a long, long time. And, Nick (Nicole Kidman), was born in Hawaii and Sunday is definitely a resident born right here in Nashville Tennessee, so we're here to stay."
Keith also says he was impressed when he recently visited Ellis Island in New York Harbor, "To see these buildings that have been there since the beginning, and to see the statue of Liberty in the background it just brought everything full circle for me...because I'm here because of the American Dream. For me that has never died and it's what brought me half way around the world, it's what still excites me when I drive down the freeway and see a sign that says "Memphis" or "Knoxville" ...these names that I grew up hearing in songs and reading about in books and on the backs of albums, so I'm still as fascinated and excited about this country as I ever was."
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As the E! Online Skeptics stay silent and the Urban Myths gang rehash their old myths of the past 5 years we've got photos. If only the skeptics could decide what they really want. Twitter isn't trutworthy; Twitter proves they're right. You've gotta take what comes and the skeptics just can't accept the truth. How else does Inept Senior Skeptic Maclen spur on 66 posts out of an old photo?
Here's Keith and Nicole TOGETHER before the CMT awards this year. Thanks to FrontRowNews
And here's Nicole leaving Keith's bus, pulling one of her signature funny faces, just before the CMT awards in 2008. Thanks to a reader for sending this in!
Will the skeptics get it through their thick heads that when Keith says Nicole is ready first for these kinds of events he's not lying? Will they admit the "frozen face" nonsense is just that, nonsense? The skeptics that are silent members of a certain fan site that has an entire thread dedicated to Nicole's cute, interesting, and funny expressions can share more photos with the others. BAHAHAHAHA!
In the meantime....
If you haven't already check out Emily West's new video for "Blue Sky" featuring Keith Urban on backing vocals.
June 29, 2010
Keith Urban And Nicole Kidman Updates 06/29/10
The biggest news hitting the internet, besides Keith Urban making it onto the Forbes Top 100 Celebrity List at #76 is this....
Vidaroo Jumps on Video Production Agreement
Vidaroo Corp (VIDA, Free Analysis), a provider of video technology software and services, jumped more than 80% after being selected by award winning artist Keith Urban to provide creative visual elements and video production for his Summer Lovin’ Tour, with its next show scheduled for July 8, 2010 at the Cavendish Beach Music Festival in Canada.
Investors are hoping that the new tour will help drive the video production company’s revenues. Last quarter, the firm realized a net loss that narrowed to $317,587, or $0.01 per share, versus approximately $1.3 million a year ago, on revenues of $413,272 versus just $61,022 a year ago. However, the company has assets of just $419,207 versus liabilities of nearly $1.9 million.
Vidaroo Goes Country!
ORLANDO, Fla., June 29, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Vidaroo Corporation (OTCBB:VIDA) announced today that it was selected by world renowned Grammy winning artist Keith Urban to provide creative visual elements and video production for the Summer Lovin' 2010 Tour which has launched for next show to be July 08, 2010 at the Cavendish Beach Music Festival in Canada at time of this release.
"Working once again with Marc Brickman and newly with the people involved in the Keith Urban tour is incredibly rewarding for us. Marc's team of course is first class, but this is our first real taste of country on this scale, and it was a creative challenge for us. But it was fun none the less and the results are going to be great for the audience," Production Director Ian McDaniel states.
Vidaroo provided creative design and digital video elements for the tour which was already in progress, but the creative minds behind the show knew visually there could be more. Vidaroo was both excited and honored they thought of us as a solution. The Keith Urban 2010 Summer Lovin' Tour has scheduled shows across the United States and Canada on sale now.
"The fact that Vidaroo was chosen to work with the Summer Lovin' tour and Marc Brickman came back to us again is a testament to our effectiveness."
"We are honored that Vidaroo was chosen to bring the Summer Lovin' Tour to life in video for Keith Urban fans worldwide," says Mark Argneti, CEO of Vidaroo. "The continued level of service to our customers in the live concert video arena is always a priority, and we are extremely proud of our work and the clients we serve."
