McGraw leaves 'em screaming for more

TIM McGRAW AND THE DANCEHALL DOCTORS, Delta Center.

Never let it be said that Tim McGraw doesn't like his fans.

During his 2 1/2-hour show Thursday night in the Delta Center, the country superstar slapped and held their hands, signed dozens of autographs, sat on the edge of the stage and let them crowd around his legs and, during his final encore, was brave enough to walk through the crowd to make his way back on stage.

Clad in his trademark tight denim jeans and a not-quite-buttoned-up shirt, McGraw wowed the nearly sold-out crowd with a mix of songs off his new album, "Tim McGraw and The Dancehall Doctors," and a healthy dose of his classics.

McGraw and his longtime road band, The Dancehall Doctors, opened the night with the first track off the new record, "Comfort Me." From there, he launched into upbeat favorites, "Something Like That" and "For a Little While."

It wasn't until after the fifth song that McGraw spoke, and even then he kept it to a minimum. "Me and the boys don't B.S. a whole lot," he told the screaming crowd. "We just like to play music, and that's what we're going to do."

The energy level skyrocketed through a handful of good-ole country tunes, including McGraw's first-ever hit, "Indian Outlaw."

The "One Band Show" then took a turn toward a more homey feel, as McGraw sat on stage with nothing but his guitar, mike stand and a single spotlight, to sing an emotional acoustic version of "Angry All the Time," which he originally recorded with wife Faith Hill.

The cozy atmosphere continued, as band members presented McGraw with a cake to celebrate his 36th birthday and led the crowd of 20,000 in singing "Happy Birthday." After blowing out his candles, McGraw handed the cake into the crowd, which promptly began throwing pieces back on the stage.

Nine songs later, including the sing-along version of "Don't Take the Girl" — without which, no McGraw concert would be complete — McGraw walked offstage and left a raucous crowd screaming for more.

He fulfilled that wish with a fantastic rendition of the Steve Miller Band's "The Joker," and more classic McGraw tunes, including the energetic "I Like It, I Love It."

Unfortunately, at times throughout the night, the overly loud music overpowered McGraw's own voice. However, the crowd didn't seem to mind much. Filling in the gaps with their own voices, audience members were perfectly content just to watch McGraw move around the stage.

McGraw ended the night with what is quickly becoming one of his most popular live tunes, his take on the Elton John classic, "Tiny Dancer." He began the song off stage, at the back of the floor, as home videos of his three young daughters played on big screens up front. McGraw, always the doting father, pointed to the screens and serenaded his girls as they hammed it up for the camera.

Overall, it was among the best shows McGraw has put on in Salt Lake City. Always a dynamic performer, McGraw even outdid himself this time.

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E-MAIL: awelling@desnews.com