Live Review: Wynonna at the Clio Area Amphitheatre in Michigan
CLIO, Mich.—During a flashy performance on Friday at the Clio Area Amphitheatre, singer Wynonna Judd defied simple labels.
CLIO, Mich.—During a flashy performance on Friday at the Clio Area Amphitheatre, singer Wynonna Judd defied simple labels.
Amid flashing lights and an energetic eight-piece band that included three back-up singers, Judd briskly walked on stage to a Motown medley. The near-capacity crowd hooted and hollered as she quickly segued into “A Little Bit of Love (Goes A Long Long Way),” from her self-titled latest album.
The 70-minute show was a little bit country and a little bit rock ‘n’ roll with noticeably strong soul influences. However, for the first 45 minutes, Judd appeared uneasy on stage, going through the motions of numbers like “Somebody to Love You” and “Old Enough to Know Better.”
After the latter song, something inside of Judd seemed to click. She spoke at length about her family and the meaning of fame.
“Thank you for taking a chance on this redhead tonight,” she said with rising enthusiasm. “I’m in a good mood. I’m feeling kind of sassy tonight.
“I’ll be doing this for 20 years next year,” she continued. “It ain’t about the fame or the money anymore. I did that with my momma. I don’t take it for granted. Let me tell you, I am my mother’s daughter. I’m a woman with an attitude. That’s what brought me here--that and 13 hours on a bus.”
She celebrated her career with her mother in The Judds by singing “She is His Only Need,” a song that showcases her unfaltering vocal range. As the rain gently fell, Judd’s “sassy” behavior returned.
“This weather’s not doing anything for my hair,” Judd said before the audience sang along to “Tell Me Why.”
Music took a back seat for much of the concert; Judd spent about 30 minutes pontificating about her life and her career.
“I’ve had my 15 minutes but I’m going to push it to 20 because I can,” she said. “Look at the Judd women. If we can do it, anyone can do it,” she said, adding that her sister, Ashley, is filming a movie, while her mother, Naomi--who is recovering from a bout with hepatitis--is penning a book.
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