About Vidaroo Corporation
Vidaroo Corporation is a video technology company that provides the best-in-breed Online Video Platform, video production and advertising on its Online Video Network that reaches over 10 million visitors monthly. Vidaroo's Online Video Platform, Online Video Advertising Network and video production has earned the trust of a growing customer base including advertising agencies, iconic artists, media companies, organizations, businesses, and national brands such as Microsoft, Coca-Cola Company, Tribune News Company, Toyota, Emmis Communications, Clear Channel, Black Eyed Peas, Mary J. Blige, Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake and more. Vidaroo's Online Video Publishing Technology enables firms to easily create, deliver and monetize video and advertising delivery. vidaroo.com
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An update on the "Dirty Laundry" E! Online Skeptic myth....
It's not a complete clip but do you see Nicole Kidman? We don't. Given the nature of the clips you do see, we can't believe she's there at all!
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Keith Urban's musical director and drummer Chris McHugh and Urban studio engineer Justin Neibank were honored at the 22 Annual MusicRow awards. Congrats to all the winners!
American Songwriter
The 22nd annual MusicRow Awards took place Thursday evening at the BMI offices in Nashville, honoring the year’s hottest session players, as well as Breakthrough Artist and Songwriter, Producer, and Song for 2010.
The event was hosted by Clay Bradley, who called Music Row “the greatest creative community in the world.”
In addition to handing out awards, he announced that BMI will match donations for flood relief from Music Row, up to the amount $50,000.
The evening saw performances from Allen Shamblin and Tom Douglas, writers of Song of the Year, “The House that Built Me,” (which appears on Miranda Lambert’s Revolution) and Chris Young, Breakthrough Songwriter for “Getting You Home (The Black Dress Song).”
MusicRow Reader-Voted Awards:
Breakthrough Artist: Zac Brown Band
Breakthrough Songwriter: Chris Young
Song of the Year: “The House That Built Me” written by Allen Shamblin and Tom Douglas; published by Sony/ATV Tree Publishing Co., Built On Rock Music, and Tomdouglasmusic
Producer of the Year: Frank Liddell and Mike Wrucke
Top Ten Album All-Star Award Winners (for session musicians)
Bass: Glenn Worf
Drums: Chris McHugh and Shannon Forrest
Engineer: Justin Niebank
Fiddle: Aubrey Haynie
Guitar: Brent Mason
Keyboards: Charles Judge
Steel: Paul Franklin
Vocals: Wes Hightower
Miranda Lambert: “The House That Built Me”
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News on Monte Carlo, the upcoming film co-produced by Nicole Kidman
From the star Selena Gomez.... "Morning Everybody-- We had a 4:30am call time this morning. Monte Carlo is almost finished less than two weeks and I will be on my way back to America it has been a long time I have been gone since the end of March. Monte Carlo is great we had a couple of days off so we got to do a little bit of relaxing. I just wanted to check in and say Hi."
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Some stories from the road. Isn't it interesting Urban Myths' Tara these businesses want the positive PR of having two superstars visit their establishments. Funny how they aren't embarrassed by what you call "has-beens"!
Keith Urban likes Fruita’s coffee
By Richie Ann Ashcraft
Monday, June 28, 2010
Tom Hinman wouldn’t know a celebrity if one walked right up to him.
So he was surprised to learn that legendary country music singer Keith Urban, headliner at this year’s Country Jam, did just that at Aspen Street Coffee House, last weekend.
Another person working the counter recognized Urban and told Hinman, owner of the shop.
Urban asked for a chicken sandwich but the coffee shop doesn’t serve chicken sandwiches, so he settled for a cup of black coffee instead.
“He was very pleasant,” laughed Hinman as he told of the brief conversation they had.
Urban, who was wearing a cowboy hat and dark sunglasses, asked “What do people say about your coffee?”
“They say it’s good,” Hinman replied.
“It is good,” Urban said.
That’s all there was to Hinman’s brush with country-music fame but it was enough for Hinman to change the sign out front to read: “Keith Urban likes what people say about our coffee.”
“It was obvious he really didn’t want to be bothered,” Hinman said, adding that Urban was accompanied by a woman and a very large bodyguard.
This is the first celebrity Hinman, whose owned the store for eight months, has ever met but rumor has it that Graham Nash, of the band Crosby, Stills and Nash, always makes a pit stop at Aspen Street when he’s in Fruita several times a year.
Celebrity Sighting: Keith Urban, Nicole Kidman Work Out at Fruita Gym
FRUITA, Colo (KKCO) - Country Jam 2010 is in the books -- but a Fruita business will be talking about it for a long time to come, after two huge stars stopped by on their way to Mack.
