Local Links - Local Weather - Auto Market - Coupons - Follow us on twitter!
Place A Free Classified Ad Here - Get A Free Subscription Here

The Voice of a Concrete Angel – Martina McBride Susquehanna Bank Center  By: Steve Trager

Over the last decade, Country music has become a certain wide spectrum of music that it has often crossed limitless boundaries which as captured countless musical signatures both in Alternative Country and Traditional Country Rock. We acknowledge those superior individuals which have made much more then just a staple in their musical career as an artist.

There is one such individual who outshines the limelight under her peers in the popular growing list of Country music and that is none other then Martina McBride herself. This individual has racked up over sixteen million albums sold, has earned twenty two top ten singles, and has collectively earned six number one hits in several crossover genres’.  (More below slideshow)

Martina McBride has also earned herself more then just a handful of ACM & CMA awards which certainly acknowledges her as among the popular and among the best in today’s Country Music roster of talented artists from past to present.

As we know it Country music shines from the individuals like Martina McBride who, have written a lot of the core songs that have earned her more then just a unique signature sound all these impressive years in Country music. She has graced the stages in the area as far back as 2001 performing for 92.5 WXTU concert events as well as headlining her own tours but never gets in this market as often as we all would like need us to say.

It has actually be more then three years since Martina performed in the area and it seemed to be quite fitting to end the outdoor summer concerts at the Susquehanna Bank Center this year with Martina McBride along with Big Machine recording artists Jack Ingram for a very impressive event under the stars.

This wasn’t a typical concert event mind you. Earlier in the day the Susquehanna Bank Center had some entertainment for those who ventured out for a great cause along with Martina McBride and WXTU raising money for Breast Cancer in hopes to finding a cure to this on going problem among women. The total dollars raised should be a great help which also had come from ticket sales prior to the performances.

For the small amount which rounded out to be something like 3500 plus in ticket sales, it seemed to be much more of a larger scale performance wise to say the most. Opening the show right on schedule Jack Ingram worked the fans squeezed in the first few rows of the stage into the music as he demonstrated how great he plays the guitar. With microphones slated across the stage, Jack Ingram worked the stage as her performed from all four corners of the stage as he warmed the fans up for Martina’s set later.

Jack treated the fans to material from his most recent release “Hey You” to other various tracks spanning his musical career which commenced more then a decade ago in the heart of Texas. A quick short set change and the stage was set for what had to be a stimulating set from Martina McBride and her talent band. Seems like yesterday she stumbled into the country spotlight more then fifteen years ago and today she still shines like a diamond in the rough.

I as an individual have seen countless shows that including about ten plus years of some great country acts but, I have never seen what I would call a “standing ovation” type of event like this. You could feel the energy feeding off the stage as Martina crammed ninety minutes into a sizzling set capturing the highlights of her career in Country music. In this case it was hard to follow along the set list simply because with numerous albums and singles, one never knows what she would perform or not perform. She opened her set with “Wild Angels” which is also her title track to the album released in 1995.

It is a great pleasure to watch someone perform a set of classics as I call them after a certain period of time yet to watch Martina McBride belt out some of the high notes in songs like “ Where Would You Be “ and “Broken Wing” brought the house on it’s feet for a round of standing ovation during such songs as Martina just stopped for a moment look out into the audience and threw out the most amazing smile as you could hear the rumble of cheers and whistles throughout the Susquehanna Center during her show in Camden New Jersey.

I personally don’t think anything can top that type of emotional feed back it is defiantly priceless. She was full of energy as she waved and bowed to her long time fans with a smile that could light up a room yet even the cover songs sounded great with the likes of Bryan Adams’ “Summer of 69” and Peggy Lee’s “ Lean On Me “ and Journey’s “ Anyway You Want It “. I just never knew many Country artists tipping into the cover bag and pulling out songs and tossing them into one’s set. Other highlight favorites to this grand performance “ Independence Day “, “ This Ones For The Girls “, “ If I had Your Name “ and “Blessed”.

We know how fortunate we are enough to have individuals like Martina McBride contribute some of her finest works spanning her lifetime of achievements on today’s Country Music which has blossomed into a genre that with stands alone with passion and innovative brilliance combined with the individuals who make it simply great year after year. This was one special evening filled with joy and pure excitement to those who attended her performance as I always say nothing compares to a live show no matter the genre’.

There is something to say about Country music in this day and age, it’s quite different then the past, however we can all truly agree Country music is still that feel good type of music that Rocks.