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Spring Music Guide 2003 Tim McGraw and the Dancehall Doctors Support: None Date: May 6, price and time TBA. HP Pavilion, 525 W. Santa Clara St., San Jose. 408.287.7070. Also May 7, price and time TBA. Oakland Coliseum, 7000 Coliseum Way, Oakland. 510.638.4900 Current Album: Tim McGraw & the Dancehall Doctors (Curb Records, 2002) Vitals: Ten years, two kids and marriage to pop-country diva Faith Hill turned country superstar Tim McGraw from a down-home country rebel to a polished balladeer. Breakthrough: "Indian Outlaw" (1994) Current Single: "She's My Kind of Rain" (2003) Scouting Report: Country singer Tim McGraw loves weepy sentiment ("Please Remember Me"), tear-jerker ballads ("Don't Take the Girl") and sappy duets with his wife ("It's Your Love"), but his most appealing material is his less maudlin work. On upbeat songs like "Just to See You Smile," he gets it just right. McGraw broke onto the country scene as a rowdy good ol' boy, and he's at his best when he cuts loose on summery, country-fried tunes like "I Like It, I Love It," "Down on the Farm" and "Something Like That." Still, with time comes maturity, and McGraw's seventh studio album, Tim McGraw & the Dancehall Doctors, is a rich, contemporary affair. Taking the reins, he broke tradition by using his own touring band instead of Nashville session players and brought in Kim Carnes to guest on "Comfort Me" and the Eagles' Don Henley and Timothy B. Schmidt on "Illegal." McGraw also took a chance by recording "Red Ragtop," a provocative song about a young couple's decision to abort an unplanned pregnancy. He's willing to take risks; he proved that he's still an outlaw at heart last year when he and his buddy, fellow country superstar Kenny Chesney, got arrested for rustling a horse from a police officer. The duo was later acquitted. Live, McGraw's show should play like a spectacular greatest-hits concert. (SQ) Send a letter to the editor about this story to letters@metronews.com. [ Silicon Valley | Metroactive Home | Archives ]