The Truth Must Bear All Light H Since 1899

ClassifiedsCrosswordSudoku

Police blotterAround 60115Letters

OpinionSportsDeKalb Scene

1099

428

8107

The Northern Star is the daily campus newspaper serving Northern Illinois University and the surrounding community.

Volume 113, Issue 79 ForecastToday » ShowersHigh: 43º Low: 15º

Find us onlineFor breaking news updates, visit www.NorthernStar.info

Follow us on Twitter and Pinterest as NIUNorthernStar

Find The Northern Star on Facebook

Tuesday » Morning snow showersHigh: 18º Low: 6º

Weather.com

www.NorthernStar.info H FreeMonday, February 18, 2013

NewsYou may like bacon, but there’s more to a pig than that. Warning: Not for the faint of heart. Page 3.

PerspectiveAppearance may play more of a role in landing a job than you think. Page 8.

OnlineWant to keep your computer safe? Catch up with Tech Talk. Go to bit.ly/XjaEOn.

Northern Star

Lambert brings the love to Valentine’s Day Convo. showDeanna FrancesStaff Writer

DeKalb | For many country music fans in DeKalb, Valentine’s Day was more special than it usually is this year.

On Thursday night, opener Thomas Rhett and award-winning artists Dierks Bentley and Miranda Lambert hit the Convocation Center stage. The show was sold out.

The audience members weren’t afraid to show their country pride.

“I’m really excited for the country music,” said sophomore undecided major Kat McEvoy. “I love coming out and wearing my cowboy boots and flannel.”

When Bentley first sang, many of the fans got excited. He performed an hour-long set of fan-favorite songs, including “5-1-5-0,” “What Was I Thinkin’” and “Home.”

He pulled a female fan up on stage with him and let her play his electric guitar dur-ing a song. After his set was finished, he signed the guitar and handed it to her. He even answered, “Yes,” to a fan’s sign that read, “Will you be my Valentine?”

“I was so impressed,” said Molly Warchol of Chicago. “I’ve been a fan for a long time.”

Bentley also sparked the interest of many female fans in his jeans, cowboy boots and thin white T-shirt.

“He puts a whole new meaning to jeans and T-shirts,” said Sharon Seleb of Evergreen Park.

However, when the fans were asked, “Who are you looking forward to hear-ing?” there was a unanimous answer: Lambert. With popular songs like “Gun-powder and Lead,” “Baggage Claim” and

“Kerosene,” Lambert stands out as an idol for many fans.

“She’s a very powerful, fiery woman to look up to,” said junior chemistry major Au-drina Pryer.

About three songs into her performance, Lambert took a minute to speak to the fans, mentioning that she had indeed brought “her Valentine” to the concert, sending ex-cited screams through the audience.

Blake Shelton, Lambert’s husband, was shown on the big screen. Shelton did not perform, but he was seated at the edge of the stage with the crew throughout the en-tire performance.

Lambert was very animated and per-formed many of the fan’s favorite songs, and the crowds of fans were singing along with every hit song.

Bentley joined Lambert for a duet toward the end of her set. She was also called back on for an encore after the concert had offi-cially ended, and she performed another one of her hit songs, “White Liar.”

“I thought [the concert] was awesome,” said sophomore textiles major Kayla Rowl-ing. “I loved when [Lambert] talked about her husband.”

For some of the fans in the standing sec-tion next to the stage, the concert was com-pletely different than anything they’d expe-rienced before.

“I’ve seen [Lambert] three times,” said Katy Dienslake of Bloomington. “It’s totally different when you’re close.”

Country artist Rhett opened the concert performing both original and some well-known songs from other artists.

Amy Chow | Northern StarRight, bottom left: Miranda Lambert performs Friday at the Convocation Center. Lambert played hits like “Kerosene,” “Baggage Claim” and “Gunpowder and Lead.”Top left: Dierks Bentley sings during a Friday concert at the Convocation Center. Bentley and Lambert were opened by country artist Thomas Rhett.