Concert Review
Shania Twain
First Niagara Center
Buffalo, NY
Saturday October 3, 2015
Review/Photos: Joseph Suto
Saturday night marked Shania Twain’s first show in town in over twelve years. Twain had retired from touring in 2004 citing vocal problems as the main reason. She returned after a sabbatical and some rehab for her voice with a residency in Vegas in 2012. Shania and her voice were in prime form during her 105-minute performance at the First Niagara Center.
Joan Jett’s “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll” blasted away just before Twain hit the stage giving one a sense that this would be an interesting show to say the least. As the lights went down, the stage lit up and smoke swirled about, Twain appeared and tore into “Rock This Country”, a minor hit that coincidentally is the name of her current tour. Dressed in a black leather coat which revealed a sequin covered Rolling Stones outfit underneath and black thigh high boots, Twain looked nothing like her age would indicate.
Twain brought along a dazzling bag of goodies and spared no expense. She took a ride around the floor seats in a wheeled cart for “Any Man Of Mine”. During “Up” she sat on a saddle reminiscent of one from a mechanical bull. That is where the similarities end as hers was attached to a crane that lifted her above the crowd on the floor and moved in a circle. Her light show also was grandeur and featured lasers.
Opener Gavin DeGraw, man of a thousand hats (he is seldom seen without one), returned to the stage during “Party For Two”. Afterwards Twain mentioned to the crowd how DeGraw was one of her favorite singers before he departed the stage. Earlier in the evening DeGraw played a very satisfying 40-minute set that featured a few covers and some of his hits including “I Don’t Wanna Be” and “Not Over You”.
“Today Is Your Day” started a three song acoustic set with Twain and her band sitting on stools. She was left alone at the front of the stage for “You’re Still The One”, her highest charting (Billboard 100) and perhaps biggest song. She urged the crowd to join her as she restarted the song from the beginning. She encored with “Man! I Feel Like A Woman before departing for the evening.
With Twain suggesting to the media earlier this year that this would be the last tour she would do, she did not rule out the possibility of another residency somewhere. She may be known as the best-selling female country artist of all-time but this show was more of a pop rock affair. Her popularity of being able to play to full houses in arenas some thirteen years since her last studio album is quite a feat. If Saturday’s performance was truly her last ever in Buffalo, she spared no expense and went out at the top of her game.
Shania Set List
Rock This Country!
Honey, I’m Home
You Win My Love
Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under?
I Ain’t No Quitter
Love Gets Me Every Time
Don’t Be Stupid (You Know I Love You)
Any Man of Mine
I’m Gonna Getcha Good!
Come on Over
Party For Two
Up!
Today Is Your Day
No One Needs to Know
You’re Still the One
From This Moment On
That Don’t Impress Me Much
(If You’re Not in It for Love) I’m Outta Here!
Encore
Man! I Feel Like a Woman!
Gavin DeGraw
Soldier
In Love With a Girl
Fire
Sweeter
Chariot
Best I Ever Had
Big Shot (Billy Joel Cover)
I Don’t Want to Be
Heaven/Not Over You (Bryan Adams Cover)
