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Concert Review: Sara Evans at Toadlick Festival in Dothan

The one thing the Toadlick Music Festival has been missing is healthy dose of estrogen. I’m not talking about the women in attendance. They showed up in full force to sing, dance and generally moon over some of country’s best looking men like Dierks Bentley and Billy Currington. I’m talking about the performers. Of the nineteen acts scheduled over the festival weekend, only one woman was on the bill. Granted, she wasn’t just any woman. Sara Evans played the main stage Saturday night as the festivities were wrapping up. Just to make sure you didn’t miss her she was the one in glittery jeans and spiked heels.

Sara didn’t have to drive far. The Missouri native currently lives on the outskirts of Birmingham with her husband Jay Barker who is a bit of a legend around these parts being the quarterback who led the Crimson Tide to win the national title in 1992. He and her children were never far from her mind as she mentioned wrapping up a vacation at the beach with the family where her nose was firmly glued to the pages of “Hunger Games.”

Evans started off the evening with “As If.” She had the full band backing her including brother Matt on bass guitar. For those who aren’t aware, they’ve been playing together since about the womb. He also is the writer of “Anywhere,” the upcoming single off her latest album “Stronger,” and has co-produced other notable tracks like “Suds in a Bucket.” Sara teased at one point in the show that Matt tormented her mercilessly when they were younger, adding the nice dig that now he works for her. I’m sure its all good natured fun at this stage of their relationship.

Evans latest album “Stronger” was released almost a year to the day. The first single was the track “A Little Bit Stronger” that was written by none other than Lady Antebellum’s Hillary Scott. It was also a featured track in the Gwyneth Paltrow, Tim McGraw film “Country Strong.” Evans didn’t sample too heavily from this album, playing only three songs, but she did focus on her greatest hits. Chart toppers like “Perfect,” “Born to Fly” and the Edwin McCain cover “I Could Not Ask for More” made the cut.

In addition to the McCain cover and the Rod Stewart song “My Heart Can’t Tell You No,” Sara also closed out the evening with a duo of covers including a rousing “Stand By You Man” from Tammy Wynette and Cheap Trick’s “I Want You to Want Me.” I don’t think the audience minded too much that Sara strayed from her catalog as they were dancing in the moonlight. She even led the Toadlick faithful in singing “Happy Birthday” to her 72-year-old uncle who came down to Dothan to celebrate with her.

You could tell she enjoyed playing for the Alabama crowd. She was cutting up with the band, reaching out to the audience teaming around the stage and even handled a song false start with grace. When a truck was backing up behind the stage with its annoying beep, Evans halted the first notes of “Cheatin’” to have a quick laugh and restart the song in the way it was intended.

Sara Evans played a great set at Toadlick and was a nice change of pace in the male-dominated festival. She was beautiful and her voice was pristine as you would expect from this seasoned star. Be sure to check out the 47th annual Academy of Country Music Awards next weekend where Sara Evans will be performing along with Country music’s biggest stars.

Sara Evans Toadlick Setlist
As If
Perfect
Born to Fly
Cheatin’
I Keep Looking
Anywhere
Coalmine
My Heart Can’t Tell You No
A Little Bit Stronger
Happy Birthday
Suds in a Bucket
Could Not Ask for More
A Real Fine Place to Start
Stand by Your Man
I Want You to Want Me

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