Review: Sugarland

Photos by Sue Pfannmuller/Special to The Star

If Sugarland represents the future of country music, then that future will be flavored heavily with references to all other kinds of music. Friday night, the duo from Atlanta entertained more than 12,000 fans inside the Sprint Center with a show that included covers of songs by fellow-Georgians R.E.M. and the B-52s and a trick they picked up from the Flaming Lips. They also tossed in some refernces to Madonna, Nelly, Flight of the Concords and the Emotions.

Jennifer Nettles shares the spotlight with Kristian Bush, but she is the duo's primary personae. She is one of the better vocalists in country music, male or female, but she is the rare country star who doesn't take herself all that seriously. Or so it seems.  She's got a little Minnie Pearl in her personality, which is as much a part of her act and the show as the duo's many country hits. A great voice will get you far in this genre, but personality gives you staying power. She has lots of both.

 

They opened with three of those hits: "Love," "Settlin'" and "It Happens," which includes the line, "Fact is, pssssh it happens," which got some cheers and howls. The first cover came shortly after that: the R.E.M. lullabye, "Nightswimming." Nettles sang it true, carrying a white umbrella decorated with tiny white lights and amid a light shower of bubbles.

Later, after "Everyday America," Nettles led the crowd through a medley that included "Holiday" (Madonna), "Hot In Here" (Nelly), "Best of My Love" (the Emotions) and "Sugalumps" (Flight of the Concords). They also gave away a signed guitar to a young girl in crowd (one of Garth's tricks). 

They ended the show with a version of "Love Shack" that killed the version the B-52s did when in town recently. But before that, Nettles and Bush pulled Wayne Coyne's favorite stunt, climbing inside see-through hamster balls and racing each other over the crowd and back.

 

In the middle of all that, they managed to deliver some of their best material, including "Stay," the song that made them real famous, and "Who Says You Can't Go Home." During that one, they showed footage of scenes and places around town, like the stadiums, Union Station, the Beaumont Club and the RecordBar. It's worth noting that the Royals logo got a louder cheer than the Chiefs.

The show lasted less than 90 minutes, which felt a little short, but it included more energy and entertainment than the average two-hour show, and for a decent price (tickets were as low as $33). Plus, there were two good opening acts: Billy Currington and Matt Nathanson, whose meet-and-greet afterwards drew a line of about 200 people. 

| Timothy Finn, The Star   

Setllist: Love, Settlin', It Happens, Want To, Nightswimming, Joey, Already Gone, Genevieve, Blood on Snow, All I Want To Do, Everyday America, Stay, Who Says You Can't Go Home, Something More. Encore: Baby Girl, So Long, Love Shack. 

Comments

[Skoal Bandito]

I don't mind some of Sugarland's music, but Jennifer Nettles is about as annoying a front-person as any band deserves. She wasn't that way when the band started, or even before they kicked the other gal in the band out on her rear. Nope, Sugarland's better days are behind them.

[Jamie Lyon]

I thought Matt Nathanson brought his "A" game and it felt like Billy Currington showed up for a paycheck. Too bad the order wasn't reversed and maybe more people would have been listening than talking.

[Tony Cheray]

A side note to tonights performance was the 2 million mark hit for sprint center attendence. not to bad for a venue that has no permanant anchor. looks to be a good summer of shows to with Yanni Aerosmith and Crue fest to name a few. Save me the aisle seat

[Penny]

You are a good reviewer, Tim. I wasn't there and wouldn't have come, not my kind of music, but I always enjoy reading your reviews because they are so full of information. I always feel like I learn something about a band or performer.

Your musical knowledge is profound. How do you know all those details? Guess that's why you are the music writer. Good work. Hang on to him, KC Star!

[Nick]

agreed, Tim is a fantastic music writer, he doesn't trash a performer just based on genre...I love hearing about what the music actually sounded like instead of a bunch of obtuse self-referential nonsense...that is why this blog is a must-read, especially the Ryan Adams review:)

[yeah]

16 songs??? they are not ready to be headlining arenas the size of Sprint Center. They are in St Louis in a few weeks opening for Keith Urban. Until they have enough music for a 22-25 song show thats where they should stay, openers for bigger names

[musicfan]

Spot on review, Tim! I was there (just a few rows behind you actually) and agree with everything you mentioned in your review. I too thought it felt a little "short," especially when they left the stage the first time. The encore helped to make up for some of that, as did the solid openers. I was really impressed with Matt Nathanson...he was cool as a cucumber up there...so much stage presence in what could be a loser spot; a lesser entertainer could have bombed big-time. Billy's set was good, but I like Billy already.

Nettles has been on vocal rest (they had to cancel some of their opening spots early in the Keith Urban tour and have discontinued meet and greets), but I don't know if it has affected the length of their shows. They have enough music to easily do a 22-song set.

[Jamie Lyon]

Okay, here's what I don't understand. A few people here have made it clear that they thought Sugarland's set was too short. I went in not being a particularly big fan of Sugarland, but left feeling like I had just seen a band that had really put on a SHOW, not just gone through the motions, and seemed to have an enormous amount of fun doing it.
Haven't we all been to shows where the headliner comes out, sings, barely acknowledges the audience, barely moves on stage, and walks away leaving you feeling rather empty even after they have played for two-plus hours? On top of which, you probably payed double or triple what we payed for an entire evening of entertainment!
Put another way, when you go out to dinner, would you rather leave the restaurant saying, "Man, am I stuffed", or saying, "Man, that was a great meal!"?
I'll take a band that really tries to give their audience a great experience over just singing along with the hits any time.

[Zod]

Jennifer Nettles = hot.

[temporary internet miami]

amazing review, a few years a go I went to eat to a restaurant and there was Jennifer nettles and kristian bush, and they sat on my table and we all ate together. it was an amazing experience

[jordan jams]

So cute! I already like you on FB and also get your posts on Google Reader. :)

[red bottom shoes]

Good stuff as per usual, thanks. I do hope this kind of thing gets more exposure.

[red bottom shoes]

I like you on facebook and follow through google reader!

[Pandora New Zealand]

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