By Luke Glaser

There were boots, cowboy hats and an American flag here or there: all traditional pomp and circumstance for a country concert.

Brad Paisley brought his Virtual Reality World Tour 2012 into Lexington Saturday, playing to a packed house in Rupp Arena.

Scotty McCreery, the winner of the 2011 season of “American Idol,” opened the concert.

Although the tour was highlighted by Paisley’s name, a few attendees were there for something entirely different.

“The Band Perry,” Kacy Rhoades, an interior design sophomore, said. “They’re one of my favorite bands.”

‘The hottest band in country music’

Hailed as rising stars in country music and nominated for “Best New Artist” at the 2012 Grammys, The Band Perry opened for Paisley with songs almost as recognizable as those from Paisley himself.

The trio began with a love song dedicated to Kentucky called “All Your Life.” Kimberly Perry displayed an incomparable ardor for her music, belting every note in a voice tinged with a country scratch, yet saturated with passion.

Touted by Paisley himself as “the hottest band in country music,” The Band Perry continued with the songs that made it famous. The arena shrank into darkness for the solemn elegy “If I Die Young,” and the band cleverly introduced their “You Lie” with Eminem’s “Love the Way You Lie.”

Look for The Band Perry to be one of the premiere bands in country music soon. Until then, they played an excellent opening for Paisley, offering a main attraction before the main attraction.

Virtual reality

There was no grand announcement for Paisley’s long-awaited arrival. He snuck onto stage, catching the audience by surprise.

Perhaps intentionally, as he opened with one of his more recent hits, “Camouflage,” he welcomed the crowd with, “All you Lexington rednecks sure look good in camouflage.”

The audience took it as the most flattering of compliments.

Where Perry displayed her passion through voice, Paisley did so through his guitar. He picked, played, and improvised his way through the night, often going down to his knees, eyes closed, focusing entirely on the chords emanating from the guitar.

At one point, he played an interlude using a Bud Light bottle as a guitar pick.

The Virtual Reality tour was named so because country music is reality, Paisley said.

Country music also helps fans get through tougher times.

“Between our music and beer, it oughta be easy,” ­Paisley said.

He continued with “Ticks,” “Online,” and “This is Country Music,” a cool tribute to the genre that gave Paisley his name.

He made fun of the famous with “Celebrity,” and continued to poke fun at the Kardashians for the rest of the evening (including a humorous video short featuring William Shatner).

“I’m Still a Guy” was briefly paused for Paisley to give some advice to the audience.

“This is not funny. We have a problem. Women, yes women, it’s your fault,” Paisley said. “See you take a man, he’s tough, he’s rugged, and you shine him up like he’s some new car.”

The evening was not all humor. Paisley’s fond and nostalgic tribute to his teenage years, “Letter to Me,” was sung in the back of the arena, to the “cheap seats.” His “Whiskey Lullaby” was sad and solemn, dramatically enhanced by Perry’s reappearan­­ce for a chilling duet.

Paisley also thanked the crowd for its generosity. In light of the storms that ravaged parts of the state Friday, volunteers from the American Red Cross stood outside the ticket gates with donation cans.

“We had some tornadoes,” Paisley said. “A lot of you gave at the door and texted to donate.”

Paisley thanked the crowd and offered words of solace.

“I know this community will come together and get through this,” he said.

The only flaw brought a digital Carrie Underwood on to sing “Remind Me.” Although the duet was beautiful, Underwood’s digital image, designed to look as real as possible, came off as foolish and unnecessary, though the crowd cheered as if Underwood were really there.

‘It’s so great to be back in

Lexington’

Paisley returned for an encore, finishing the night with “American Saturday Night” and “Alcohol.”

The concert was almost a pre-game for the party that was the finale. The Band Perry returned to the stage, with some VIP fans armed with infamous red Solo cups.

“I’ve never had so much fun at a concert,” said nursing sophomore Caitlin Byron. “I loved all the bands, and sang along to pretty much everything. My family came down, and it was great just listening to the music and being with them.”

The musicians could not have agreed more.

“Here’s to country music for bringing us all together,” Perry said.