Keith Urban, no matter the Strip venue, keeps his audience rocking
Three songs into his concert Saturday night at Zappos Theater at Planet Hollywood, Keith Urban took a moment to reflect on the moment.
“It’s Saturday night in Las Vegas!” he reminded the audience, urging those in attendance to pay attention to the signs throughout the venue to stand and dance throughout the evening.
As if he really had to do that. Who could sit while Urban, the four-time Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter and guitarist extraordinaire, and his band pounded out hit after high-energy hit during the nearly two-hour sold-out show?
Those included his standards “Days Go By,” “Somewhere in My Car,” “Blue Ain’t Your Color,” and “Wasted Time,” among others. Added in were virtual duets with Carrie Underwood (“The Fighter”) and Pink (“One Too Many”).
For good measure, his bassist, Jerry Flowers, chimed in with a spell-binding rendition of John Legend’s “All of Me,” and guitarist/do-everything-guy Nathan Barlowe wowed the audience with his version of Lenny Kravitz’s “Are You Gonna Go My Way.”
But the show belonged to the headliner. Urban is simply masterly on the guitar (and showed some savvy with his banjo-picking abilities, to boot). His playing and energy, combined with his stories and audience engagement, make for a memorable night.
From inviting a (relatively) newly engaged couple from North Carolina on stage for an up-close selfie, to venturing out into the standing room-only pit in front of the stage for an acoustic rendition of “You’ll Think of Me,” Urban went beyond making a connection with his audience.
He even autographed the guitar and gave it to an astonished fan at song’s end.
Zappos Theater is the second Strip venue to host a residency for the Australian-born singer who belies his 55 years with his onstage exuberance. His first Las Vegas residency was up the Strip at the famed Colosseum at Caesars Palace.
The thing about Urban is that he’s classified as a country artist, no doubt an appealing attribute to the many fans sporting NASCAR paraphernalia in the audience. But he’s not country in the same vein as a Morgan Wallen, George Strait or Toby Keith. The guy can flat-out jam on his guitar with the best of any rock ’n’ roller.
It’s a formula that has worked well for Urban, and it is likely to continue for him.
“Keith Urban: The Las Vegas Residency” continues at 8 p.m. today, Friday, Saturday, plus March 15, 17 and 18; June 16, 17, 21, 23, 24, 28 and 30; and July 1 at Zappos Theater at Planet Hollywood. For ticket information, go to ticketmaster.com/keithurbanvegas.