By Susan Wood

STATELINE – With singer, guitarist Miranda Lambert in the house, many could argue the Harveys outdoor concert stage was built for her the way she twirled, strutted, danced, rocked and sang her heart out for a capacity Lake Tahoe crowd Friday night.

The Texas native’s energetic performance never wavered – except to slow down for “The House That Built Me,” her poignant No. 1 hit about a country star returning to her childhood home to get grounded after living in the fast-paced music world. The ballad off her current and third album “Revolution” spent four weeks at the top of the Billboard charts. At one point, she tested the audience by holding out the microphone. Many mouthed the words while video images in the background showed her childhood.

The lyrics: “I bet you didn’t know; underneath that live oak; My favorite dog is buried in the yard,” captures a touching song with meaning and soul that earned her a Grammy award for best female country vocal performance.

Miranda Lambert seldom stopped moving throughout her Aug. 19 show at Harveys in Stateline. Photos/Kathryn Reed

Music of heart and soul are as much about Lambert as her spiritual roots and dedication to her 4-month-old wedding vows, which she demonstrated with a duo with her country music star husband, Blake Shelton. The audience screamed as the couple performed “Who are You When I’m Not Looking.” The song provides a no-holds-barred view of a relationship that’s more realistic than a fairy tale – as in slamming doors or “eating a box of chocolates because you’re feeling bad.”

“How ‘bout that little surprise?” she asked the grateful audience after the two kissed and he exited. The famous Shelton-Lambert duo has collaborated before. This includes their work on Michael Buble’s touching hit song “Home,” which was also written for those seeking their roots.

Lambert appeared to feel right at home in Tahoe from the very beginning. In her last appearance, she opened for Kenny Chesney, and for Toby Keith before that.

“How’s Tahoe?” Lambert yelled out, before the featured act tipped her hat to her opening band Little Big Town. Before Lambert even arrived, the Grammy-nominated singing quartet provided a rousing performance with a country version of Lady Gaga, Nashville-inspired bluegrass and a tribute to being in a band with late-night waffle house trips for hash browns that are “Scattered, Smothered and Covered.”

Lambert related to those country roots – including an admission to being “one of those redneck chicks.” Country music star Gretchen Wilson’s ears must have been burning.

“This is for all the small town people in the house,” she said to introduce her “Revolution” tune “Famous in a Small Town.” A signed flashed Stateline’s population.

The audience was engaged most of the time through the concert. Most listened and even raised their glasses when she noted to the delight of living “now only two miles” from being able to buy beer in Oklahoma. In Texas where she was raised, beer was 30 miles away – inspiring the song “Dry Town” off her first album “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.”

The show offered a unique blend of country music with a rock-style sound such as the on-stage rendition of “Dead Flowers,” her major hit “That’s the Way the World Goes ‘Round” and country music award-winning “White Liar,” all off her latest “Revolution” album. Her lively dancing and guitar playing resembled a country version of Melissa Etheridge. She even gave tribute to Joan Jett, with a stirring version of “I Love Rock and Roll.”

Her personable side and appreciation for her fans came out when she signed autographs in the middle of a set. For the encore, she gave a nod to her opening band — having been there not long ago – by bringing up Little Big Town to sing John Fogerty’s smash hit “Traveling Band.”

While Lambert’s Revolution Continues tour moved on to Southern California, the shows from producers Another Planet rock on next month with Sammy Hagar for the Stateline’s outdoor concert series final summer concert.

To make a weekend out of one of the concerts, check out this story.

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