By Scott Tady
PITTSBURGH — George Strait threw no curves Saturday, the “King of Country Music” just delivered straight-up honkytonking music for a full throng at Acrisure Stadium.
With no fanfare, the house lights dropped at 9:10 p.m., as Strait got down to business with “Twang,” the first of his nearly 30 song selections that set an immediate tone, where pedal steel swoops and bendy guitar from Strait’s Ace in The Hole Band would pave the way for a night of real-deal country
“Check Yes Or No” came next, the first of many former No. 1 singles from the 73-year-old Texan dressed in flannel and denim like he just put in a hard day’s work at “Yellowstone’s” Dutton Ranch.
A mixed-age crowd related to the let’s-live-for-today fun of “Here For A Good Time,” one of many songs to spark one of Strait’s endearingly lopsided smiles, with the left part of the lip raised a little higher.
The tone grew more serious for “Weight of The Badge,” where the video screens behind the stage showed a dozen or so photos of Pittsburgh Police officers, while Strait talked briefly and sang about the importance and sacrifices of police officers. Beaver Valley concertgoers traveling home on Route 65 after the concert got to see police in action, at a DUI checkpoint in Bellevue that stopped motorists headed both directions.
A little later in the night, Strait welcomed on stage a combat-wounded veteran from western Pennsylvania who has become one of the approximately 120 such vets to receive a free home through Strait’s partnership with the Military Warriors Support Foundation. The Steel City crowd chanted “USA, USA, USA.”
Strait thanked First Responders, too, before the western-swing rave-up “The Fireman,” which lyrically is about the exploits of a ladies’ man.
Stalwart opening act Chris Stapleton strolled back out on stage in unassuming fashion, joining Strait for a tasty trio of “Cowboys Like Us,” “You Don’t Know What You’re Missing” and “Honky Tonk Hall of Fame,” that latter mid-tempo song featuring Stapleton on acoustic guitar.
Strait’s voice remained strong as the set moved on to a cover of Waylon Jennings’ famed “Lukenbach Texas,” 2019’s breezy, bouncy “Every Little Honky Tonk Bar,” and Strait’s beachy 2024 single “MIA Down in MIA.”
Saying he’s often asked which of his recordings he’s loves the best, Strait provided the answer, as he sailed into a lovely “Amarillo by Morning.”
The perfect choice, but anyone rooting for “All My Ex’s Live in Texas” only had to wait four songs later to hear that one in an encore that stretched past 11 p.m.
A far cry from the fire- and pyro-laden concert of new country stars Post Malone and Jelly Roll two nights earlier at PNC Park, Strait, regaled his fans with a largely no-frills night of well-written, expertly performed and traditional Texas country.
Long live The King.
Stapleton was a solid pick as chief support act. Explaining early that his banter would be limited so he could squeeze in as many songs as possible, Stapleton and his accomplished band supplied 82-minutes of country-rock gusto.
Stapleton’s guitar string shredding excelled on “Second One to Know,” while many songs brought a soul-drenched seasoning complete with vocal harmonies from his wife Morgane Stapleton.
“Outlaw State of Mind” was an utter jam, with harmonica, tambourine and keyboards slapped with an an open palm. Stapleton did a fine live debut of “Bad As I Used to Be.”
A guy in the upper deck at the back of the stadium proposed during “You Should Probably Leave” (curious choice.) “Did she say ‘Yes?'” Stapleton asked, with audience cheers affirming a yes.
“Tennessee Whiskey” brought Stapleton’s powerhouse, and likewise no-frills set to a smooth and smoking finish.