While thousands watched country music's biggest stars light up the stage at the Country Jam Ranch Sunday, Fruita Health Club employee Meghan Woodland was at work. Little did she know, however, that a big piece of Country Jam was going to come to her.
She got a phone call form the gym's owners telling her a band would be stopping by to work out -- but didn't find out who it was until later in the day.
"I got a second call saying that Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman were coming to work out," said Woodland, who was the only employee working at the time. "I was warned about ten minutes before they came so I could relax and get my business face on."
But Woodland says several days notice probably wouldn't have been enough time to calm her nerves.
"My jaw dropped," said Woodland. "It's a good thing I was sitting down, because I needed to sit."
Especially when they walked through the front door.
"It was surreal," said Woodland. "They're real people wearing real workout outfits. It sounds funny, but meeting them was just humbling. They said hello and thank you for letting us come here."
She says the famous couple worked out for about an hour and a half -- Nicole Kidman on an eliptical and Urban lifting weights and doing other strength training in the aerobics room.
"I would find things to do in the room out there so I could walk back-and-forth to see what they were doing," said Woodland.
Although security asked that no one take pictures of the pair while they worked out, the gracious superstars signed a wall near the front entrance of the gym -- giving the excited business a little something to remember this once in a lifetime encounter by.
"I hope next Country Jam I'm working here to see who I get to meet," said Woodland.
On the road in Colorado Keith's bus hit an elk
RSACrazymonkey9 "it's our anniversary and what do I do for a gift? We hit an elk..." Keith Urban. xD
justinostrander They cleaned most of the elk off, but there's still a little fur stuck in Keith Urban's bus.
But don't worry, Keith and Co. were still running strong, picking up a stranded band out on the road!
LoCashCowboys Thanx 2 KEITH URBAN...we're finally on our way home 2 NASH! KU's TourBus stoppd & pickd us up n Denver! ON THE ROAD AGAIN...keep VOTIN! -pb
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American Idol's Kris Allen talks about Keith
Exclusive Interview
Q. Gina, RealityWanted: You're opening some shows with Barenaked Ladies and some shows with Keith Urban. They're so different musically. What has that been like for you?
A. Kris: It's been really cool. The music that we play, I think people are gonna love it. We played one show with Keith and it was awesome. We were in Vegas and there were a ton of people there. Keith is such a really cool guy and he embraces everything. We played a few shows with Barenaked Ladies too, and they have a great following. Being in the opener spot is great because you get to play for a bit and get the crowd excited.
Q. Gina, RealityWanted: What have you learned from being around them?
A. Kris: The times we've been around the Barenaked Ladies have been really scarce. They're funny guys. Keith handles himself really well. He's just a guy. He's one of the biggest country stars, or music stars in general, out there. He loves doing what he does. People forget that he's just a regular person, a regular guy.
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Greeley Concert Review
Muddy cow poo wouldn’t stop fans from seeing the country superstar
Click on link for large set of concert photos
“Are you here for the Keith concert?” asked our waitress at Red Lobster in Greeley. Clearly our answer was an ecstatic “yes” as we looked around to see all the other country fans cuted up to head to the Greeley Stampede for the long-awaited concert. That’s right, Keith Urban was in Greeley getting ready to play in front of a packed crowd at the fairgrounds in the heart of the Greeley Stampede.
Metromix arrived to lines of cowboys and cowgirls ready to get in and get to their seats. It was slowly becoming obvious that Keith Urban is probably playing in front of thousands of his No. 1 fans with many handmade signs detailing their love for Urban and some reading as simple as “hug me.”
Concertgoers paid more to be up front and center and on the grounds of the arena. The only problem? It was a down pour hours earlier, leaving the fairgrounds a giant muddy mess. People even wrapped their feet up in plastic bags only to find that mud and plastic are slick. Others just said “The hell with it,” and wore no shoes around the muddy mess just to be closer to the stage. And some, yes like your fellow Metromixers, wore white high heels and stuck it out. We officially want a shirt that reads “We stepped in cow poo for Keith Urban.”
Yes, we were at a country concert and it couldn’t get more country than that.
Once Keith Urban came out on stage, the crowd went wild, shoving the people next to them to see if they can get a closer look at the long, flawless haired country superstar. Without a doubt concertgoers weren’t disappointed with the upbeat song choices of the night with Urban belting the familiar tunes of “Days Go By,” “You’ll Think of Me,” and “You Look Good in My Shirt.”
