When the ushers sent giddy fans back to their designated seats Saturday night at the Bryce Jordan Center, audience members rolled their eyes and reluctantly complied.
But when Keith Urban saw that security was asking fans not to get closer to the stage and requesting they clear the aisles, he quickly took action.
"We're not going to riot," Urban said. "Nobody's going to fall off their damn chair."
And with that, security stepped back and the floor goers rushed to the stage, cheering and singing along with the man in the tight plaid shirt and form-fitting blue jeans.
"He was fabulous as always," said Kimberly Tinker, 41, a Baltimore resident who came to the concert with her mother, Barbara Webster, 59.
People like Tinker and Webster made up a majority of the somewhat older audience, but young and old alike seemed to enjoy the longer than two-hour Urban performance.
Kristen Gephart, who works in Penn State's Lubert building, was with two of her girlfriends for her bachelorette party. She said the concert was something fun the girls could do together before she ties the knot.
"We all love country and Keith Urban, so it's perfect," Gephart, 22, said.
Local folk rock band The Rustlanders, who replaced Sugarland as Urban's opening act, was met with sporadic applause. Then the crowd of about three-fourths of the 10,000 maximum occupancy for this show rose to its feet when the curtains parted and Urban appeared on stage.
Sugarland dropped out of the show because of its lead singer's illness, but some audience members said the absence of the band couldn't put a damper on Urban's performance.
Kim Wadforth, a nursing home employee and member of Urban's official fan club, drove all the way from Ontario, Canada to attend her 39th Urban concert.
Wadforth said it didn't matter who opened for Urban as long as she got to see him perform, even if it was for the second, third or fourth time that week.
"I'm just so excited to see Keith," Wadforth said. "We're on a week long KURT, Keith Urban Road Trip."
Country music fans will be able to hear more action on Aug. 29 when the BJC hosts Taylor Swift and Kelly Pickler. Tickets go on sale May 15.
