By Jon Bream
Which of these rock covers turned it around for Miranda Lambert Friday at Mystic Lake Casino:
A. the Band's "Cripple Creek" B. the Faces' "Stay with Me" C. Wilson Pickett's "Midnight Hour" D. Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Travelin Band"
The country star did all of those tunes but 'Travelin' Band," which she played with rock n roll abandon, turned an unexciting show into a pretty good one.Lambert has been better -- even at Mystic Lake. She clearly had an issue with playing in a dry room ("it sucks," she told the sellout crowd). But she finally sparked the audience with the Creedence hit, one of six covers of other people's triumphs that she did.
Considering that Lambert has three acclaimed albums, it was surprising to hear so many covers in a 90-minute set -- and not even hear her hit "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend." She did several tunes from her brand-new "Revolution" album, the best of which was "Only Prettier," which had a clever novelty country sonic ring and an underdog attitude zing. She also distinguished herself on the new ballad "The House That Built Me," which really connected with the crowd, and the current single "White Liar," a twangy Dixie Chicks-evoking tune that swings at the end.
Other highlights were her hits, the galvanizing "Gunpowder and Lead" and the spirited "Famous in a Small Town."
