Paisley proves he’s always worth another watch
Brad Paisley’s 15th RodeoHouston appearance wasn’t much different from his 13th or 14th. Or even his 10th. But he’s so good at playing the rotating stage that it hardly matters.
Paisley was a fresh-faced newbie with one album and a handful of singles under his belt when he made his Rodeo debut in 2001. He still has the same twinkle in his eye today. It’s helped set him apart from so many male singers.
“My favorite day of the year,” Paisley told Saturday night’s crowd of 71,788. He’s said it before. And it always works.
The 75-minute set included all the most recognizable hits: “Ticks,” “Wrapped Around,” “Waitin’ on a Woman.” He prefaced “Water” with “The Love Boat” theme song and segued from “Last Time for Everything” into a bit of Prince’s “Purple Rain.”
Paisley has a knack for instantly and effortlessly switching up the mood onstage. Sweet ballad “Then” was followed by the satirical “Online.” The silly “I’m Gonna Miss Her” preceded the romantic “She’s Everything.”
But he’s at his best when he jumps offstage to interact with the crowd. During “I’m Just a Guy,” Paisley stopped along the rails to pose for photos and sign autographs. He took a woman’s phone, posted a selfie to her Instagram with the caption “sexiest man alive” and announced her handle to the crowd. Her follower count immediately skyrocketed.
A few minutes later, Paisley gifted a guitar to a young fan.
“All right little guy, learn how to play that, and we’ll see you up here in about 10 or 15 years,” Paisley said. “Write songs about every girl that breaks your heart. You’re gonna be fine.”
Paisley ended with “Mud On the Tires” and “Alcohol,” again, as he had in previous years. But even if you’ve seen him do it once, twice or even three times, it’s somehow always worth another watch.