There’s a certain kind of electricity that runs through a Keith Urban concert — the kind that doesn’t rely on pyrotechnics or flashy choreography, but rather the effortless joy of a musician who’s completely at home in his craft. When Urban rolled into the Choctaw Grand Theater in 2025, that energy filled every inch of the room before he even hit the first chord. He’s been doing this for decades now, yet he still plays like he’s got something to prove — not to the industry, not to radio, but to himself and to the fans who’ve been there since “Where the Blacktop Ends.”
The venue — an intimate yet state-of-the-art room in Durant, Oklahoma — felt tailor-made for the kind of show Urban wanted to put on: big enough to roar, small enough to connect. The audience was a mix of diehards and newcomers, cowboy hats and date-night dresses, all ready for a set that promised both nostalgia and reinvention. And for two hours, that’s exactly what they got.
The Setlist
Main Set:
Straight Line
Where The Blacktop Ends
Long Hot Summer
Messed Up As Me
Better Life
Chuck Taylors
The Way It Is
Somewhere In My Car
Cop Car
Days Go By
Til Summer Comes Around
Kiss A Girl
Wild Hearts
Somebody Like You
One Too Many
Pink Pony Club
You’ll Think Of Me
Blue Ain’t Your Color
Wasted Time
Encore:
Tulsa Time
Making Memories Of Us
You Get What You Give (New Radicals cover)
You Look Good In My Shirt
The Opening Stretch: Old Roads and New Lines
Urban kicked off the night with “Straight Line,” a new song that’s already become a fan favorite. It’s one of those tracks that feels both forward-looking and grounded in the classic Keith sound — jangly guitars, slick harmonies, and that shimmering optimism he’s always worn proudly. As the lights pulsed in sync with the beat, Urban strutted to the mic, his trademark grin beaming across the crowd. It set the tone: this wasn’t a nostalgia tour, it was a celebration of right now.
But nostalgia wasn’t far behind. “Where The Blacktop Ends” was the perfect follow-up — a nod to his early days that still sounds as crisp and alive as it did over 20 years ago. Urban’s guitar tone shimmered, clean and soulful, and his voice was in peak form: rich, raspy in the right spots, and full of that Aussie twang that somehow makes country music feel modern.
By “Long Hot Summer,” the crowd was fully locked in. Couples swayed, fans shouted every word, and Urban started to loosen up, darting across the stage, pointing out familiar faces in the front rows. His charisma has always been part of the draw — he doesn’t just play to the crowd; he plays with them.
The Heart of the Show: The Power of Connection
The middle of the set leaned heavily on emotion and groove, an area where Urban shines. “Messed Up As Me,” a recent standout, hit with unexpected force live. On record it’s tight and produced; in person it felt looser, rawer, as Urban wrung emotion out of every line.
“Better Life” brought out the first real singalong of the night. It’s one of those songs that’s aged into something more than a hit — it’s an anthem, an affirmation. Hearing thousands of voices echo “We’re gonna have a better life” felt both nostalgic and fresh, a reminder of why Urban’s music still resonates in 2025: it’s never cynical.
A pleasant surprise came with “Chuck Taylors,” one of his newer deep cuts that blends rock and country into a sound uniquely his own. Urban used it as a showcase for his guitar prowess, taking an extended solo that mixed melodic phrasing with lightning-fast runs. His band matched his energy — tight but playful, with drummer Seth Rausch and bassist Jerry Flowers driving everything forward while guitarist Danny Rader filled out the sound with rhythm and harmonies.
Then came “The Way It Is,” an understated moment that slowed the night down. Urban stood under a single spotlight, acoustic guitar in hand, and turned the arena into a coffeehouse. His storytelling instincts came through, giving the song an intimacy that few artists can sustain in a venue that size.
The Run of Hits: Smooth, Loud, and Joyful
When “Somewhere In My Car” kicked in, the energy roared back. Urban’s setlist was masterfully paced — every tender ballad was followed by a barn-burner. The crowd danced and shouted through “Cop Car” and “Days Go By,” two songs that perfectly capture Urban’s blend of heartland imagery and pop sensibility.
