Wade realizes the joy

That started with Wade's songs, many replete with anguish and what might've been. Fortunately, tough times make for good songs. Wade started with "Total Control," "Time to Love, Time to Kill" and "Reckless," which launched the 70-minute show before two-thirds of a house. Later on, the mid-tempo "Take Me Away" was a highlight along with the country rock of "The Night."

Wade was not exactly a straightforward country performer. She has the country twang down pat in her vocal delivery ("Losers Look Like Me," a very well done song about yearning for the good old days), but a lot of the songs tended to rock ("Carry Me Home" with lots of good guitar lines from Clint Welles, who doubles as her producer). Maybe call it country rock.

As usual, Wade could not be accused of having an upbeat, dynamo persona, and she wasn't tonight either. She talked very little, meaning that it would be her songs that would have to connect the crowd. That came most to the fore when she stepped on a speaker during "Take Me Away" where the crowd sang along. It also helped that her keyboard player, Tyler James, came out front to blast away magnificently on trumpet (somehow stepping on the speaker also drew a big reaction for him) as he did on her signature song, the closing and ultra-fine "Wilder Days."

Where the consistency may have held Wade back a bit was that the songs – for the most part – tended to stay in a narrow musical range. They often started a bit gently before going into overdrive. A lot of Wade's song trended the same way.

As did her vocals, which were also within a set range. Make no mistake. Wade is a good singer and engages with the songs. It's just that there wasn't a lot of diversity.

But one aspect of Wade's show this time around that was decidedly different – she seemed more comfortable here than two previous shows in Beantown. Heck, she even smiled a few times. Wade may be on the serious side, but there is joy in the music. Fortunately, she's even apparently realizing it.

While only seeing a few songs of the opening set by The Lone Bellow, one thing is always a given with them – great harmonies. There is such a strength in the dynamic vocals from Zach Williams, Kanene Pipkin and Brian Elmquist. Williams is on the soulful side, while Pipkin can really go into overdrive and elevate the songs.

It also helps that they have a quality catalogue. Perhaps most importantly, they made for an excellent opening act. In a different world, The Lone Bellow would have headlined.