It wasn’t until Keith said to the crowd, “I am celebrating my wedding anniversary with my wife (Nicole Kidman) and she was going to leave and decided to stay behind so now she’s with me while I am in Greeley.” And the crowd went nuts with the thought of Nicole Kidman sitting backstage during the concert. Keith immediately went on to a popular love ballad and dedicated it to her.
All in all, fans stepped in cow poo for Keith Urban and nothing but smiles and lyrics left after the concert. We even overheard a couple fans say, “Gosh that Keith sure knows how to rock a crowd.”
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We'll close by reminding you Dierks Bentley's new bluegrass cd, Up On The Ridge, is out now. If you love that kind of music pick yourself up a copy; it's a great collection of songs. One of our favorites is Dierks pushing the boundaries of the genre with a cover of U2's classic "Pride (In The Name Of Love)". Oh what would the skeptics say! Enjoy!
April 25, 2010
Sorry E! Online Skeptics & Maclen,
Some Truth For Your Weekend
Let's get Inept Team Maclen: Party Of One out of the way. He's easily disposable!
maclen: I do seem to recall when the film was in postdevel last year...the film which had been dropped by fox searchlight for funding and distribution, got funded by a few no name agencies for the express purpose of getting the film placed on the "cannes marketplace" for possible distributors. But yes, as the fansies are no doubt hoping, perhaps it's got a chance with some other film festival! And with paltrow dumping of the Danish Girl, that film is so clearly dead.
Rabbit Hole was never dropped from Fox Searchlight. Rabbit Hole was never picked up by a few no name agencies. It's always been with Odd Lot Entertainment who successfully sold it at Cannes last year for international distribution to all foreign markets.
Story HERE
Evidently maclen with his nonsensical air quotes thinks the Cannes marketplace is somehow a joke. It's the biggest venue to sell your film and it's been around for decades.
No maclen we don't have to wager or surmise...we know you are lying about Danish Girl
maclen: There was of course, the just in the news Monte carlo, that seems to have gotten life again, because...kidman is NOT to star in it! And then there was a chance kidman would have a bit part in it... until Variety settled that she was in fact NOT to be in it at all.
Yes it is getting press but maclen you have no idea why. The real reason is because filming had already started in Hungary days ago and it's reported the production will move to Paris later on to shoot some scenes. Given the fact that Kidman is in Hawaii now filming another movie, and most likely has obligations for Danish Girl and possibly Rabbit Hole besides her personal and family obligations....scheduling conflicts are in fact the reason she's not doing the film.
maclen: So, kidmans "cameo" IS gonna be platered all over the nets...and so there goes any "surprise" factor...although if the only surprise is to be that kidman is doing a "comedic" role...that is hardly a "career saving" role. She will of course... fail.
Once again maclen nothing but lies. You are the one that labeled the part as a super secret cameo. That was never going to happen as we now know because Kidman's part included outdoor scenes on location. And that location has been photographed for days before Kidman got there and photos released to the public. Take a look....
Just Go With It Set Photos
There's 4 pages worth of photos from the set starting when Aniston and Sandler got to Hawaii. Case in point, from 04/14/10. Kidman wasn't on location until the 22nd!
maclen, you've been skewered!
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Stagecoach 2010: Keith Urban handily conquers the Empire Polo Field, Sugarland delights too
posted by BEN WENER, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
What Stagecoach, this weekend’s ongoing orgy of country music, BBQ and beer in Indio, is still learning from its cooler older cousin Coachella is that performances out here on the verdant but dusty Empire Polo Field ought to be momentous. That’s what makes a festival memorable: singular sensations. But in all honesty, though Stagecoach has never failed to be a good time, even for a non-NASCAR watcher like myself, it hasn’t exactly produced a great many one-of-a-kind performances.
Most of the ones that stand out most still seem like little more than events: the Judds reunion plus the pairing of the Eagles with John Fogerty in ’08, for instance, or the gutsy, genre-busting appearance from Kid Rock last year, enhanced by a red-hot Miranda Lambert just before it. A great many of the Big Guns — George Strait, Kenny Chesney (twice in three years), Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, Tim McGraw, Carrie Underwood, Alan Jackson, Reba McEntire — have all given perfectly enjoyable yet completely by-the-numbers performances.
