Paisley doesn’t miss a beat in 12th rodeo gig
The country star brings nice surprise by breaking from well-tooled script
Brad Paisley’s mixed things up a bit for his 12th time on the RodeoHouston stage — all within the first five minutes.
His intro included snippets of the “Stranger Things” and “Knight Rider” themes before kicking into recent single “Last Time for Everything” (whose ‘80s-inspired music video references both shows). He segued into a bit of Prince’s “Purple Rain,” complete with a matching light show, before tearing into “Old Alabama,” a tribute to the legendary country band.
Paisley’s RodeoHouston shows usually stick to a well-tooled script, so Saturday night’s show was a nice surprise. His performance drew 75,016 paid attendance, one of the season’s highest figures.
“Thank you for building us this fine new stage. Actually I should thank Steven Spielberg for building this stage,” Paisley said. “This looks like it’s out of ‘Close Encounters of the Third Kind.’ I feel like we could fly on this.
“Is this how Lady Gaga got on the roof ?”
Much of the show, in fact, felt refreshed from years past. He added some extra punch to “Online” and “Crushin’ It” before jumping offstage and doling out several high-fives to giddy fans.
He was back onstage for a few strums through the Gatlin Brothers’ “Houston,” the cover of choice for RodeoHouston performers, and his own “This is Country Music.”
A group of military officers joined Paisley for “Love and War,” and he thanked them for their service by offering them a green beer. (Happy St. Patrick’s Day, y’all.)
“Ticks” is still funnier than it should be after all these years. And Paisley delivers battle of the sexes opus “I’m Still a Guy” with a wry humor that would be lost on most of his contemporaries.
He was soon back on the dirt with the crowd in that uniquely Paisley way: taking over someone’s Snapchat, snapping selfies and checking Amazon purchase history. (“Wanna know what apps she has?”)
Paisley’s appeal was exemplified when he walked the length of the rails, on both sides, while warbling romantic ballads “Then” and “She’s Everything.” Fans outstretched their hands for high-fives and screamed lyrics into the microphone. The entire crowd frequently picked up the chorus. He wailed on the guitar and autographed a homemade sign.
Paisley not only never missed a beat — he made it all a surprisingly sweet highlight.