Scotty McCreery loved Minnesota 'this big' Star Tribune photo/ Tom Wallace

Something was missing Saturday night at the X.

Despite an enthusiastic reception from 15,000 fans, Brad Paisley's show didn't have the spark, spunk, humor and momentum of his three previous tours that came to the Twin Cities, as I explained in my review. Maybe on only the third night of the Virtual Reality Tour, veteran Paisley just hasn't found the rhythm of this show.

By contrast, the Band Perry has found its stride. Looking like Heather Locklear having raided Stevie Nicks' closet, lead singer Kimberly Perry seemed more comfortable and confident than last time around opening for Tim McGraw in May (she seemed hyper and breathless that night). Beyond the crossover smash "If I Die Young" and the current country hit "All Your Life," the sibling group didn't demonstrate strong original material. Hence, they filled out the set with covers of a snippet of Tom Petty's "Free Fallin,'" a taste of Rihanna's "Love the Way You Lie" and a full-blown, fiddle-fueled reading of Queen's "Fat Bottom Girls."

Opening act Scotty McCreery, the 18-year-old reigning "American Idol," seemed more relaxed than when he performed two months ago at Mystic Lake Casino at K102's Class of 2011. Moreover, he showed more skill in reaching his high notes. However, the sound engineer at the X didn't do him any favors; his voice was either too low in the mix or his band was simply too loud. .

Here are the set lists from Saturday at Xcel Energy Center.

Brad Paisley's set:

Camouflage/ The World/ Welcome to the Future/ Ticks/ This Is Country Music/ Waitin on a Woman/ Celebrity (with Scotty McCreery)/ She's Everything/ Online/ Good Hearted Woman (Waylon & Willie) > Still a Guy/ Then/ Letter to Me/ Mud on the Tires/ Working on a Tan/ Whiskey Lullabye (with the Band Perry)/ Nervous instrumental/ I'm Gonna Miss Her (Fishin Song)/ Remind Me (Carrie Underwood on screen)/ Old Alabama (Alabama on screen)/ Water ENCORE American Saturday Night/ Alcohol (with McCreery, the Band Perry and Brian Setzer)

The Band Perry's set:

Jimmy/ Miss You Being Gone/ Hip/ All Your Life/ Independence > Free Fallin (Tom Petty) / Fat Bottom Girls (Queen)/ Postcard from Paris/ If I Die Young/ Love the Way You Lie (Rihanna) > You Lie

Scotty McCreery's set:

Water Tower Town/ You Make That Look Good/ I Love You This Big/ Dirty Dishes/ Write My Number on Your Hand/ The Trouble with Girls/ Walk in the Country