JENNIFER NETTLES WORRIES ABOUT THROAT PROBLEMS , TWISTED ANKLE

JENNIFER NETTLES

Jennifer Nettles’ injury to her voice isn’t the only damage that Sugarland has suffered this year. Kristian Bush twisted his ankle taking a header during the group’s April show in Atlanta. He tells about the incident, which occurred when he was running to the back of the hall at the Gwinnett Arena, mid-show to give away a signed guitar:

“I was looking for somebody, searching for somebody’s eyes. I tried to find a kid between 12 and 17. … I found one in the back of the arena, and I was running back down the stairs. I made the corner, and then rolled down on my face. I’m surprised it didn’t show up on YouTube. I finished the show, but I was seeing floaters and stars the whole time. After the show the doctor said, ‘You need to not walk.’ They stuck me through all the orthopedics guys for the Falcons. You wouldn’t believe the amount of drugs they can put you on to make your body function, but those drugs keep you from healing. You can’t do that with the voice, either. You can’t shoot yourself up with steroids because you’re healing your muscles. We are trying to treat ourselves as professional athletes now, which means you have to stay in shape, you can’t drink, you can’t smoke, you can’t party.”

Technologically perfect, the concert footage is filled with fast-paced editing and camera work that captures the charismatic and photogenic Nettles working the crowd while Bush seems content to play Oates to her Hall, or Teller to her Penn. Not that his contributions are qualitatively lesser, but it is pretty obvious who is the focal point.

With only five tracks duplicated between the CD and the DVD, Sugarland gives its loyal fans a well-deserved “thank you” and a big plateful of musical food for the masses.