Posted: September 4th, 2008 at 5:43 pm | By: Chris Parton
I just watched Keith Urban play at the NFL Kickoff concert in New York City on NFL.com. (It’s a tough job, I know.) This was definitely not a normal show for Urban, but he showed why he’s become one of the biggest acts in music. Sure, there was a huge wrap-around video screen behind him and what appeared to be thousands of people in attendance — just like any other show — but since it was a free concert, many in the audience didn’t seem familiar with Urban. That didn’t faze him, though, and by his fourth song, he had the security guards chasing him around Columbus Circle and easily won the crowd over.

He started with “Days Go By,” which led into “Where the Blacktop Ends,” and then slowed it down with “Stupid Boy.” During “Blacktop,” he got out to the edge of the stage and shredded a guitar solo. It was at this point that the crowd started getting into it. To see guys wearing big gold chains and backwards ball caps bobbing their heads and throwing their hands in the air for Keith Urban was pretty cool. After that, I didn’t think he would be able to get out into the crowd like he normally does, but he jumped off the stage during “You Look Good in My Shirt” with security guards in tow looking utterly surprised. There are helicopter shots of Urban walking through a barricaded walkway with the crowd surging toward him and guards frantically trying to keep up. I guess nobody told them to be ready for that. The audience went nuts.

He made it back to the stage and played two more songs, “You’ll Think of Me” and “Better Life,” and wanted to keep playing but was told he was out of time. I think it’s safe to say that the most anticipated act in New York was Usher, but Urban did not disappoint the crowd and, judging by their reaction, may have gained a few new fans. The production quality was very high with lots of camera angles and great sound. I really don’t know if anyone will put the entire show on TV in the future, but it was definitely good enough, so stay on the lookout.

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