Miranda Lambert has made a career on the letter “S” The Texas native is sassy, sexy,  smart and a more than a capable songwriter. All the while she has earned a well-deserved reputation as a total badass. Her live performance ranges from the grit of an Outlaws show to the gloss of one of contemporary country’s best acts. She came outbeaming with her platinum blond hair and infectious smile with the rocking “White Trash.” It’s a different twist on Gretchen Wilson’s “Redneck Woman” She is able to meld her sassy side with a profound sweetness and sincerity that is innocent, endearing and wildly charismatic. She was able to seamlessly merge the energies all night; from the fury of the barnburners “Kerosene” and “Gunpowder And Lead” to the tenderness and achy beauty of “The House That Built Me.”

    Each portion of the two-hour set eemed to find another gear in both her physical performance and sonically as the big eight piece band either flexed it’s muscles  on the uptempo material or slowed it down for the ballads as it navigated through the nearly 30-song set.

    Ashley Monroe and Angaleena Presley dropped in midway for a Pistol Annies mini set which was widely well-received from the oopening bars of “I Got My Name Changed Back.” After all the acts came out to perform Travis Tritt’s “It’s A Great Day To Be Alive” the bands brought out the entire crew for a collective bow to emphasize how much work is put into a tour.

    The country-pop group Lanco made the most of a tight pre-opener slot featuring four songs and showcasing their hit “Greatest Love  Story”

     Cody Johnson was given an overly generous 50 minutes, much of which was spent sharing his views on patriotism, God and freedom.

<P>When he was playing music, he played his style of Red Dirt Country and featured 2018 hits “On My Way To You “Aint Nothin’ To It” and

the tribute to his former bull riding days “Dear Rodeo. “