Concert Review
Sara Evans
Seneca Allegany Events Center
Salamanca, NY
Sunday April 28, 2013
Review/Photos: Joseph Suto
The ever so pleasant Sara Evans invaded the Seneca Allegany Events Center Sunday for a 5 p.m. matinee show. Evans, who has numerous distinctions and awards as well as top selling albums, played a solid eighty minute set that featured several of her biggest hits.
One thing that stood out was how good she sounded in the live setting. Evans graced the stage as she delivered in perfect pitch a show that also featured a solid band. Her band included lead guitarist Brent Wilson, guitarist Kris Donegan, fiddle/acoustic guitar Billy McClaran and drummer Jim Bloodgood. Her band also included her brother Matt Evans who played bass.
Evans kicked the show off with “As If” followed by a barrage of songs including “Perfect and “Born To Fly”, one of her #1 songs on the Billboard Country Chart. One of the highlights of the show came in the form of “Saints & Angels”, a song that Evans has called her favorite from her Born To Fly album.
As she sat down at a stool she reflected on the recent passing of the legendary George Jones. Jones had a hand in the early development of Evans’ career even before her first album was released. She talked about how he was an idol of hers and how she knew all of his songs growing up. She also recorded “Cupid” a duet with him on one of her earlier albums. In honoring what she called a true legend, she dedicated “He Stopped Loving Her Today”.
Evans is currently touring while working on recording her seventh studio release. She told the audience she was about halfway done recording and hoped to have it out soon. Her last release was 2011s Stronger.
The show concluded with a pair of cover tunes Tammy Wynette’s “Stand By Your Man” and Cheap Trick’s “I Want You To Want Me”. The latter being an odd choice but went over well with the audience, which by this point crowded down in front of the stage to try to get a better glimpse of their idol.
Set List
As If
Perfect
Born To Fly
Cheatin’
Saints And Angels
Anywhere
Coal Mine
He Stopped Loving Her Today (George Jones Cover)
My Heart Can’t Tell You No
A Little Bit Stronger
Suds In The Bucket
I Could Not Ask For More
A Real Fine Place To Start
Encore
Stand By Your Man (Tammy Wynette Cover)
I Want You to Want Me (Cheap Trick Cover)
