Talk about your sensory overload. Lights, sounds, emotions and blustery weather on All Hallow's Eve. Reba's concert in Prince George had a surreal quality to it and I was not alone in that sentiment. There were several fans who had very strong emotional reactions to Reba's presence. One young woman started to cry and shake and she thought she was going to throw up she was so excited to see Reba.
The band behind Reba was nine-pieces of highly-professional, completely-talented musicians that stunned the audience with their skills and provided great showmanship that entertained the full house at the CN Centre Halloween night.
Victoria Banks, Canada Country Music's Female Artist of the Year and Songwriter of the Year, opened the show with a strong voice and powerful songs. Banks did some of her favourite songs like The Wheel and in medley style to showcase those she has written for other artists like Sara Evans' Saints & Angels, Jessica Simpson's Come On Over and Johnny Reid's Dance With Me. In honour of Halloween Banks donned a red Reba wig and sang one line from Fancy, one of the most powerful songs that Reba sings. Banks said she hoped Reba wouldn't fire her for being cheeky but since it was her last night with her she hoped it was OK to play the Halloween trick and it was a real treat. Then Banks quickly moved on to her popular songs This Old Halo, Back to the River and Don't Leave the Leavin'.
After a bit of a break, in true show-stopping fashion Reba rose up from a hole in the stage to sing Can't Even Get the Blues, Strange, Lights Went Out in Georgia, Is There Life Out There, a new one from her upcoming alum that comes out Nov. 9 called I'll Have What She's Havin', Fallin' Out of Love and many more of her hits.
Throughout the whole show Reba McEntire helps tell the story with the arched eyebrow, turning her body sideways to the audience then angling her head at a crucial part of the song, giving a half smile or a nod, it's subtle but very effective to watch her work her magic.
It was very appropriate for the spooky night that Reba cast her spell on the audience with classic gestures, small dance steps to transition from one side of the stage to the other, and her little wicked smile to let people in on the secret during For My Broken Heart, Somebody Should Leave, I Wanna Cowboy and The Greatest Man I Never Knew, which brought many a tear to the audience sitting around me.
Reba never took a break, she talked about her time on the Reba television show, and sang I'm A Survivor, If He Loves You, Kelly Clarkson's Because of You, her latest hit Turn On The Radio and then came back for the encore with Fancy that sent sound waves up to the rafters and back onto the audience.
She's a powerful entertainer and her charismatic style is unsurpassed.
