THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, March 23, 1996 TAG: 9603230045
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 59 lines
THE ``SPONTANEOUS Combustion Tour,'' which brings superstars Tim McGraw and Faith Hill to Hampton Coliseum tonight, is aptly titled.
His album, ``All I Want,'' is No. 6 the charts. Her release, ``It Matters To Me,'' is one notch up. The double-feature should have fans joining in the chorus of McGraw's recent hit, ``I Like It, I Love It.''
``Everyday I wake up and pinch myself,'' he said during a tour stop in Niagara Falls. ``I never expected anything like this. I hoped for it but, really, I just hoped to survive.''
With the competition as thick as L.A. fog, survival in country music is not easy. The best way is by not sounding like others who have made it.
``Hopefully, I sound a little different. I think that has a lot to do with it,'' said McGraw, who hails from Start, La. ``I landed on the right side of the coin.''
His top-selling `94 release, ``Not A Moment Too Soon,'' has racked up sales of more than 5 million. McGraw's new album, ``All I Want,'' will no doubt mean lots more coins for the piggy bank.
``I think every song on the album is good,'' McGraw said. ``There's nothing the record company would put out as a single that would displease me.''
If he sounds confident, he's also cautious.
``I'll tell you what I look for in a song: It's got to be something I can sing. I'm not like Joe Diffie, or someone that can sing the songbook. I want the lyrics to have a situation I can sing better than anyone.''
It took him awhile to get into the music business. McGraw, who moved to Nashville in 1989, studied law at Northeast Louisiana University, until he got his first semester grades.
``I knew that wasn't going to work,'' said McGraw, who switched to sports medicine, then dived into music. He signed with Curb Records after serving a two-year roadhouse apprenticeship. Not to worry, he has plenty of energy left for his stage show.
``There's not a lot of sittin' down,'' McGraw said. ``We have a lot of energy. We have a good time. The more fun the audience has, the more fun we have. The more fun we have, the more fun the audience has.''
As for his touring partner, McGraw said Faith Hill is ``great to work with. She's one of the sweetest girls I ever met, a special person.'' ILLUSTRATION: CURB RECORDS
Country music superstar Tim McGraw, along with the renowned Faith
Hill, will appear tonight at Hampton Coliseum.
CONCERT FACTS
Who: Tim McGraw and Faith Hill
When: 7:30 tonight
Where: Hampton Coliseum
Tickets: $20.50 and $25; order at 671-8100
Information: 627-1440
by CNB