A couple weeks ago I asked Keith Urban if the prospect of playing head to head with Tim McGraw was likely to bring out the competitive juices in them both. Nah, Keith said. He doesn't think about stuff like that. He just goes out and gives the best show he can. Maybe. Maybe not. This much is certain. Two songs into his opening set, Urban had already jumped down into the Marcus Amphitheater pit. A couple songs later he dropped flat down on his back and ripped through a blistering guitar solo while grinning up at the amphitheater camera man. At other points he hoisted the microphone stand over his head like a harpoon, laid back on the stage apron and took his own picture with a camera from a fan in the front row. He demonstrated again, Urban is a threat on multiple fronts. He's a first-rate guitarist and a charismatic stage act with a rock 'n' roll rebel heart. He is also an unabashed romantic in a country scene dominated by "Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy" party animals. Urban had the crowd on its feet the whole way and left it roaring to rockers such as "Jeans On" and U2's "Beautiful Day."

Unfortunately, deadlines interrupted (and I had to leave) just a few songs into McGraw's set. The crowd was once again on its feet from the get-go, roaring its adulation. McGraw certainly wins the tight T-shirt scoring. On the other hand, nobody beats Urban in the blond mane department. In terms of energy level, McGraw - at least in the early going - operated several megawatts below the near-combustible levels of Urban.

It will be interesting to see who's ruling the herd a year from now. from Dave Tianen, www.jsonline.com
Photo/Joe Koshollek

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