First off I have to mention the new “Center” facility at the newly constructed, $90 Million, Casino NB (called The Center because it’s the middle of the building in between the Casino and the Hotel). It’s a fantastic facility that has already seen the likes of Roger Hodgson, Regis Philbin, and already has the likes of The Beach Boys, Randy Travis, and Paul Anka lined up. The Center has a fantastic and spacious lobby with room for a majority of the patrons and even has a ‘bar’ for concert goers to entertain themselves prior to a show, which is a nice touch. Easy access to the seating venue through two large doors, complete with ushers with electronic scanners get’s everyone to their seats in a quick and easy manner. The seating is laid out in a very functional pattern where you can see the main stage, aided by two large video screens to either side of the stage high up on the walls. Acoustically this venue rocks, the sound was superb, not overpowering and every word from the stage clear…and speaking of the stage…on to the show!
Travis Tritt hit the stage with his band to start off the night of over two hours and twenty minutes of music, stories, reflecting, thanks, bluesy, rockin’, country fun. Rattling off renditions of classic songs like “Foolish Pride”, “Be Somebody”, and Eagles cover “Take It Easy”.
Having been around since the late 80’s Travis had some stories to tell, and he did just that giving the band a break and sitting alone center stage with an acoustic guitar. Telling stories about years on the road, travels, longing for home, mixing the stories with songs like “Fields of Home” with a great lead in about a relationship he had with his father.
When the band returned they launched into the barn burners like “Here’s A Quarter”, and “Country Club” and mixed in a little tenderness with “When There’s Something Wrong With My Baby”. The crowd were eating it up, with several standing ovations and Tritt at times seemed taken back with the response.
After almost two hours of playing we were all thinking we might get a one or maybe two song encore, were we ever pleasantly surprised…sporting a SRV styled hat and blasting out almost thirty minutes of bluesy, rock styled tunes that had the place hopping with guitar solos, and keyboard solos and cheering crowds.
Needless to say, if you ever get to see his show live, it’s well worth the price of admission if you like countrified, bluesy, rockin’ music…bravo TT!
On a side note I’m really, REALLY glad the sign at the front door of the center (still photography prohibited) was not enforced. Myself and the hundreds of digital camera toting fans in the crowd would have been really disappointed with the venue.
To “The Center” themselves…those bleacher chairs that are all connected together are really annoying, the woman sitting beside me was ‘bopping’ to everything! So thus I was bopping too…even when I was trying to take a picture.
Overall…great show, great venue!