TORONTO - The adage goes that every cloud has a silver lining, and perhaps that might have been exemplified by Kenny Chesney.

With a torrential downpour, lightning that was much too close for comfort and menacing looking clouds, there was an extremely good chance that the show Thursday night at Toronto's Molson Amphitheatre would join Nickelback's as being postponed at best, cancelled at worst.

However, Chesney and the near sold-out (and soaked) horde of cowboy hat-wearing faithful persevered, the storm subsided and about 35 minutes later than scheduled, the singer made his first Toronto visit ever on The Sun City Carnival Tour.

And while he started later than anticipated (as did openers Miranda Lambert and Lady Antebellum), the performer definitely wasted no time from start to finish, cramming what should have been a near two hour set into a near seamless 100 minutes beginning with Live Those Songs Again and Summertime.

Backed by a large band featuring a member of The Wailers as well as a horn section, Chesney - wearing his trademark hat, vest and jeans was raring to go. The crowd matched that participation on Keg In The Closet, the relaxing Beer In Mexico and Out Last Night, all of which had them drowning out the star.

Chesney has developed his own brand of country, a brand that could be called "cottage country."

Sure, he has all the awards and hit country singles you could ask for, but often the songs' content about the beach, beer and relaxation brings to mind Jimmy Buffett much more than the broken hearts of Willie Nelson or George Jones. Toss in the fact a song like No Shoes, No Shirts, No Problems would complement a classic like Margaritaville and the comparison becomes more obvious.

But whatever Chesney has done, he's been successful doing it judging by how well the lighter, strolling Out Last Night, the reggae-tinged Everybody Wants To Go To Heaven and the softer Anything But Mine.

One of the surprises of the night came when the musician decided to do a song he originally wasn't going to perform. Strumming a guitar and putting it in tune, Chesney mentioned how the worst singer he ever heard was current Blue Jays player Kevin Millar performing Old Blue Chair. Chesney started the number and Millar sauntered onstage, brew in hand and singing off microphone which got a nice reaction.

Stating that he would definitely not wait another 16 years before playing Toronto, Chesney forged ahead in workman-like fashion with There Goes My Life, the barroom-country flavored Living In Fast Forward and yet another crowd pleaser in Young. But the pace seemed to be beating him a bit, leaving him sticking his tongue out on a few occasions like he was dog tired.

Following Back Where I Come From and the shots of Toronto landmarks on the video screen behind him, Chesney began the homestretch with Don't Think Twice before starting the encore with She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy, bringing a smile to most who braved the earlier hellish elements.