Any country star worth his/her weight in platinum is capable of delivering a well-rehearsed production to an immense amount of people; that sort of thing happens all year long at stadium rodeos and state fairs from here to Tallahassee. No, I’m talking about seizing the moment on such a grand scale and achieving something significant with it.
Just as there’s a difference between, say, seeing Paul McCartney eulogize John, George and Linda at midnight under the desert stars at Coachella ’09 and taking in just another arena show from him somewhere along the way, so should there be (we hope) something noticeably unique about the performances from mega-popular acts like Keith Urban, Sugarland, Brooks & Dunn and Toby Keith, this fourth Stagecoach’s primary attractions.
So kudos to Urban and Sugarland — Saturday night’s stars — for rising to the occasion.
Straying from routine, even in the littlest ways, helped lift what were already knockout performances to the level of local legend. Keith Urban fans for sure will be talking about the night he flat-out owned a crowd of roughly 60,000 tired but plenty rowdy people — it’s by far the Australian star’s largest performance in Southern California ever, more or less equaling the last several arena sell-outs he’s raked in combined.
Indeed, though I freely admit that at 3:30 a.m. I could be making MUCH to big a deal out of this, I don’t know that Urban has had a moment quite so huge in America since he finally started taking it by storm in the middle of the past decade. Well, surely his Live Earth duet three years ago with Alicia Keys on “Gimme Shelter” has more national stature, but the West Coast has never seen him reign over so many fans all at once. I gather he’s played to as many people at forebear festivals in Texas or somewhere in the South. But this felt like the Keith Urban Show from the get-go, with a first-rate Sugarland (at the start of its own country-crossing tour) opening.
It was such a ginormous experience, seemingly predicated on one or two major performers — and it was presented as such a sprawling unifying event — that it now has much of our crew buzzing about how Goldenvoice could conceivably stage fantastic headliner-plus-three bills out here in much the same manner. You could easily see Dave Matthews Band doing it, for instance, or Jimmy Buffett. But the list of possibilities runs deep into stadium-fillers fast: U2, Madonna, the Stones, Springsteen (say, with Tom Petty), Bon Jovi (how about with John Mellencamp and Counting Crows?), or maybe two sets from Pearl Jam, definitely Radiohead, maybe Coldplay with three British mainstays, or a Foo Fighters/Green Day pairing? Heck, keep it in country: Garth Brooks in his full Garth glory, were he ever willing, would draw huge simply on his own. (And how about having him do albums in their entirety?)
What set Urban’s performance apart for me, though, were its hints of spontaneity (not all of his between-song asides felt like rehearsed patter) and, as with much of Sugarland’s set, the near-obliteration of any notion of country music in his tunes.
Merle Haggard and Ray Price — that’s country music. Nettles definitely boldly belts on the mic, and she gets plenty of showcases: “Settlin’,” “Baby Girl,” “Already Gone,” “All I Want to Do.” But Sugarland is still spit-polished poptopia with twang, littered with party-starting covers (even Blondie’s “Heart of Glass”) that help blur the lines between Nashville and NYC.
Likewise, Urban is purely big boom rock with shredding solos — more Journey with Neal Schon attempting his best Clapton in the thick of “Open Arms” than anything you’ll get out of McGraw or Paisley at any show. Every song Urban serves up that isn’t a chipper romantic ditty (like “Days Go By” or “Sweet Thing”) almost inevitably starts dramatically and builds to a fret-wailing finish. (Think “Stupid Boy.” But then again, don’t think that the chipper romantic ditties don’t also have wicked awesome solos strewn throughout them.)
Urban is only branded country because KLOS doesn’t play him. Yet though he’s not without his formulaic shtick (he asked the crowd a few too many times if they felt like singing along), he also comes from that same go-with-it looseness that informed Kid Rock’s ridiculously fun performance last year. Urban’s a nice guy — his idea of breaking away from the script is to get the sign-language lady to translate “elephant in a tutu.” But the mere fact that he broke through the barrier and tried to reach the audience personally — indeed, he’s just about the only Stagecoach performer of his magnitude that I’ve seen enter the crowd and play a few from a different vantage point — well, that spoke volumes about the difference between Urban and everyone else emanating from Nashville.
He’s a modest original for the genre, but an original all the same — and he’s set the bar very high for Sunday’s main fare: whatever Toby Keith has cooked up and what could possibly be Brooks & Dunn’s last performance in California for many, many years.
50+ STAGECOACH PICS
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Readers, enjoy your weekend!
