No stranger to Western NY, Tim McGraw brought his energy back to Buffalo on May 4, rocking the KeyBank Center. Playing in the area for the first time in 5 years, McGraw’s Standing Room Only Tour ’24 tour featured Carly Pearce and rising star Abby Anderson as openers.
Like many other regions, Western NY has taken a liking to country music and Tim McGraw over the years has played gigs in Buffalo, Darien Lake, Rochester, and Canandaigua, often on the same tour. With five prominent venues from Buffalo to Canandaigua, there is no shortage of fans or places to play.
Hitting the stage after Abby Anderson’s brief set, Carly Pearce came out to the hyped Buffalo crowd. With the hockey and football seasons both over for a while, Buffalonians needed something to keep then energized and Pearce did her part. She even bantered about illegal activities in Buffalo. Apparently, wearing slippers in public after 10pm is against the law, as is throwing a ball at an unexpected person’s head.
Since coming into her own with 2017’s “Every Little Thing”, Pearce has been a mainstay on country charts and stations across the country. While the thirty-four-year-old has her own style and sound, it is very reminiscent of the 90s country sounds of Faith Hill, Shania Twain, and Miranda Lambert, with some vindictive tones. Such is the case with “What He Didn’t Do”. The song talks about a breakup and different sides of the story. While she won’t say he did, she will tell you what he didn’t do. Pearce urges fans that if they are in a relationship and they question why they are in it, it’s time to get out. Applause and cheers fill the arena as Pearce stands there looking teary eyed with an ear to ear smile.
That’s just dirty laundry
I don’t need to air the truth
So I ain’t gonna tell you everything he did
But I’ll tell you what he didn’t do
Having worked with high profile names over the past several years, including Chirs Stapelton, Ashley McBryde, and Leann Rimes, Pearce has paid her dues and earned all the accolades. Included accolades are 2018 CMT Award for Breakthrough Video of The Year for “Every Little Thing” and 2021 CMA Award for Female Vocalist of the Year. Keep your eyes on this talented musician as her career continues to gain steam going forward.
Setlist: Diamondback, Next Girl, Easy Going, Never Wanted to Be That Girl, Let’s Go to Vegas (F. Hill cover), We Don’t Fight Anymore, Every Little Thing, Country Music Made Me Do It, Truck on Fire, What He Didn’t Do, I Hope You’re Happy Now
Following a brief intermission, fans continued to fill the arena as lights go down and a solid red back drop illuminated the stage. Suddenly, a gargantuan silhouette of a guy in his famous Stetson hat appears and seemingly models for the crowd. The crowd erupts as the backdrop fades and Tim McGraw rises to the stage in Buffalo for the first time since 2019.
An ageless classic, McGraw is outfitted in his typical Stetson hat, tight fitting jeans, and ripped shirt. A musical GQ cover, some might say, is touring to promote his newest album Standing Room Only, released in summer of 2023
With nearly 30 years of music to choose from, the singer/actor delivers an impeccable setlist of classics and new music, with killer light show and animated backdrops changing for each song to tell the story.
Starting off the set, fans are treated to powerful rendition of “Truck Yeah”, a song about living the life of southern boy. The old pick up with blaring music, farm life and chasing the girl.
Rap or country, city farm
It don’t matter who you are
Got a little fight, got a little love
Got a little redneck in your blood
Are you one of us?
“Southern Voice” and “All I Want is a Life” round out the first three, and the crowd is just getting warmed up. Going word for word and matching the energy of each song is the game tonight. If only the Sabres could learn something about matching energy.
As I walk off to tuck photo gear and find my seat, the Buffalo faithful are serenaded with bluesy version of Elton John’s “Tiny Dancer”. There aren’t many songs from Elton than can be covered properly, but I’ll damned if McGraw didn’t take it to another level.
As the set continues, McGraw takes a moment to let the crowd know that he does not chatter much during his shows. Explaining why, he says he is married and has daughters. He knows that nobody will listen to him anyway.
Moving on, with songs like “One Bad Habit” and “Watch the Wind Blow By”, the backdrop screen plays videos and images of Tim and his wife, Faith Hill, a testament to his undying love to his wife. Having been married since 1996, they have the marriage that Ross and Rachel only dreamed of. A storybook marriage that has stood the test of time and fame.
Playing the title track from his most recent album, it is a song about living life and making the most of everything. Getting mad at things that don’t matter will get you nowhere, you need to embrace the challenges and make people envious.
Live a life so when I die
There’s standing room only, standing room only
Standing room only, standing room only
Rounding out his set, Tim comes out for a 3 song encore that is preceded by a video montage of the series 1883, which starred both him and his wife. Accordingly, “The Cowboy in Me” led things off, followed by “Humble and Kind,” and “Live Like You Were Dying”. “Humble and Kind”, although released by McGraw, was written by Lori McKenna as song to her children about everything she wanted her children to know. McGraw was able to put some new melodies to it and took it to the top in 2015. The following year, though, McKenna did release it on her album.
“Live Like You Were Dying” was released in 2004 and although never confirmed it tells about someone who has been stricken with a debilitating sickness. Singing about all the things you never had the chance to do or kept putting off for whatever reason, and now you must find a way to cross those things of the bucket list. A powerful and emotional song to close out the set that undoubtedly left some fans in tears.
Growing up, I was never a fan of country music. My entire family listened to it, except me. I was reluctant to attend a Tim McGraw show in 2004 as part of a marital bargaining chip. That show truly changed my take on country music going forward. Watching Tim and Faith on stage and how broad their talents were something to marvel at. Powerful, thought out lyrics, and amazing stage presence hooked me and now 20 years later, this happens. The world works in mysterious ways.
Tim McGraw setlist: Truck Yeah, Southern Voice, All I Want Is a Life, Tiny Dancer (Elton John), Just To See You Smile, Over and Over/Shotgun Rider, One Bad Habit, Watch the Wind Blow By, Something Like That, Where The Green Grass Grows, Standing Room Only, Red Ragtop, Highway Don’t Care (w/Taylor Swift), I like It I Love It, Felt Good on My Lips, Real Good Man
Encore: 1883 video footage, The Cowboy in Me, Humble and Kind, Live Like You Were Dying
