Young’s gorgeous baritone the standout in no-frills set
His simple delivery and stage work kept crowd engaged
Chris Young kept things simple and sincere during his fifth spin around RodeoHouston.
There were no pop grooves or wailing rock guitars. No hip swivels or easy pandering.
Young just sang his songs for a crowd of 64,238 paid attendance, who often sang them back to him.
Sometimes that’s the most powerful thing an artist can do.
Young has a gorgeous baritone that’s deep as a well. He put it to good use on No. 1 singles “Gettin’ You Home (The Black Dress Song),” “Voices” and Losing Sleep.”
“Lonely Eyes” played like an ’80s throwback. New single “Hangin’ On” was awash in yellow lights and lush instrumentation.
He worked every part of the stage, racing back and forth to each of the star points to address the crowd.
“Houston you are an incredible, incredible city and an incredible community. The way y’all came together after Hurricane Harvey,” he said before dedicating ballad “Who I Am With You” to the crowd. “That’s real love.”
He name checked the city in the opening line of “Text Me Texas,” a long-distance heartbreak ballad. (“Who’s in Houston that’s keepin’ you from talkin’ to me?”) The no-frills acoustic arrangement was a set highlight.
Some of Young’s material — “Aw Naw,” “I Can Take it from There,” “You” — isn’t exactly adventurous. But it’s to his credit that he makes most of it work reasonably well.