I'm sitting in my hotel room after an AWESOME concert with Martina McBride at the Seneca Niagara Casino in Niagara Falls, NY! My mom and I drove out here from Syracuse, NY...it was our third Martina show, and I think it's now officially my favorite one (although I have loved them all)! :)

This venue was much different than the other concerts I've seen (from any artist). This was not an arena feel or an outdoors, state fair feel. It was in the casino's event center, which was one big, fancy room....but no leveled seating, everyone was on the floor. It was much smaller than an arena, so as a result, it felt much more intimate. I was very pleasantly surprised to discover that we were only six rows back, over on her left...this was the closest we had EVER been to her; I never go for floor seats because I'm what many of you call a "sitter." I don't like standing through the show....I like to sit and soak it in, and as a result I'm used to seeing a small figure on the stage and then I pay attention to the screens for close-up shots. This was awesome, though....I could see Martina VERY clearly and at times I was only thirty feet away from her (man, she's gorgeous :)). I was very pleased to see that not only was I was able to sit within a very close distance to Martina, but the audience sat and enjoyed the show. However, the audience was by no means complacent...people were singing along to the songs, bobbing their heads to the music, giving very appreciative and enthusiastic applause....so that was great. She clearly enjoyed the crowd, too....she told us that we were perfect and could not have been any better because we were energetic while also listening. She also posted to that effect on Twitter, so I'm glad we gave her some good energy even though we stayed seated. :)

As usual, her vocals were incredibly impressive. Here were just some of the show highlights and surprises (she had a couple in store for us tonight! :)):

~ During her first "audience chat" session after My Baby Loves Me, a woman who was (I think) with her daughter and granddaughter shouted out that it was her birthday today. Martina said, "Well, I think we should all sing Happy Birthday to her" and we did. That was really sweet.

~ After Lean on Me (which both Martina and the crowd REALLY got into), she told us that she was going to perform a song that she doesn't always do, but wanted to do tonight. She then began singing In My Daughter's Eyes. This was a TERRIFIC surprise and I've got to say, her performance was so tender and clear and dynamic that it was quite possibly the strongest vocal performance of the evening...and we hadn't even gotten into many of the power ballads yet! :) This was a great transition into Teenage Daughters...she said that she recorded In My Daughter's Eyes when Delaney was a young girl....then she said, "Now fast forward ten years or so." That got a laugh from the audience and she gave a great, funny little introduction to Teenage Daughters, which the crowd really enjoyed (especially the "I think I need a drink" line).

~ In yet another surprise performance, she said later, "This next song is one we weren't going to do, but I felt compelled to do it tonight. Who says we need to go in order? We don't need to follow any stinkin' list!" That has already become one of my new favorite lines, and it got a big laugh from the crowd. We were then treated to a very rare and excellent performance of From the Ashes. She said it's one of her favorite songs she's ever recorded.

~ I LOVED hearing the new material live. One Night is the perfect way to open the show with a lot of energy...between tonight and the CMA Fest performance last weekend, it's very quickly becoming one of my favorite songs. I was also very impressed by how much expression and emotion she put into I'm Gonna Love You Through It....that song had better get into the Top Ten AT LEAST, it's got a lot of power.

Here is the set list, as best as I can remember it:
One Night
When God-Fearin' Women Get the Blues
Wild Angels
My Baby Loves Me
Happy Birthday
I'm Gonna Love You Through It
Wrong Baby Wrong
Lean on Me
In My Daughter's Eyes
Teenage Daughters
Anyway
This One's for the Girls
Love's the Only House/Blessed
From the Ashes
Whatever You Say
A Broken Wing
Independence Day
Hit Me With Your Best Shot
Summer of '69