Brad Paisley in Tampa

Tuesday, 17 August 2010 15:43

Brad Paisley brought his H2O tour to the 1-800-Ask-Gary Amphitheatre in Tampa on Friday the 13th. The show was an early start with water-themed activities and booths set up outside the seated amphitheater, and three newer artists performing on an outdoor stage.

Story and Photos by John Davisson

I made it in time to catch the end of Josh Thompson’s set and got to hear “Beer on the Table,” a great honky-tonk song that he played for the final song. Easton Corbin also played a nice set, including his big hit, “A Little More Country Than That,” and his latest single, “Roll With It.” Easton is a Gainesville resident, and he graduated from UF.

Next, it was time to move into the seated area, first for Justin Moore who got the crowd going with “Backwoods” and “Small Town USA,” which the crowd mostly sang.

Darius Rucker was next. He’s quite the country performer. I will miss Hootie & the Blowfish, but thankfully he threw in a couple of Hootie songs (“Hold My Hand” and “Let Her Cry”) with all the new hits from his country album (four so far). A cover of Hank Jr.’s “Family Tradition turned into a rowdy call and response with the country fans. The closer was a strange pick though: Prince’s “Purple Rain.”

But it was Brad Paisley’s show, and he closed it out big time, with huge video production all around him (de rigueur for country tours now) and plenty of hits. He also managed to run all over the stage with mikes set up for him in several places and a ramp extending 10 rows deep into the crowd. He even went into the crowd for some up-close performing. But it was his guitar playing that I enjoyed the most; I love his twangy guitar style, and he has chops to spare. As far as I’m concerned, he should set up a water park near here so he can play in Florida a lot more.