SATURDAY NIGHT IN VANCITY

October 2, 2010

Country heavyweight Brad Paisley brought his American Saturday Night to Vancouver fans packed into Rogers Arena Saturday evening for show that danced along blurred borders of country and rock.

Paisley opened his set, climbing out of the stage onto a raised platform in front of a giant screen, mimicking his image splashed across it. Clad in jeans, a plaid shirt, and cowboy hat with a glittering electric guitar slung over his shoulder, the sight of him set the crowd into a frenzy.

He sings, he writes, and he plays the guitar all at an impressively successful level. Oh, and he makes the women swoon.

Paisley released his eighth studio album “American Saturday Night” last summer, which has seen three singles, "Then", "Welcome to the Future", and the title track climb to the top of the charts.

Fusing country and Southern rock, Paisley put on a show as upbeat and entertaining as an alcohol-infused night out at your local country cabaret, but as sleek and polished as a modern rock show.

The music was foot-stomping, can't-help-but-singalong, but the show wasn’t a small-town ho down by any means. Bright colourful spotlights lit up the packed stadium and flashed along the zigzagging catwalk as a giant screen backdrop played Paisley's music videos.

The country superstar transported the arena into one big high school slow dance as the screens went black and mood lights swirled for "She's Everything", a slow and swoon-worthy song.

Picking up the pace again, he showcased his range and humour with "You Do the Math", "Celebrity" and "Catch All the Fish".

Over his career, Paisley has amassed 16 #1 singles, including 12 consecutive chart-toppers, making him second only to Sonny James for solo country artists in chart history.

Spending some quality time at the other end of the arena, he broke out the acoustic guitar for "Letter to Me" before heading back to the main stage during "Mud on the Tires".

He talent and charm really shone through and stole the show. Transitioning seamlessly between foot-stomping country hits and heartstring-tugging ballads, Paisley spent some time chatting with the audience while strumming his guitar.

Hailing from the small town of Glen Dale, West Virginia, Paisley fell for country music at a young age when his grandfather first gave him a guitar and began performing by the age of 10.

Tonight was a great night for country music and an even better night for Paisley fans, who were treated to a flawless, energetic show by one of the genre's finest.