Last Night: Alan Jackson At RodeoHouston

Photos by Groovehouse

​Alan Jackson
Reliant Stadium
March 18, 2011

Friday night was Alan Jackson's 19th performance at RodeoHouston. For two decades, he's managed to maintain his status as a country music icon, and last night's performance only furthered his image, if that's even possible. Jackson is genuine and all about the simple joys in life, and his music is a perfect representation of that.

Appropriately, his performance began with "Gone Country," a lively ditty about the appeal of a trouble-free lifestyle. By the song's end, at least by Jackson's account, the whole world goes country. And if that means we get to eat Rodeo food year-round, we're all for it.

"I know we've got some country boys down here in Houston," Jackson said just before he and his band began to play "Country Boy," a celebration of small-towns, big trucks and, you guessed it, country boys. "Country girls, too!"

​Jackson's soft, low singing voice isn't as strong as it once was, but that's not such a bad thing, really. In fact, as it has begun to waver with age, it sounds as genuine as ever, if not more so.

"My daddy passed away about 10 years ago, and I wanted to write a song about him," Jackson said, five songs into the show. Someone unfamiliar with his music might assume that something slow and sad would follow, but that just isn't his style. "I didn't want to write something real sad."

Instead, Jackson's tribute to his father commemorates the first time his father let him drive the family's boat and car and how it made him feel like the kind of the road and ocean, respectively. Growing up, all Jackson ever wanted to do was drive something, and by the songs end, he also references first time he let his daughters drive, and how it felt to be in his father's shoes.

"Hey Houston, how y'all holding up out there? Still awake?" Jacskon asked the crowd after eight songs. "Thank y'all for coming to the Rodeo. I've always been real proud to be a part of it, so thanks."