KEITH URBAN’S ESCAPE TOGETHER WORLD TOUR
TOGETHER WITH KC MASTERPIECE © AND KINGSFORD ©

Date              Venue/City                  On Sale         With
May 7th           Uncasville, CT          2/14              Sugarland
May 8th           Uncasville, CT          2/14               Sugarland
May 9th          State College, PA       2/13               Sugarland
May 15th          Chicago, IL              2/14          Zac Brown Band
May 28th          Charleston, WV          2/13       Zac Brown Band
May 29th          Roanoke, VA              2/13        Dierks Bentley
May 30th           Huntsville, AL          2/13          Dierks  Bentley
June 5th          Cincinnati, OH          2/13              Taylor Swift
June 6th          Detroit, MI                   3/7   Taylor Swift
June 7th          Ft. Wayne, IN          2/13               Taylor Swift
June 11th           St. Louis, MO          2/13               Sugarland
June 13th           Atlanta, GA                 2/13    Taylor Swift
June 17th           Greenville, SC          2/13               Sugarland
June 18th           Charlotte, NC          2/14               Sugarland
June 19th          Raleigh, NC                2/14   Sugarland
June 27th           Des Moines, IA          2/13      Taylor  Swift
June 28th          Moline, IL                   2/14     Taylor Swift
July 9th           Omaha, NE                2/13       Jason  Aldean
July 10th          Wichita, KS                 2/13    Jason  Aldean
July 11th           Dallas, TX                   2/13        Jason Aldean
July 15th          Denver, CO                 3/14         Sugarland
July 19th          Los Angeles, CA         2/15              Sugarland
July 25th           Glendale, AZ              2/13   Sugarland
July 31st           Boston, MA                 2/13     Taylor Swift
August 1st           Philadelphia, PA         2/13      Taylor  Swift
August 8th          Kansas City, MO         2/13     Taylor Swift
August 13th          Pittsburgh, PA          3/20      Jason  Aldean
August 14th         Columbus, OH          2/13               Jason Aldean
August 18th          Hershey PA                2/14        Jason  Aldean
August 21st         Cleveland, OH          2/21                   Sugarland
August 27th         Charlottsville, VA         2/1

Bentley finds his sound on a few songs here.. but overall he misses on many of the tracks. Most of them seem sonically flat despite his unique, gritty vocals and honest attempt to twang. This is his 6th CD (including a live and a greatest hits) and the material seems unexcitingly familiar.

As much reverence as Bentley carries for country music there is still something that makes a few of the tunes here more pop garage band appeal than country appeal. From the chorus of “Sideways” to the forced fun “Little Heartwrecker” (new term even spell check couldn’t find) there’s just something that strays from the county core. Big picture it’s not all about the honky tonk and tank tops for a lot of country fans.

That said, there are enough gems to keep him on the forefront of country music for a while. The lead single “Feel That Fire” continues to develop fans and the previously mentioned “Sideways” is fun and could have radio potential.

The cowboy-tex-mex “I Can’t Forget Her” strikes a new vibe for Dierks that really sounds fantastic. My hope is that he can steer more towards Strait and away from a Rascal Flatts feel. “Beautiful World” is also a fine showcase of his special vocal styling. The simplicity of the lyrics (and a cameo fom Patty Griffin) makes this a great choice for radio.Gold star to Bentley for co writing on all except two tunes on the disk but it would be nice to get a bit more outside influence.