Popcorn and Pen

Verizon Wireless Music Center has already seen Tim McGraw and Rascal Flatts. Brooks & Dunn and Toby Keith are slated to appear later this summer. But on Thursday night, Brad Paisley left his imprint on the venue’s country schedule with a highly entertaining show with his catalog of Grammy-winning songs.

Despite a 25-minute delay, once Paisley emerged from the extended center stage in the middle of the lower pavilion crowd and took the first electric guitar lick on “Mud on the Tires” the crowd was hooked.

The 100-minute concert was packaged perfectly into one clean, easy flowing show. Paisley had ample time to showcase his guitar playing abilities, interact with fans and highlight other members of his band – all while having videos playing perfectly on cue in the background.

Paisley didn’t focus on one particular album, performing songs off of all of his albums with the exception of his 1999 debut, Who Needs Pictures. He mixed from the rocker “The World” to the more traditional twangy country sounding “Wrapped Around” to the romantic ballad “She’s Everything.”

Using the stage-length video screen behind him, “Celebrity” featured Grand Ole Opry stars Little Jimmy Dickens battling Bill Anderson in a game of “Guitar Hero.” Fellow country musician Dierks Bentley sang the second verse – off-key – acting like a struggling “American Idol” contestant.

Before performing “Mr. Policeman,” Paisley joked that he remembered exactly when he received his first speeding ticket – “16 years old, three months.”

“This song is for those who can’t obey the speed limit no matter what it is,” said Paisley. “For all the Ricky Bobbys in the audience this evening.”

Paisley teased the audience by singing the first verse of “A Country Boy Can Survive” before ripping into “I’m Still a Guy.” Following the comical song that describes the different point of views men and women have on the same topic, Paisley became more serious with the reflective “Letter to Me” – “And oh, you got so much going for you, going right. But I know at 17 it’s hard to see past Friday night.”

Some of the fans favorite songs were Paisley’s light-hearted comical ones. Singing almost as loud as him, the crowd loved every minute of “I’m Gonna Miss Her (The Fishin’ Song),” “Online” and “Alcohol.”

Throughout the evening, Paisley threw out guitar picks like candy, as audience members reached for the souvenirs and lined the stage hoping to get a hand shake or high five from the country artist – all without missing one word as they sang along with all his lyrics.

Paisley’s complete setlist included: “Mud on the Tires,” “Better Than This,” “The World,” “Wrapped Around,” “She’s Everything,” “Celebrity,” ‘Mr. Policeman,” “I’m Still a Guy,” “Letter to Me,” “I’m Gonna Miss Her (The Fishin’ Song),” “Whisky Lullaby,” “When I Get Where I’m Going,” “Online, “Alcohol” and “Ticks” and “Good Times Roll” for the encore.

While Jewel may be considered a headliner on almost any other tour, after releasing her first country album, Perfectly Clear, she hit the road as a supporter to make a name for herself with a different crowd.

Jewel had a tough task in front of her and despite a very strong performance and vocals; she got a mixed reception from the crowd. She intertwined some of her folk/pop classics with material from the new album – playing a equal portion of known and “unknown” songs.

After opening with “Hands,” Jewel performed “Stronger Woman” and “I Do” from Perfectly Clear. Not at the typical tempo, slowed down to better emphasize her vocal abilities, “You Were Meant for Me” and “Foolish Games” were two of Jewel’s stronger songs. During “Foolish Games” she seemed determined to make those apathetic to her performance take notice of her up on the stage by pouring her emotion into every word.

Her debut single, “Who Will Save Your Soul,” included a nice scat mix with her guitar player before Jewel ended her set with some amazing high-speed yodeling.

Country music newcomers Chris Wicks and Julianne Hough (better known as a two-time winner on ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars) also performed before Paisley.