George Strait

March 1^st, 2008

Quicken Loans Arena

Cleveland, Ohio

County music extraordinaire George Strait ended his Cleveland drought of four years last night at The Q, but once he began to play, you felt like he was ever gone.  You could say that George officially kicked off the 2008 country concert series here in Cleveland, it may have been cold outside but it was like summer inside The Q. 

The stage was setup in a different kind of way.  The four corners contained microphones with set lists taped to the floor next to each one of them.  The stage was a bit lower than usual and was full of video screens.  George would perform two songs, then travel to the next microphone, talk a little bit and then sing two more songs.  I’m guessing that George wanted to make sure every seat in the house was a good one…and it was.  That’s just how he is.

From the start of the show, people were on their feet Honky-Tonkin’ as for most of his set; there wasn’t much of a need for a chair.  George was very personable to the crowd of eager fans.  He made sure to acknowledge as many of them as he could, reaching down to shake hands and smiling’ at all the pretty girls, that’s just how he is.   

I’m actually surprised that he could see anything with all of the compact digital cameras flashing in his eyes from out in the crowd.  It used to be cigarette lighters and hand waving, now its cell phones and cameras.  George didn’t seem to mind…that’s just how he is. 

The thing about George is this, he wows the crowd.  It doesn’t matter if they’re young or old, a fan or not, he wows them.  He and his 12 piece ‘Ace-in-hole’ band made sure that you were entertained…something that is missing in most concerts today.  George actually enjoyed himself to the point where I don’t think he ever stopped smiling.  He took the time to tell everyone that he has a new album coming out on April 1^st and sang two songs from that album.  The two songs, “Troubadour” and “I Saw God Today” instantly became fan favorites. 

Now with a career that spans some 27 years, you would think he was done, but not George, no way.  “I Saw God Today” actually debut in the top twenty.

His thirty song set proved that he likes to play.  The man played for nearly an hour and forty-five minutes.  He went from playing ballads to blowing the roof off of the place and then back to ballads again.  There really wasn’t any time to get a beer because you were afraid you were going to miss something. 

There is a reason George Strait is call ‘The King of County’…just go to a show, you’ll see why.  So, was the concert fantastic?  You’ll have to check YES because NO isn’t an option.

MDN

Cleveland Set list

Honk If You Honky-tonk

Ocean Front

Fireman

I Hate Everything

Run

There Stands the Glass

Check Yes or No

The Chair

She’ll Leave You with a Smile

I Ain’t Her Cowboy

Cowboys Like Us

Texas

Amarillo by Morning

Seashores of Mexico

Write This Down

Better Rain Troubadour

I Saw God

Cowgirls

Give It Away

Just Comes Natural

I Can Still Make Cheyenne

Heartland

I Just Want To Dance

Wrapped

Unwound

—Encore—

High Tone Woman

As Far as it Goes

Tulsa / Milk Cow Blues

Folsom Prison Blues

The Cowboy Rides Away