MARTINA McBRIDE PLAYS ENID
-
Martina McBride and Amanda Watkins swept into Enid Friday night to help commemorate the two year anniversary of the Enid Event Center. Although not a complete sellout the venue was filled with fans in cowboy hats, boots and Wranglers. There was even a small mix of kids scattered throughout the Enid Event Center.
-
McBride and Watkins both gave big time performances. The surprise of the night by far was Amanda Watkins! Wow! She was a fantastic performer that delivered an energy filled performance backed by a great southern voice. Her meaningful songs were spot on and she knew how to work a crowd.
-
My favorite part of the Watkins performance was her cover of John Mellencamps “Pink Houses.” She lit up the stage with her band, a group of musicians that looked like rock stars themselves. Her dress fit her personality to a tee and she couldn’t have looked any better than when she was playing that acoustic guitar.
-
From start to finish she danced around the stage and interacted with the audience. She seemed humble, yet hungry and looked the part of an up and coming country superstar. Look for Watkins to return one day as the headlining act.
-
The big performance of the evening of course was Martina McBride. She’s one tiny lady with one big voice! Her band and back up singers opened the show with a huge burst of energy. The McBride Horns were talented enough that our very own Joe Bryant would have been proud.
-
This was not an ordinary country show, it was a mix of all genres of music. McBride belted out tune after tune ranging from Van Morrison and Elvis to Pink and Sam Cook. She also sang her greatest hits including “Wild Angels” and “Blessed.”
-
McBride came out in all black with leather pants and high heels. She used the entire stage throughout the performance and conversed with the audience in between songs. McBrides performance at times felt more like a big band production than it did a country concert.
-
The big band feel may have thrown the crowd a bit. Enid audiences are notorious for hunkering down in their seats throughout performances and the first half of McBrides set was no different. There wasn’t much she could do to get the crowd to their feet. A few couples danced in the aisles and small groups of girls stood and swayed during sporadic slow songs.
-
McBride was finally able to bring the crowd to their feet after the halfway point of her set. The notes she reached during her popular ballads finally woke the audience and they began to respond. You could tell McBride was touched as she thanked the audience for the response. She also spoke about her appreciation of the investment of time and money the audience was giving her.
-
The band hit its stride and had most of the audience on their feet with the powerful song “Independence Day.” McBride grabbed her mic and tossed the mic stand behind her. The crowd responded even more handing her gifts and trying to high five her from the edge of the stage.
-
When McBride ended her song and began thanking the audience many got up and headed for the door. Those that scooted out early missed the encore which began with “Son of a Preacher Man” recorded by Dusty Springfield. She also sang "This One's For The Girls” and a few more bluesy songs. This was not the country concert for the rowdy crowd but it was great entertainment for the entire family.
-
About Martina McBride
-
Martina McBride, first made the country charts in 1992. Her hit records since then have included such enduring classics as “Wild Angels,” “Safe in the Arms of Love,” “A Broken Wing,” “Independence Day” and “This One’s for the Girls”. To date, she has had 20 top-10 hits and six No. 1 smashes. As a result, Martina McBride is ranked as the most played woman vocalist on country radio between 1999 and 2010. Martina McBride has been awarded 14 Gold Records, nine Platinum honors, three Double Platinum Records and two Triple Platinum awards and been recognized for selling over 18 million units. The Country Music Association has named her its Female Vocalist of the Year four times. The Academy of Country Music has presented her with its Top Female honor three times. The Recording Academy has nominated her for 14 Grammy Awards. She was honored with induction into the cast of the Grand Ole Opry in 1995.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
