In support of her latest album, aptly entitled Be Myself, nine-time Grammy Award-winning, singer-songwriter Sheryl Crow returned to Wolf Trap. The sold-out crowd at the Filene Center eagerly embraced her 20-song set list, which included all her fan-favorite hits.
Revved up from a pulsating, 40-minute, modern country-rock opening by Lukas Nelson (son of country legend Willie Nelson) and his band, Promise of the Real, the show seamlessly segued to Crow’s high-spirited performances of “Everyday is a Winding Road,” “A Change Will Do You Good,” “All I Wanna Do,” and “My Favorite Mistake.”
Casually chic, Crow rocked a sleeveless shirt, slim-fitting, shimmery pants, and comfortable kicks, which accentuated her trim build and sprightliness to play for nearly two straight hours.
“It’s been a crazy year,” Crow revealed, following her four-song introduction. “So, I made a record.”
True to her pop-rock roots, highlighting her pulsing rhythms and hook-filled chorus, Crow’s new music maintains her classic sound but broaches addressing current concerns amidst cultural and political divides. This was notably reflected in her latest track, “Halfway There,” as well as in “A Heartbeat Away.”
Nicely balancing the time-honored and the up-to-date, Crow sang every one of her chart-toppers, including: “I Can’t Cry Anymore” (with an enthusiastic audience sing-along), “The First Cut is the Deepest,” “There Goes the Neighborhood” (the band heartily amped it up), “Leaving Las Vegas” (with some fun dance improvisation from Crow), and “Strong Enough.”
Crow proficiently toggled between playing the guitar, keyboards, and harmonica, actively engaging the intergenerational audience throughout the night, wrapping up with the crowd on its feet to “If It Makes You Happy” and “Soaking up the Sun.”
Nelson returned to the stage, alongside Crow and her band, during the encore for “Midnight Rider,” making for an all-embracing jam session to cap the evening, welcoming summer with a bang.
Sheryl Crow played for one night only on Wednesday, June 21, 2017, at the Filene Center at Wolf Trap – 1551 Trap Road, in Vienna, VA. For future performances and information, call (877) 965-3872, or check out Wolf Trap’s calendar of events.
