Taylor Swift holds her own onstage
For about four minutes on Friday night, Taylor Swift made almost everyone in the Allstate Arena feel 15 years old. That's the power of a song. When Swift played her...
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Chicago’s more than a little bit country
Lollapalooza never taught anyone how to line dance. Pitchfork didn't let anybody in for free. And Blues Fest didn't have a corral just for the kids. So as music parties...
Toby Keith connects with classics
These days, country music has something for everyone -- pop hooks for tweens, bittersweet ballads for soccer moms and for the cowboy in us all, there's Toby Keith. At his...
Vocals, endearing moments fill Underwood’s show
Sometimes, when bad things happen to good singers, the concert takes a turn for the better. At Carrie Underwood's sold-out show at Ravinia on Sunday night (with another scheduled for...
Everyman Brad Paisley a humble hit
The bolo tie or the Members Only jacket? It was a toss up, Brad Paisley said. It was just a self-deprecating remark about 15 songs into his set, when Paisley...
It’s not just what you see; it’s where you see it
Allstate Arena a fully loaded SUV Appearance: The Allstate Arena (6920 N. Mannheim Rd., Rosemont) was built for a little bit of everything. Since 1980, the suburban behemoth has played...
Rascal Flatts frontman carries the band, crowd at Wrigley
If you've ever doubted the power of a lead singer, you should see what happens when one disappears. When Rascal Flatts frontman Gary LeVox went missing for about four songs...
No Cubs, just country at Wrigley
What reason could a country band possibly have for coming into the big city? Size. Rascal Flatts, the multiplatinum selling trio and reigning Country Music Association vocal group of the...
Kenny Chesney scores on talent at Soldier Field
It took about an hour. Then, after about 10 songs, it all became perfectly clear. Kenny Chesney can sing. His Saturday show at Soldier Field was about as finely tuned...
Keith Urban talks tunes and guitars
You know "American Idol" has done its job when it impresses a guy like Keith Urban. "I was watching 'American Idol' the other day and that Adam guy did that...