Tim McGraw and Team Provide The Perfect Soundtrack and Show For Final Days of Summer
I kicked my Sunday off at a bridal shower for a good friend of mine. It was a lovely morning full of meeting amazing women, sharing laughs, mimosas, succulent planting, and celebrating the bride-to-be. Although a far cry from my normal life, it was truly delightful, and I loved the small amount of time pretending to be normal, but before I knew it, my time to go had come. I couldn't commit fully to this more domesticated lifestyle. I had a show to go to and, although I felt bad, the bride wasn't surprised in the least. Is that a problem? Maybe, but if you get to know me on a personal level, you don't take it personally. I said my goodbyes and headed downtown to the beautiful Target Field (where the Minnesota Twins play-- dad, that's the baseball team up here).
Timothy Wayne hit the stage as people were still flowing in and the sun was high up in the sky. Some may think Timothy is only on this tour and show because of his relation to the headlining act, Tim McGraw. Timothy is Tim's nephew, but it quickly became clear he earned his spot on the tour rather than being handed it. Timothy's sound is classic country. He has classic country words about love and pickup trucks, yet there's a spark behind those songs. Some had youthful whimsy, while others had a modern-day old-soul feel. Does he give Tim a run for his money? No, truthfully, nobody can touch Tim, but does Timothy put up a fight? Absolutely.
49 Winchester took the stage yet again, and although the sun was already making things hot, this band definitely made things hotter. They got down to business and powered through their set without much banter, but a personality radiated from the stage. It wasn't just in the way they played or the charming smiles that you could find on any of the five members at any given time during the set; it was in their music. 49 Winchester's sound went from classic country to clap-and-stomp jams in the blink of an eye. Tenderness sprinkled throughout their set, but there was never a solely slow, sad song. The energy was perfect, with just the right amount of southern spice. Just when I thought I couldn't love this band any more, they dedicated their final song, a lovely cover of "Changes" from Black Sabbath, to the one and only Prince of Darkness. Sure, southern rock isn't quite my thing, and country is even further from my thing, but this is a band that I would kill to see live again in a more intimate space.
Kicking off back-to-back bands that had name changes after already being an established act was Lady A. Formerly known as Lady Antebulum (they changed their name to Lady A in 2020 which may have been even more problematic than "Lady Antebulum" but we don't have time to get into that), Lady A took the stage with a massive band behind the core trio of Hillary Scott, Charles Kelley, and Dave Hollywood. Although this group has been doing their thing for twenty years, the magical connection between these three members is absolutely stunning. It's the kind of thing that gives you goosebumps. Add in the fantastic band that added a sea of layers to get lost in, and you had the perfect set for a summer evening. There was a slight breeze, and the sun was slowly setting behind Target Field, giving you just the perfect vibe. I really hate when people say that, but in this case, there's no other way to put it. Lady A's set was a vibe, and I loved it through and through.
I'm not even going to try and ignore the fact that The Dixie Chicks were one of the first shows I ever went to. It was at the Iowa State Fair, and at that time in my life, I was all about pop music and trying to figure out my path when it came to music. I must have had a slight country lean for a hot minute; I remember singing Shania Twain with my cousin when I spent a summer at my aunt and uncle's farm, and I remember seeing The Dixie Chicks. Although the music didn't fully stick with me, the memory did, so being able to see The Chicks (they dropped the "Dixie" portion of their name in 2020 to be a bit more politically correct). It felt like the only thing that has changed about this band is their name. I remember being a fan of them because of their grit. Sure, they were beautiful women, and they were true rockstars, but it was that grit and tenacity that they have always had behind them that made me a fan and got them in trouble (which, incidentally, made me more of a fan). That's what I got from their set on Sunday night: grit, tenacity, attitude, and just general bad-assery.
"Wide Open Spaces" (which was actually written by Susan Gibbs, who is originally from Fridley, Minnesota) was clearly a favorite of the audience, and I understood why. Not only is it a brilliant song, but the Chicks play it with such an insane amount of passion and fire. I loved that they played with so much emotion in all of their songs, but this one and "Travelin' Soldier" (originally written by Bruce Robison) really hit hard. It's hard to believe that after all of these years of playing these hits night after night, they haven't lost the meaning behind the music. Sure, I may not be a huge Chicks fan these days, and it's honestly one of the last things I'd probably put on to listen to, but after seeing them on Sunday night, I get it and realize that there still may be a place in my heart for them.
I don't like country music. I've said that many times and will continue saying that, so why in the heck did I spend my Sunday night at a country show? Because of headliner Tim McGraw. Sure, I may not like country music, but I know talent when I hear it, and I know someone who grinds when I see it. Both of those things are something that will draw me in, and Tim McGraw is the epitome of both, so there I was, at a Tim McGraw show at Target Field on a Sunday night.
Tim really set the tone for his set by walking through the crowd to get on stage rather than sneaking up from behind. This wasn't just a huge power play; it was also a signal of who Tim is. Sure, he's Tim McGraw, but he sings music for normal people, for the everyday American, and this unafraid walk through an excited audience showed that. This whole feeling was amplified as Tim kicked his set off with some more laid-back feeling songs before giving the packed stadium the ol' razzle-dazzle. Joined on stage by his incredible band (The Dancehall Doctors), I loved how Tim eased you into his world with this more chill opening. I'm sure people were ready for him to hit it hard, but as a fair-weathered fan at best (and even that is stretching it), I really appreciated being able to see the heart and talent behind this iconic man before the smoke and mirrors came in and took over.
Here's the catch: there never were smoke and mirrors. Sure, there was some razzle-dazzle and definitely some production behind this performance, but at the end of the day. The message was never lost: Tim McGraw is a cherished talent who isn't taking anything for granted and isn't stopping any time soon. Although he does this night after night to audiences all over the world, you could feel his joy every time he turned the microphone to the audience to take over. Between that and deafening cheers during breaks in songs and between songs, it's clear that Minneapolis is a Tim McGraw town and, after seeing him live, I may be a Tim McGraw lady.
Many moments felt special throughout the night. Most notably, Tim McGraw gave a heartfelt nod to Minneapolis. “I know Minnesota’s been going through a lot in the past six years,” he said. “You’ve been steady and strong. Everybody knows. We appreciate you." It was refreshing to feel seen. Don't get me wrong, so many bands coming through since early this year have had something to say, but it typically ends at "Fuck Ice" or something like that. McGraw took it a step further and, again, let his charm and down-to-earth personality shine through in that moment (and many others throughout the performance). I could spend all day reflecting on moments like that from not just McGraw, but all the other performers that night, but that wasn't the takeaway for me. The takeaway from this show was that although country may not be my jam, the energy, emotion, fire, and passion that radiated from the stage throughout all five acts had me sold. I'm not really ready to go out and buy cowboy boots and a cowboy hat yet, but I definitely think I need to give the country genre another try.