While members of the audience, perhaps eager for one last ride on the Sidewinder before closing time, hesitated slightly before encouraging Evans to return for an encore, they certainly seemed satisfied with the end result.
Little girls were dancing with their dads and redneck cowboys were whooping it up when Evans and Co. pulled out all the stops for the finale, a cover of Cheap Trick’s “I Want You To Want Me.”
The brightly colored stage lights at Elitch Arena might not compare with the high wattage likely to electrify the nearby 19,000-seat Pepsi Center on July 15, when Sugarland and Keith Urban invade Denver. But for a night of wholesome, family fun, this country ought to thank heavens for Ms. Evans.
The winner of numerous top female vocalist awards, who earlier had admitted, “I forgot it was the Fourth of July,” did make it a night to remember with her first encore. There was a patriotic (OK, and somewhat corny) slant to her introduction.
“We wish you a very happy Fourth of July,” she said. “I know we’re all so grateful to live in such an amazing country and that’s why we’re celebrating. And I know we all feel this way. It’s the same way that I felt the first time I ever heard this song ... about how lucky and how blessed we all are. And I truly believe this, in my heart, that ‘I Could Not Ask For More.’ “
She proceeded to belt out Edwin McCain’s soaring song, a near-No. 1 for Evans in 2001 that highlights her powerful voice and amazing lung capacity.
This All-American girl fittingly left with a bang, not a whimper.
Extras
• See more Denver concert photos of Sara Evans at Flickr.
• See one of Sara Evans' webisodes from her current tour below:
Article comments
1 - Countrymile
Thank heavens, indeed. Despite all the tabloid drama, I sill enjoy Sara's music and her natural talent. She seems genuine and deserves to rank at the top, looking down at today's young pretenders to the throne. Really looking forward to the new album.