Simpson smoothly segues into country
Yet-to-be released tunes are warmly received
NIAGARA FALLS, Ont. — It’s been three years, thousands of tabloid stories, a few public humiliations, and a handful of busted love relationships since Jessica Simpson was last on the concert trail.
During that time, the teenybopper dance-pop Simpson specialized in has taken a beating, what with Britney melting down and artists like Amy Winehouse coming along to suggest that not all female pop singers need to be catering to a form of music the roots of
which go no deeper than Madonna.
Also during that time, country and pop have become steadfast chums, and singers who might’ve gone the pop route in the past have headed straight for the twangy side of the tracks. Both Carrie Underwood and Taylor Swift have sold millions of records via this model, and even grizzled rockers like Bon Jovi and Def Leppard have traded their hairspray for cowboy hats, to varying degrees.
Now it’s Simpson’s turn. On Wednesday, the singer and her stellar 10-piece band kicked off a two-night stand inside the Avalon Ballroom at the Niagara Fallsview Casino & Resort before a largely female crowd. Going into the show, one had to wonder if Simpson could pull of the switch to country convincingly. One also wondered if the crowd would warm to a set of songs from an album that hasn’t been released yet, and thus, would be mainly unfamiliar to them.
As it turns out, going country wasn’t much of a leap for Simpson. She still sings quite well, and she still sticks to what are essentially pop music tropes. Contemporary country ain’t exactly Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn or Hank Williams, anyway. It’s pretty much top 40 with a pedal steel guitar and the occasional banjo lick.
Happily, Simpson, while not even pretending to be bringing anything fresh and new to the party, seems quite comfortable in this rather glitzy idiom. In fact, the countrified arrangements and the stellar, sparse playing offered by her band gave the singer plenty of room to shine.
As if acknowledging the fact that her country credibility might be an issue, Simpson prefaced her performance with a taped introduction from legend Willie Nelson, who basically vouched for Simpson and urged those in attendance to give her a chance. That wasn’t going to be a problem.
Wearing a rather modest dress that looked a bit like something a ’50s country femme might’ve donned, Simpson took the stage with a bootscootin’ boogie take on the Nancy Sinatra nugget, “These Boots Are Made For Walking,” and the crowd greeted her with squeals of delight. There was an odd breakdown in the song’s midsection, in which Simpson offered what sounded like a super-white rap, one that can only be described as “hick-hop.” This was to be the only off-topic venture of the evening, though.
“Do You Know,” Simpson’s debut as a country artist, hits stores Sept. 9, and she played most of it on Wednesday, beginning with the upbeat, power-pop flavored “Still Beautiful,” and hitting the evening’s peak with the dramatic, virtuosic title tune, written for Simpson by her idol, Dolly Parton.
“You’re My Sunday,” a song written for Simpson’s current beau, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, was a straight-up ballad punctuated by Simpson’s clear and powerful long tones at the tune’s coda. “Sleeping on History” found Simpson engaging in the standard country “tear in my beer” tune, as a moaning pedal steel figure hovered above melodramatic, weepy lyrics and the band’s sturdy country-waltz rhythm.
A smartly placed cover of Shania Twain’s sassy rocker “Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under” picked up the pace again, and the band seemed grateful for the opportunity to indulge in some (controlled and brief) shredding.
Throughout the show, Simpson sang quite well, and her ability to nail the high notes with conviction and emotional investment was duly noted by the crowd. Her future as a country singer looks quite promising.
Concert Review
Jessica Simpson
Wednesday night in Avalon Theatre of Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort. Another performance at 8:30 tonight.
