They liked it, they loved it, Tim McGraw fans got some more of it in Pittsburgh

PITTSBURGH ― To describe a Tim McGraw concert, you invariably must use the word "solid."

That's precisely how McGraw sounded, looked and entertained Saturday at PPG Paints Arena.

Nothing out of the ordinary happened, and that was utterly fine.

From the rugged show launcher "Truck Yeah" to the crowd-swaying-along encore finisher "Live Like You Were Dying," McGraw dependably delivered a straightforward, engaging 90-minute set as tight as his blue jeans.

His band rocked out without getting showy, forging a six-man, front-stage line of guitarists and a bass guitarist for "Southern Voice," as the three-side jumbo video screen showed Southern icons like Bear Bryant, Rosa Parks and Jerry Lee Lewis.

That video screen gave ample closeups of the oft-smiling McGraw, who regularly worked a catwalk that jutted 13 rows into the crowd. That's where he did a few slow spins with arms outstretched like airplane wings, before slapping high-fives and shaking hands with fans during "All I Want is a Life."

McGraw's voice sounded strong, reaching the requisite high notes on his cover of Elton John's "Tiny Dancer."

Sweet, soulful fiddle emerged for "Just to See You Smile," which McGraw prefaced with the reminder he doesn't chatter much during shows, joking he's accustomed to his family − wife/country superstar Faith Hill and their three daughters − not giving him much space to talk.

Video clip footage of McGraw and Hill appeared on the video screen for the love song "One Bad Habit." That looked like Hill again, in a more abstract visual, for the next song, the somewhat Yacht Rock-ish "Watch The Wind Blow By."

The mixed-age crowd − enthusiastic and from what I saw well-behaved − wiggled and grooved for "Something Like That" and sang alone for the final chorus of "Where The Green Grass Grows," which McGraw finished with a baseball hitters' stance then an imaginary swing for the fences.

McGraw gave a hometown shoutout to band member Billy Noble, a Carnegie Mellon University grad, for his fine keyboard work on 2023's"Standing Room Only," from which this tour draws its name.

Red lights illuminated and intensified the setting for the lyrically dark "Red Ragtop," which built to a moment where fans waved their uplifted arms in unison. The start of that song, when the lighting was still dark, was a lone moment where McGraw removed his cowboy hat, for just a second, maybe to wipe some sweat.

Taylor Swift showed up for the pulsating "Highway Don't Care," beamed on the video screen in music video fashion and earning a post-song cheer when McGraw mentioned her.

It was party time, with soothing fiddle, screaming guitar and pounding, crashing drums as McGraw and his band tore into "I Like It, I Love It." He subtly changed the Atlanta Braves reference to Pittsburgh Steelers, an acceptable audible in a country show refreshingly low on pandering.

"Felt Good on My Lips" flat-out rocked.

Then five guitar- and bass-wielding bandmates, including McGraw, again formed a loose line to grind out the sturdy "Real Good Man."

A masterfully crafted setlist brought the crowd-pleasing encore of "The Cowboy in Me" and "Humble and Kind," with McGraw standing in wisps of dry ice smoke and letting the crowd repeat the final philosophical outro a cappella.

The uplifting "Live Like You Were Dying," in all its skydiving, Rocky Mountain climbing, Fu Manchu bull-riding glory, ended the show − you guessed it − solidly.

McGraw's main support, award-winning country star Carly Pearce, did a good job warming the audience.

Commanding the stage in red stiletto boots, matching her above-the-knees red dress, Pearce demonstrated a skillful ability to emotionally "sell" a song.

From the done-me-wrong-but-I'll-triumph "What He Didn't Do," to the devil-may-care attitude of Faith Hill's "Let's Go to Vegas," Pearce was convincing. She apologized for a slightly raspy speaking voice earned two nights earlier when she stood next to the real-life Hill singing along with McGraw songs at a Nashville concert. That rasp added moxie to new song "Truck on Fire," with its "liar, liar truck's on fire" vow to ignite the vehicle of a cheating beau.

In real life, Pearce looks to be quite happy with her boyfriend and band drummer BC Taylor, son of beloved Aliquippa rocker B.E. Taylor.

Befitting the night, BC Taylor supplied solid beats that added to Pearce's enjoyable dozen-song set.

Scott Tady is Times Entertainment Editor and easy to reach at stady@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Tim McGraw & Carly Pearce entertained at PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh