Review: Color our country music Paisley, Iowa fans say

The new generation of country stars is coming into its own, based on the response to this year's Iowa State Fair Grandstand lineup of relatively fresh, twangy talent.

Brad Paisley and Sara Evans on Friday night drew 10,295 adoring fans (including none other than political pundit Michael Reagan, who dashed backstage for autographs). Keith Urban's Aug. 20 show is already sold out, and Big & Rich's spectacle — scheduled for Tuesday — is getting there.

There's apparently no need to rely on old hands such as George Strait or Alan Jackson to draw the country faithful.

And Paisley pretty much demonstrated on Friday night why he's so popular (even before yours truly had to skip out early to file this review). Everything about his performance was crisp, from the instrumental solos (especially Paisley's own guitar riffs) to the flashy stage design. Paisley is quickly becoming the Tom Hanks of country music — the versatile nice guy who makes it seem easy to balance humor and sincerity.

The early portion of Paisley's set sailed along on the strength of songs such as "Me Neither," "Mud on the Tires" and the more heartfelt "We Danced." Bottom line: He's a slick guitarist and passable singer, with an easygoing charm that lets him rule the stage like a pro.

Paisley's new album, "Time Well Wasted," hits stores Tuesday. Evans also has a new album on the way, though not due until Oct. 4

She was a stiffer, less-satisfying performer than Paisley on Friday, though she can belt out a note and hold it on cue.

Evans' set played out too much like a cliche Hallmark card, with bombast galore. And she should've ended with her own rousing hit, "Born to Fly," rather than attempt a lame cover of Belinda Carlisle's better-off-forgotten "Heaven Is a Place on Earth."

But give Evans a song with a smidgen of real character, and her stage presence improves at least twofold, as it did during her swaggering hit "Suds in the Bucket."

Plus she benefited Friday from real drama in the form of a marriage proposal in the middle of her song “A Real Fine Place to Start.” Ray Sorensen, 26, led Maria Galanakis, 19, from their seats in the front row to the aisle directly in front of the stage. He dropped to one knee and proposed. She accepted. The young couple from Greenfield was duly showered with applause, and Galanakis' engagement ring was flashed on the big screens. Evans was visibly touched.

Maybe she can write a new hit song about that moment, but I'd rather hear Paisley's take on it.