Last night we had several firsts in Nashville…Urban Virgin, aka Country Girl, had her Urban virginity ripped from her loins, I met Keith for the first time, and Keith Urban played to his biggest crowd ever at the Sommet Center. 

Let’s start with my Backstage BBQ…First off, who the hell can eat anything, much less BBQ, when they are about to meet Keith Urban.  Firstly, no one wants BBQ stuck in their teeth in the one and only picture they’ll probably ever have with the guy, secondly-could they pick a gasier food?  I think not.  I won my pass through iLike cuz apparently some crazy person backed out of theirs or something.  Oh well, their loss is my gain.  I was informed by others that this particular BBQ was way more crowded than normal…I’m estimating about 150 but I could be wrong.  Pictures took about an hour and a half. 

Our picture was in a group of six, and although I desperately wanted to be standing next to Keith in the picture, it just wasn’t in the cards.  But, his hand was on my shoulder and I had mine on his arm.  Yes, I rubbed…but I was trying to use every one of my senses to remember this moment.  I had already gotten one hug and took in a big deep sniff of the amazing smell that everyone said would be there.  It was so good, I went in for a 2nd hug while be ushered out for the next group. There were a million things I wanted to tell Keith, but there was barely even time for him to ask our names.  So, thankfully I put everything down in a letter…hopefully he’ll read it.  There’s some pretty good stuff in there.

Anyhow, we got to watch a hysterical and informative video about the tour then Keith came out.  He looked FANTASTIC, but he also looked exhausted.  This was the last show before a 2 week break, and he’d just played a Me, You, & a BBQ that day in the blazin Tennessee sun.  He really looked like he needed a bit of a break.  But, he joked and laughed with us, eventually playing “I’m In.”  This song, although not a favorite of mine on the record, was AMAZING acoustic and live…I suppose being 3 feet away from him helped out a bit.  Oh, and Keith was sporting a very unbottoned shirt so it was quite a show. 

Since the BBQ was packed more than usual, the rest went speeding by.  It was already 8:20 and Sugarland’s  set was almost over.  By the time we got into our seats in the arena, Sugarland had 2 songs left.  Not that I cared, I was already workin up a crick in my neck from sniffing my Keith-scented shoulder. But Country Girl was enjoying their set, so I’ll let her fill ya in.

As per usual, when Sugarland left the stage, security let-up.  Knowing this was Country Girl’s first Keith  Urban concert, I wanted her to have the full experience…Up close and personal.  So, we worked our way to the front and eventually were leanin our elbows on the ramp.  When the music started and the curtain fell, we all “Hit the Ground Runnin” with Keith.  It kicked off a 2 hour show that was jam-packed with stellar music, guitar pickin, and plenty of entertainment. 

My main goal of the evening was to make sure Country Girl “got it.”  She told me more than once that she doesn’t get “into” the guitar  playin like me.  “You’ll see” was all I could tell her.  Well, half-way through the opening song, she looked at me with wide eyes…She didn’t realize that guitar playing was a sexual experience, but she does now. 

Keith strung through all of his hits, and some new stuff.  I enjoy seeing his old songs like “Where the Blacktop Ends,” “Somebody Like You,” “Who Wouldn’t Wanna Be Me,” and “You’ll Think of Me” reworked for a new live show.  There is something that I think Keith Urban does better than anyone I’ve seen.  Keith feels his music.  He’ll go from the fluffy fun of “Kiss A Girl” to the country-rock of “Where the Blacktop Ends” then put on a pained, Emotion-filled performance of “You’ll Think of Me.”  And only Keith Urban can make an arena full of women be ready for some “Rainin on Sunday.” 

Venturing out into the crowd several times, Keith made sure to connect with all parts of the arena.  Some lucky catwalk clingers got to taste Keith when he showered them with water from his mouth…Some say gross, I say YUMMY. I know, I’ve got issues, but oh well.

By the time the last piece of confetti landed, my mission was complete.  Country Girl was hooked.  The one thing I haven’t asked her yet is if she thinks he’s worthy of the Entertainer of the Year Award…I know she’s a die-hard Rascal Flatts fan, but would she be upset if Keith snagged it.  He tours hard, he plays hard, he sings hard, and he puts his blood, sweat, and tears into his shows, and I mean that literally.  When you go out into a crowd of clawing, screamin women; sometimes you get hurt.  But Keith also understands what others have given-up to go see him and allow him to do what he does…Tears will fall, and let’s face it.  The sweat was there by song number 2. 

We took a ton of pictures as always.  You can see them on our flickr account here.

Got some country music gossip and don’t wanna be a tattle tale?  Email me, Tawny Tucker, Tawny@countrymusictattletale.com