Review: Martina McBride at Taj Mahal

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT > FEATURES

One of Nashville’s best vocalists performed a dynamic set in Atlantic City

By Lori Hoffman

Add Comment | Comments: 2 | Posted Aug. 8, 2010

Martina McBride

Photo by Lori Hoffman

Martina McBride, possessed with a powerful soprano voice filled with emotion, brought her Shine All Night Tour to the Trump Taj Mahal Saturday night (Aug. 7). Her 19-song set, with a two song encore, covered her 18-year career nicely and even threw in a little Bon Jovi for this Jersey crowd.

Backed by a fantastic seven piece band including her little brother Marty Schiff (“Hey gals, I want you to know. He’s single – AGAIN!”), McBride took us on a lovely musical ride that began with the song “Ride,” one of her hit singles from the Shine album.

She kicked into high energy mode with “Even God Fearin’ Women Get The Blues,” followed a couple of hits from early in her career, “Happy Girl” and “Wild Angels.”

The strongest portion of the show featured her current hit, the pop/country crossover “Wrong Baby Wrong,” followed by a terrific cover of “Lean On Me” and her take on the classic Kris Kristofferson song, “Help Me Make It Through the Night.” The latter was from her album of country standards, Timeless. Her soaring ballad “Anyway” completed the best segment of her show.

McBride confessed that she had been having a crappy day and that being with this audience was making her feel much better. The feeling was mutual.

McBride headed to the finish with “Love’s The Only House,” the bouncy “This One’s For The Girls,” and two more top ballads, “A Broken Wing” and “In My Daughter’s Eyes” before she delivered her signature tune about spousal abuse, “Independence Day.”

McBride rocked the house with her encore cover songs, “Bon Jovi’s “Living on a Prayer,” and a top hit from one of her acknowledged musical influences, Pat Benatar’s “Hit Me with Your Best Shot.”