Brooks N’ Dunn, a country band with family ties to Portland, performed Wednesday night at the Cumberland County Civic Center to a sold out crowd. This staffer was fortunate enough to be there. They put on a non-stop, action-packed show, complete with 30-foot blow up props-two of which were cowgirls riding mechanical bulls. Something new to my concert going experience was the stage-long video screen that displayed scenes from their videos and other images related to each song.
For a ‘cheap seat,’ ours were really great-just above the exit, so there wasn’t any big hair in front of us. From my seat I had a great view of everyone coming and going, and so was able to do one of my favorite things: people-watch. What a variety! I saw families, older couples, college guys in tight white t-shirts (yum), biker-types, at least three pregnant women, and twin sisters in matching straw hats. I did, however, notice there weren’t too many people sporting Mohawks or safety pin pants; ‘punk’ wasn’t a word you could use to describe anyone who walked past our seats in Section P.
Since September 11, 2001, the Bush administration has taken a lot of heat -especially music-but not so much from the country scene. Instead of lashing out at the oval office, country music singers have (for the most part) taken a patriotic stand on the war. Songs like Toby Keith’s “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue”-which proclaims “We’re gonna put a boot in your ass”-sum up the angry, hurt we-ain’t-takin’-nothin’from-nobody attitude that a large percentage of the American population felt after 9/11.
That patriotic sentiment came to a height at the end of the show. The arena went dark, and then came the red, white and blue lights. The thunderous echo of music soon followed. “Only in America” is one of Brooks N’ Dunn’s newer songs, a 9/11 tribute, and one patriotic firecracker.
The crowd went wild when three U.S. Marines marched on stage and saluted the crowd as red, white and blue confetti was shot from dual cannons at the rear of the arena. Everyone was on their feet screaming and clapping for the soldiers. The song didn’t seem long enough, but great ones like that never are.
An announcement followed that Portland would be welcoming members of the armed forces and the New England Patriots on Friday for a ticker-tape parade down Congress Street at 3:30 p.m. and all were encouraged to attend.
Once the hockey lights came back on and the moment was over, I couldn’t help but feel like the magic remained. Walking down Spring Street with the crowd of people, there was something different in the air. My ears weren’t ringing like after the Everclear concert of ’99; instead there was this pleasant, peaceful feeling that accompanied my walk to the car.