Martina McBride's new album is called "Waking Up Laughing." Friday night at the Tsongas Arena it was easy to understand why the diminutive Kansan has such effortless access to her joy.
Blessed with the kind of technically flawless yet powerfully emotive voice -- not to mention the healthy career -- the "American Idol" contestants she mentored last week would enter a Faust ian bargain to possess , McBride is a performer who can buff even the most pedestrian song to a high shine.
Given great material, however, her skills are nearly as blinding as the country singer's twinkling, elaborate stage set -- complete with an array of 13 video screens -- was Friday night.
Mostly she stuck to the good stuff both old and new. With the help of her sturdy seven - piece band, she soared through the anthem of optimism and faith "Anyway," duetted delicately with brother Marty Schiff on the bittersweet "Tryin' to Find a Reason," dipped into the classic country barrel for a sassy take on Loretta Lynn's "You Ain't Woman Enough , " and stopped the show with a Category 5 version of the bluesy "Broken Wing."
The more assembly - line Nashville stuff, peppy pop sing alongs like "My Baby" and "Wild Angels," coasted along pleasantly under the power of McBride's pitch - perfect sense of melody and froth.
While the set closer "Independence Day" -- another in a trail of poignant McBride "issues" numbers, this one concerning domestic violence -- was assuredly triumphant, it seemed an odd lead - in to an encore cover of Pat Benatar's "Hit Me With Your Best Shot."
For harmony junkies, Little Big Town's middle set was a sweet fix indeed. The dynamic two man-two woman vocal group, backed by a nimble three - piece band, expertly layered their voices to shiver-inducing effect. Each took a turn on lead vocals but always respected the body of the sound they were making, be it the foot - stomping ode to rural roots "Boondocks," the tender acoustic ballad of loss "Stay," or the nod to forebears Fleetwood Mac with a rousing run through "Go Your Own Way."
Rodney Atkins, an overnight sensation a decade in the making, opened with tracks from his solid breakthrough platinum seller , "If You're Going Through Hell."