“Til Summer Comes Around” was one of the emotional peaks of the night. The song, a slow burn about fleeting love and memory, had the room hushed. Urban’s vocals were powerful and vulnerable at once, and his guitar solo — that long, mournful wail that closes the song — earned a standing ovation before he even finished the last note.
After that, he lightened the mood with “Kiss A Girl,” a breezy midtempo hit that got couples dancing in the aisles. Then came “Wild Hearts,” one of his newer anthems about chasing dreams. It’s practically autobiographical, and he introduced it with a short speech about his own journey — growing up in Australia, falling in love with American country, and never giving up on the idea that he could belong here. It was an endearing, humble moment from a superstar who still speaks to fans like a friend.
High Energy and Pure Fun
The final stretch of the main set was all about joy. “Somebody Like You” turned the entire theater into a chorus, with Urban letting the crowd handle the final verse while he jammed with his band. “One Too Many,” his duet with P!nk, was handled live with a pre-recorded vocal track that surprisingly worked — Urban harmonized with her voice as if she were there, smiling as he pointed to the sky during the final chorus.
But the biggest surprise of the night came with “Pink Pony Club,” a cover of Chappell Roan’s breakout hit. Urban introduced it by saying he “just couldn’t get it out of his head” and wanted to try his own spin. It was bold — taking on a queer pop anthem in a country show — and it absolutely worked. His arrangement leaned into the song’s emotional core, turning it into a slow-burning, guitar-driven epic. It was a powerful example of his willingness to cross genres and connect through pure feeling.
Then came a run of pure classics. “You’ll Think Of Me” hit like a gut punch, followed by the velvety melancholy of “Blue Ain’t Your Color.” The lighting turned soft blue, and couples swayed in the aisles. Urban’s vocals here were breathtaking — precise yet drenched in soul. He closed the main set with “Wasted Time,” a perfect party anthem that had the whole theater on its feet, hands in the air, singing about the wild nights and reckless youth we all wish we could relive.
The Encore: A Heartfelt Goodbye
When Urban came back out for the encore, the crowd was already chanting his name. He returned alone with an acoustic guitar for “Tulsa Time,” a Don Williams cover that paid tribute to Oklahoma’s country roots. The crowd loved it — a perfect local touch.
“Making Memories Of Us” followed, and it was magic. Urban dedicated it to his wife Nicole Kidman, though it felt like he was singing it to everyone in the room. The band rejoined midway through, and the harmonies shimmered beautifully.
Then came perhaps the biggest surprise of the night: a cover of “You Get What You Give” by New Radicals. Urban grinned as he strummed the opening chords, saying, “I’ve always loved this song — it’s about believing in something bigger than yourself.” The crowd erupted. His version stayed faithful to the original’s feel-good vibe but added a bit more guitar grit, turning it into a celebratory moment of communal uplift.
Finally, he closed with “You Look Good In My Shirt,” his go-to closer and one of his most playful hits. It was loose, loud, and joyful — Urban running from one side of the stage to the other, pointing his guitar toward the crowd, and letting fans finish the choruses. Confetti rained down as the band hit the final chord, and Urban threw his guitar pick into the audience with a grin that said he was having every bit as much fun as the fans were.
The Verdict
Keith Urban’s 2025 Choctaw Grand Theater show was a masterclass in what a modern country concert should be — polished but heartfelt, full of hits yet bursting with spontaneity. There’s something deeply human about the way he performs; he’s a megastar who still plays like a hungry musician, constantly chasing that perfect moment where artist and audience become one.
The setlist was flawless, balancing his biggest hits with deep cuts and fresh material. The production was sleek but never overwhelming — just enough to enhance the music without stealing focus from the band’s chemistry. And Urban himself? He’s still one of the most dynamic, genuine performers in any genre.
What really lingers after the final chord fades isn’t just the sound — it’s the spirit. Keith Urban’s music has always been about connection: between lovers, between dreamers, between strangers who find themselves singing the same words. At Choctaw, he reminded everyone why, after all these years, that connection still feels so alive.
Grade: B