Miranda Lambert: “Keeper of the Flame” Tour

Miranda Lambert kicked off her 2016 “Keeper of the Flame” tour right here in St. Louis on May 13. Opening for Lambert was the Brothers Osborne and Kip Moore. Moore in particular warmed up the crowd by singing fan favorites such as “Somethin’ ‘Bout A Truck” and “Hey Pretty Girl.” Lambert came to the stage and opened with “Fastest Girl In Town.” As the night went on she sang classics such as “White Liar,” “Mama’s Broken Heart,” “The House That Built Me” and closed with “Gunpowder and Lead.” It was hard to tell if you were listening to the perfected radio version or simply Lambert’s raw talent. Although most of the audience was a little soggy from the rain, they responded well with Lambert’s upbeat tempo. Even though the weather was not ideal, the country music made the concert worthwhile.

Rating: 9/10

Captain America: Civil War

Marvel did not disappoint with the new action-packed film Captain America: Civil War. It opened with a dramatic fight scene that grabbed the audience’s attention and never let go as the Avengers began to battle one another. The suspense of the fight scenes kept viewers on the edge of their seats. Seeing the powers and personalities of the new characters unfold was an intriguing twist to the plot. Spiderman in particular was a hit. He was hilarious and even made the final battle comical. However, Iron Man seemed to lack his usual witty nature and sarcastic comments. Also, Thor and Hulk were absent from the movie, which created a bit of a disappointment. Despite these minor drawbacks, it was an excellent movie with great action scenes. Even if you are not a Marvel fan, it will definitely be worth the watch.

Rating: 8/10

Shawn Mendes

Singer, songwriter and model Shawn Mendes has gained nothing but popularity in the past year. Mendes started his career about three years ago when he posted short videos of himself singing popular song covers on Vine. He began gaining followers until he found himself signing a record deal with Island Records A&R. In June of 2014, he released his first single “Life of the Party,” making him the youngest artist (15 years old) to debut in the top 25 on the Billboard Hot 100. Then, in April of 2015, he released his album Handwritten, which quickly became number one on the Billboard 200 chart. His hit single, “Stitches” rose to number four on the Billboard Hot 100. Since then, “Stitches” has rocked the radio and millions of people worldwide have begun to notice the talent that Shawn Mendes possess. Mendes is currently on his world tour and will perform in St. Louis on August 6. Being only 17, Mendes has a promising future ahead of him as his fame and fan base grow.

Rating: 10/10