Keith Urban's Ripcord Tour stage isn't as elaborate as some of his contemporaries. He doesn't rely on pyrotechnics or animation, instead choosing to trust his guitar, stage patter and Eric Church.

Church helped Urban close a nearly two-hour performance in Nashville on Friday night (Nov. 11), singing his own "Record Year" before helping with "Raise 'Em Up," the pair's duet from Urban's Fuse album. Opening act Maren Morris also joined him, singing Miranda Lambert's parts on "We Were Us." Brett Eldredge was spotlighted longest, however. The two sang "Somebody Like You" from a small stage at the back of the Bridgestone Arena's floor level, and generally goofed around for the better part of 10 minutes.

Crowd engagement is Urban's strength. His tour to the back of the venue pulled the fans furthest away in close, but more than once he stopped the show to have a conversation with a few select fans, or everyone in attendance. After a reinvented, rhythmic version of "Where the Blacktop Ends" early in the show he brought a very expecting mother on stage, serenading her baby bump with "Blue looks good on the sky / Looks good on that neon buzzin' on the wall / But darling, it don't match your eyes."

The Ripcord Tour includes a surprising number of songs from the Ripcord album (including "Blue Ain't Your Color"), Urban's critically acclaimed 2016 project. In addition to the four radio singles, Urban played deep cuts like "Sun Don't Let Me Down" and "The Fighter." An enigmatic black box called the Phantom helped bring special guests Pitbull and Carrie Underwood (respectively) to the stage when they couldn't be there in person. Several songs mixed elements of EDM — or at the very least, bluegrass on Red Bull — during the show. He's not a traditionalist, and he's not apologizing for it.

While hits like "Days Go By" and "Stupid Boy" were sprinkled throughout the guitar-heavy set, Urban's eyes were set forward. "My Church" singer Morris and Eldredge opened the show. Morris proved her recent CMA success was more than industry acknowledgment. Several of her songs became massive sing-alongs with a crowd that had filled in early to see her.

Eldredge's set was highlighted by several solo acoustic songs from his catalog. He's proving to be country's next great crooner.

See Photos From a Ripcord Tour Stop in Massachusetts: 

Watch: 7 Unforgettable Keith Urban Moments

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