Lambert smiles, dances the night away

Miranda Lambert didn't perform "Tin Man," one of her best, but also one of her saddest songs during this Wildcard tour stop. It's a song sung from the perspective of one who is sad that she has a heart that can be broken. That's not the current condition of Lambert's heart, though. She's apparently in a good relationship, which naturally gives her a happy heart. She evidenced this happiness by smiling and dancing a lot during her fully satisfying show.

Lambert even apologized at one point for performing a slow song, of which there weren't many. However, she sang the down tempo "Dark Bars," a wonderful drinking song from "Wildcard," right after doing the nostalgic "The House That Built Me." However, joyous ravers, like "Gunpowder & Lead" and "White Liar," were more the order of the day. In some cases, songs that fell a little flat in their recorded versions, surprisingly came to new life live. "Vice" was one of these recorded disappointments, which just rang especially true in concert.

Although Lambert has amassed enough hit songs to fill a concert with just hits, she thankfully found room for some of the better tracks off "Wildcard," which included the meditative "Bluebird," and the romantically boozy "Tequila Does." She also nicely covered Fleetwood Mac's "Say You Love Me" and closed the show with a Travis Tritt's "It's a Great Day to be Alive," accompanied by openers, Cody Johnson and Lanco's Brandon Lancaster. It's a fine song, and a perfect lyrical summation of how Miranda Lambert is feeling these days.

Johnson preceded Lambert with a well-received set of rocking country. Johnson's performance peaked with a couple of highly personal songs, "Dear Rodeo" and "On My Way to You." Johnson has a nicely gruffy voice and his energy sometimes reminded one of a young Garth Brooks. Lanco kicked off the early (7 p.m.) starting show with a short set highlighted by its touchingly romantic hit, "Greatest Love Story."

Whenever the camera panned this arena audience, these fans were smiling and dancing, as well. Lambert's contentment was, then, contagious, which made it impossible to leave the venue without a smiling face.