The Queen of Country made her return trip to the WNY area this past Saturday. Shania Twain along with Andy Grammar played to a very hearty crowd that appreciated their respective styles of music. Twain has extended her ‘Queen of Me’ tour into 2025 and is doing a months worth of dates in July and August that will take her through parts of both Canada and the United States. For 2 shows, Andy Grammar is opening up for her and the show at Darien Lake was one of them.
Starting off Saturday nights festivities was Los Angeles California native Andy Grammar. Grammar has a new album in tow called ‘Monster.’ His 40 minute up tempo set including a few numbers off of ‘Monster’ and few fan favorites as well. “He opened up with the title track to his last album then went into “Honey I’m Good.” He got the acoustic guitar out for Magic.” I should make mention that his entire band were dressed in similar brown outfits. Grammar really worked up a sweat delivering a fun energetic set that really went off well for the people at Darien Lake.
It hasn’t been long since Twain played the arena (October 20, 2023 was her last time as she played the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, NY). So even though it hasn’t been long since Twain has been in the area, anytime you can see the biggest selling female country artist of all time its always a must see in my eyes. I was able to catch her last show in Syracuse in 2023 but I can say, this show was completely different. This was more about the music and was almost a “no frills” type of show. There was no going out in the audience or going through multiple costume changes for Twain. She also revamped her band which included the departure of longtime musical director Cory Churko, and inserting guitarist Lindsay Ell. Twain was all smiles and worked that stage like she owned it. She went back to the 1997 ‘Come on Over’ album to get things started as she did the 1st two songs of her set off of it. The appropriate “Rock This Country’ got it going (with a few leg kicks offered by Twain for good measure) followed by “Don’t Be Stupid (You Know I Love You).” Twain slowed things down and played an acoustic set within her performance. It started with “You’re Still the One” through “Come on Over.” Twain has always been very fan friendly and this show was no exception. She noticed a very young fan on someone’s shoulders. She ended up brining her and her grandparents up on stage. She asked what she wanted to hear and Harper responded with “Man! I Feel Like a Woman.” So Twain sang a verse with her as the girl danced on stage with her. Another young girl held up a sign saying it was her 6th birthday and Twain sang “Happy Birthday” to her. Lastly, before “This Moment On” she asked who was in love and found a couple celebrating their 26th wedding anniversary. She dedicated the song to Scott and Christine” and everyone else who was experiencing similar love. Ell sang co lead with Twain on “Party for Two.” Of course, everyone went crazy for what may be Twain’s biggest hit in “Man! I Feel Like a Woman.” That included both women and men.
I will say this show seemed more intimate to me than the show in Syracuse a few years ago. Ell added a new dynamic to her band and evidently the show itself. Overall, I felt it was a sold performance by Twain and her band. I can’t wait for the next time Twain will grace a stage in the WNY area.
Setlist:
Rock This Country!
Don’t Be Stupid (You Know I Love You)
You Win my Love
Waking Up Dreaming
Up!
I’m Gonna Getcha Good!
Your Still the One
No One Needs to Know
Come on Over
Any Man of Mine
Giddy Up!
I Ain’t No Quitter
Man I Feel Like a Woman (snippet)
Happy Birthday to You (Mildred J. Hill and Patty Hill cover)
Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under?
She’s Not Just a Pretty Face (snippet)
Honey, I’m Home
From This Moment On
That Don’t Impress Me Much
Party for Two (With Lindsay Ell)
(If Your Not In It For Love) I’m Outta Here!
Man! I Feel Like a Woman
We would like to thank Alexa Johnson from Livenation for the credentials to review the show.
