This year’s lineup of artists had a great mix from different genres. That included veteran musicians like Brad Paisley, Bush, Sammy Hagar with newer popular artists like Becky G, Morgan Wallen, Jon Pardi, Chris Yong, Aaron Watson, Lauren Alaina, and Carly Pearce.
Check out some of our favorites from the February event, and you can see all our concert photos and reviews on Austin 101.
The night opened with a cool video of Celine getting ready, putting on her makeup and she appeared in a stunning red glitter slit dress with matching pumps, flawless makeup, and toned arms. The sold-out show had fans singing and cheering from the get go, and Dion appeared as happy and healthy (incredibly fit) as we’ve ever seen her.
Dion is on her 14th tour in support of her 2019 album “Courage”. Her first words were about how ten years is way too long for her San Antonio return, and she spent much time talking about “What went wrong? It’s unacceptable and we’re going to fix it” and then shared how Vegas stole her for awhile. She was fully prepared to make up for her absence.
We knew the show would be an incredible performance, but she blew us away. She is the ultimate performer and has been doing it for decades-has it nailed down. Celine was engaging with the crowd throughout the entire show and she was brimming with emotion, and often smiling and then touched her eye as if stopping the tears, and would say, “I think something is in my eye….maybe a bug, I don’t know”. In another moment she raised her glass and said “cheers to your health”. Her wit and humor (sometimes cheesy) is part of her flirting with the audience and she enjoys it. One moment while taking off her jacket, “that’s all that’s coming off” with a grin.
The set list was a robust mix from her massive catalog that perfectly blended timeless classics, “Beauty and the Beast”, “Because You Loved Me”, “All By Myself”, “My Heart Will Go On”, with mid-range stuff and new songs “Courage” and “Lying Down”. She also sang beautiful songs in French. Celine did a beautiful job playing Andrea Bocelli in their duet “The Prayer”. Her ability to hit incredibly high notes, gave us chills. It’s clear she has worked very hard to take care of her voice and her health. Her voice skills are a piece of art with the height and octave range.
The stage was massive, the lighting and set were elegant and tasteful, as is Celine, and the piano was incredible; the full strings and brass section and back up singers- plus 3 raised percussion/keyboard sets gave such a volume of sound. The mix of the bands classy outfits and her red dress was stunning.
Celine strutted confidently in very high heels (more than 6 inches?) and covered large distances to reach every part of the audience. Towards the end of the main set, a video of her doing ballet with her friend, showed off her fit body and her dance skills (who knew?). Wow.
We couldn’t help think of Kobe Bryant who had just passed away that week, as we were looking at Tony Parker and other NBA jerseys hanging in the rafters in ATT Center where the Spurs play.
Her career will continue to “go on” and we can’t wait to see how she continues her self-reinvention. It’s clear why the Courage World Tour was one of the top shows of 2019 and we think it will make our 2020 list. Don’t expect many empty seats.
Check out all our show photos on Austin 101.
Set list:
Encore
18. My Heart Will Go On
19. Pour que tu m’aimes encore
by Dan Radin, San Antonio, Texas
Present-day John Mayer isn’t the womanizing guitar hero that the tabloids once despised. Mayer’s show this week unearthed him not only as a mature musician, but also a self-searching adult who has markedly come into his own.
It’s been a “long, strange trip” for Mayer. From his Atlanta days, when “Your Body Is a Wonderland” exploded over the airwaves, to touring as the Jerry Garcia stand-in with Dead and Company, Mayer’s seen a lot of growth. And if his set at on Saturday is any indication, he is “not done changing.”
Every iteration of Mayer’s music came into the fray at AT&T Center. He locked in as a bluesman on his Fender, while his mini acoustic set drew shrieks of joy from the 70% female audience. He couldn’t have asked more from his dynamic backing band, who played air-tight together: long-time collaborator Pino Palladino (The Who, etc.) on bass, keyboardist Jamie Muhoberac, vocalists Tiffany Palmer/Carlos Ricketts, percussion section Aaron Sterling/Aaron Draper, guitar phenoms Isaiah Sharkey and David Ryan Harris.
Mayer generously featured each of the band members throughout the set; most notably, Sharkey’s solo on the “If I Ever Get Around to Living” jam, and Harris’s absolutely soul-waking rendition of Prince’s “The Beautiful Ones” going into “Slow Dancing in a Burning Room.” Mayer can shine on his own just fine in the limelight- but it’s clear that it’s just as important to him now to surround himself with world-class talent.
Mayer’s other musical friendships were subtly on display as well. At the end of the first set, he snuck in a cover of the Grateful Dead’s “Deal.” Through the course of the evening, he also sported a “92 Til Infinity” long-sleeve T, an homage to friend and Pittsburgh rapper Mac Miller, who passed away a year ago to the day. Just as he showcased his band on stage, Mayer made sure to recognize his friends who couldn’t be there that night.
And of course, Mayer masterfully ripped the guitar himself. He threw down tastefully intrepid solos on “Helpless,” “Rosie,” and “I Don’t Trust Myself (Loving You)” that made the boyfriends in the crowd look up from their phones. Slow-burners “Gravity” and “Slow Dancing” built and exhaled with spirited grace. He exuded a relaxation that made the entire arena feel comfortable.
The anthemic energy of Mayer’s new single “Carry Me Away” (released just Friday) was the night’s biggest surprise. While the song’s studio recording didn’t best capture the holy energy we witnessed in the room, the live rendition re-instilled my faith in Mayer’s artistic vision.
The post-intermission acoustic set won the award for audience favorite. Starting with his adaption of Beyoncé’s “XO” with harmonica, and sliding into live recording deep cut “In Your Atmosphere,” Mayer reminded that at 41 years young, he can still melt hearts. It was also the most he opened up on the mic between songs.
Mayer consciously made sure his “stupid mouth” stayed out of the way. “I don’t wanna talk too much. Thirty seconds of talking on stage is like 8 minutes of talking. Let’s get back to the music.” Mayer’s only miscalculation of the evening was staying off the mic between songs- those were exactly the most memorable moments. His re-telling of a woman rudely waving her goodbye to him en route to an early exit got bellylaughs. He then went on to discuss what vernacular is socially acceptable at age 41. “I can get away with ‘dope.’ But I’m too old for ‘fire.’”
Maturity (musically or otherwise) is something that can’t be rushed and in Mayer’s case, we’re glad he took his time. I think, finally, Mayer is ready for action, and done “waiting on the world to change.”
See tons of concert photos on Austin 101.
Set list:
Set 1
Belief
Clarity
Who Says
Something Like Olivia
I Don’t Trust Myself (With Loving You)
Love on the Weekend
No Such Thing
Changing
Moving On and Getting Over
Deal (Grateful Dead cover)
Set 2
XO (Beyoncé cover)
Your Body Is a Wonderland
In Your Atmosphere
Helpless
Carry Me Away
Rosie
If I Ever Get Around to Living
Slow Dancing in a Burning Room
In the Blood
Waiting on the World to Change
Gravity (With snippet from “I’ve Got Dreams to Remember”)
Encore
Edge of Desire
New Light
