A little bit country and a whole lot of rock for Aldean
Crowd favorite, band wow NRG Stadium with a performance that has harder edge
This year’s RodeoHouston lineup was missing a rock ’n’ roll act. No KISS or Styx. No blink-182 or Fall Out Boy.
But Jason Aldean proved a formidable substitute.
He’s a country artist by category, but Aldean and his band rock hard and precise. Tuesday’s show was Aldean’s seventh run on the rotating stage and drew 57,351 paid attendance. He wore ripped jeans, a thick wallet chain and a cross around his neck. (It’s the costume of choice for many modern country males.)
The guitars raged and the drums pounded through a series of songs, including “They Don’t Know,” Take a Little Ride” and “Lights Come On.” Aldean was in strong voice, his commanding twang filling the stadium.
Nice contrast
Even the tunes that lean into a more traditional country sound — “Any Ol’ Barstool,” “Tattoos on this Town” — had the frayed edges of rock anthems.
Every song drew cheers of recognition. No surprise when you have 17 No. 1 singles.
The crowd hooted and hollered between songs. They sang back the chorus of “Burnin’ it Down.” Several rose to their feet during “Hicktown,” Aldean’s debut single that sounds like an ‘80s hair metal classic.
New single “You Make it Easy,” already near the top of the charts, shifts the needle back toward country. It was a nice contrast to the bombast. Aldean’s eighth album, “Rearview Town,” is due April 13.
Aldean saved his biggest hits, of course, for the final stretch. There was hick-hop cheese (“Dirt Road Anthem”) and squealing guitars (“My Kinda Party”). A recordbreaking ringtone anthem (“Big Green Tractor”) and a flirty finish (“She’s Country”).
Judging by the reaction, it could have gone all night long.