Little Big Town's Kimberly Schlapman and Karen Fairchild at the fair/
Star Tribune photo by Renee Jones Schneider
Rascal Flatts' mini-festival crammed four bands into nearly four hours at the fair Thursday.
My review dealt with Rascal Flatts' performance and I can't say enough about Little Big Town. Much improved, more confident. "Tornado," featuring Karen Fairchild, is a can't miss hit. "Your Side of the Bed," a Lady A-like duet featuring Fairchild and her hubby Jimi Westbrook, seems hit-bound. I can't wait to hear "Tornado," LBT's fifth album, due Sept. 11. Even "Pontoon," the current smash, sounded more vibrant and forceful live during this sparkling 50-minute performance.
As for the other two opening acts, Edens Edge's 25-minute set was marred by lead singer Hannah Blaylock's bad cold, though she was strikingly chipper. As for Eli Young Band's low-energy 25 minutes, they epitomized generic.
Here are the set lists for all four bands:
Rascal Flatts set:
Changed/ Banjo/ Summer Nights/ Fast Cars/ These Days/ Come Wake Me Up/ Hot in Here/ I Melt/ My Wish/ ???/ Stand/ Why Wait/ Lean on Me (Bill Withers)/ Open Arms (Journey)/ God Bless the Broken Road/ drum and guitar solos/ Me & My Gang/ Life Is a Highway (Tom Cochrane)/ Here's To You ENCORE What Hurts the Most/ We're An American Band (Grand Funk Railroad song, performed w Little Big Town, Eli Young Band & Edens Edge)
Little Big Town set:
Front Porch Thing/ Little White Church/ Bones/ Sober/ Your Side of the Bed/ Born This Way (Lady Gaga)/ Bring It on Home/ Tornado/ Pontoon/ Boondocks
