Reviews: Dixie Chicks, Kanye West, Elton John, Green Day, Beyoncé

Dixie Chicks @ Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Sept. 29 – “The bulk of a 70-date world tour behind them, the Dixie Chicks were tight and mighty Thursday night in a dazzling, electric Frankenstein of Appalachian string tradition, eagle-high female harmonies and video production Nine Inch Nails could sink its teeth into with a black-lipped grin.” – Fish Griwkowsky / Edmonton Journal

Kanye West @ Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Mich., Sept. 27 – “His show is a display of ego like no other: he rides a ‘floating’ stage from one end of the arena to the other, a throng of fans chasing, congregating beneath it in a frenzy of joy, awe and, more obviously to those of us seated in the surrounding bowl, a kind of subconscious worship.” – John Serba / The Grand Rapids Press / MLive.com

Elton John @ PPL Center in Allentown, Pa., Sept. 27 – “John opened his encore with ‘Candle in the Wind,’ the re-release of which after Princess Diana’s death in 1997 made it an 11 million-seller, second only to Bing Crosby’s ‘White Christmas,’ playing alone on piano. Then he closed with his 1972 platinum hit Crocodile Rock,’ with the whole crowd singing along.” – John J. Moser / The Morning Call

Green Day @ Newport Music Hall in Columbus, Ohio, Sept. 26 – “In a set that lasted nearly two hours, Billie Joe Armstrong and company went through songs that span the band’s 30-year career, from most recent single ‘Bang Bang’ to old favorites such as ‘When I Come Around’ and ‘Welcome to Paradise.’” – Colin Gay / The Lantern

Beyoncé @ NRG Stadium, NRG Park in Houston, Texas, Sept. 22 – “Full of flames, trapdoors, trapezes, strobes and confetti, the show’s unparalleled technical production was so staggering that Beyoncé’s coterie of 18 backup dancers almost felt like an afterthought.” – Nathan Smith / The Houston Press