Country singer Brad Paisley [ tickets ] melded his nimble guitar playing with a visually striking electronic backdrop and a deft sense of humor during his show Friday (5/5) at the Phoenix area's Glendale Arena.

Paisley, who has successfully made the jump from able opener to superstar with pricey production, said he "spared no expense" in his attempt to entertain the audience for his "Time Well Wasted" tour.

"We're gonna have a good time tonight, aren't we?" Paisley told the half-full arena, leading into the rollicking "Wrapped Around Her Finger."

"Nothing means more to us than you leaving tonight feeling like you got your money's worth tonight."

Paisley played in front of a giant video wall that resembled an oversized Lite Brite with shapes that changed to correspond with his hits--for example martini glasses, complete with olives, graced the wall during "Alcohol."

Another video screen, in the shape of an amp, was placed in the middle of the stage. That screen was dedicated to showing animated versions of Paisley and his band starring, for instance, as members of The Simpsons and Flintstones. Two other video screens bookended the stage, and two triangle-shaped screens descended from the rafters during the encore "I'm Gonna Miss Her (The Fishing Song)."

During Paisley's two-hour show, he played the majority of his radio hits, with the exception of "We Danced." He dedicated "Mud on the Tires" to "all the Phoenix rednecks who can't keep your trucks clean." Paisley's accompanying guitar solo lent credence to his reputation as one of country music's young guitar superstars.

"Me Neither" took full use of the video screen, which encouraged the audience to yell "Me Neither" during each of the choruses. Paisley's hero, Little Jimmy Dickens, made a guest appearance via videotape to introduce "I'll Take You Back."

Keeping with the evening's playful feel, production assistants passed out lampshades to main-floor ticketholders to use during "Alcohol," a song that makes mention of drinkers putting lampshades on their heads. For "The World," the audience tossed beach balls resembling globes.

The show wasn't all fun and games. Paisley took a serious turn with the song "When I Get Where I'm Going," with the video screen flashing pictures of fallen pop-culture heroes and dignitaries such as Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Dale Earnhardt, John Ritter, Minnie Pearl, Ronald Reagan and Princess Diana. For "Whiskey Lullaby," Alison Krauss joined Paisley via videoscreen for the duet.

It's really a shame that more people weren't in the venue for Paisley's show. (To put it in context, pop-punkers Fall Out Boy did similar numbers.) Paisley is a prime entertainer who knows how to play his audience.

Openers Sara Evans [ tickets ] and Josh Turner [ tickets ] did stellar jobs of warming up the crowd. Evans, wearing a tight light blue T-shirt and jeans with guitars embroidered on the back pockets, was clearly a crowd favorite, judging by the number of fans who showed up early to see her. Turner, meanwhile, pleased the crowd with his uber bass vocals and Christian-themed lyrics.