RodeoHouston 2017

Aaron Watson turns NRG Stadium into a big ol' honky tonk at RodeoHouston opener

The fringe, cowboy boots, vests and cowboy hats have officially landed in Houston. The entertainment portion of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo officially got underway Tuesday night when Aaron Watson, headlining his first RodeoHouston concert, took to the rotating stage right after a bright display of fireworks and tipped his hat to the audience.

Opening night was a little different this year as the Texas country singer did something that hasn't been done since George Strait did it back in 2001 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington — a live CD/DVD of his performance. Watson tweeted about it earlier in the afternoon.

With an opening night audience of 51,986, it wasn't the biggest in terms of Rodeo attendance, but the seats at NRG Staidum were certainly filled with some of Watson's most hardcore — and loud — fans around. "I hear ya, I love ya," he shouted back to the hollering fans at one point.

Watson totally dressed the part in a black cowboy hat, tucked-in buttoned-down shirt and, of course, boots and jeans, and he was humble, honored and excited to take it all in. "At first I was a little bit nervous but then I realized this was nothing but a big ol' honky tonk tonight. Playing RodeoHouston is just about as good as it gets," he told the crowd.

Watson took some time to honor the first responders in the audience, asking them to stand and encouraged fans to "look at all these heroes." Definitely some big, deserved cheers eminated from the Houston crowd. He also reminded everyone in attendance that it doesn't matter who's in the White House, we are lucky to live in the United States, which pumped up the crowd even more.

Getting totally caught up in the lyrics of "That's Why God Loves Cowboys," people were two-stepping their way into the nacho line.

"I'm telling you girls, I cry like a baby, I got issues," he said before singing the hit "Bluebonnets" that he wrote for the daughter that he and his wife lost five years ago. Cell phone lights, the new form of lighters in the stands, lit up during this beautiful tribute, while Watson did his best to hold back the tears and sing from his heart. A true cowboy indeed.

"It's hard to believe I'm on this stage tonight," Watson shared with the crowd as he talked about the ups and downs in his career.

The Amarillo native even added some humor to his performance, saying, "All the proceeds from my new album go straight into my wife's purse." If he was nervous, he certainly hid it well.

He did his thing, sang his songs and rolled out like an old freight train — exactly how the Houston Rodeo should be done. The other performers have quite an act to follow. Plus, a fiddle on stage is hard to top.

Needless to say, Houston has waited all year for the rodeo and thank goodness it's back. The stage has been set.

Set List:
These Old Boots Have Roots
Freight Train
Real Good Time
Raise Your Bottle
God Loves Cowboys
That Look
Outta Style
Bluebonnets
They Don't Make 'Em Like They Used To
Fencepost
Wildfire
Getaway Truck
July in Cheyenne

Aaron Watson did his thing, sang his songs and rolled out like an old freight train — exactly how RodeoHouston should be done.

Aaron Watson at RodeoHouston opener 2017

Photo by Michelle Watson/CatchLight Group

Aaron Watson did his thing, sang his songs and rolled out like an old freight train — exactly how RodeoHouston should be done.

houston-rodeo rodeo

Movie Review

An all-star cast delivers clever laughs in new comedy The Invite

Photo courtesy of A24

Olivia Wilde, Seth Rogen, Penelope Cruz, and Edward Norton in The Invite.

Once upon a time, well before scandal embroiled him, Woody Allen made great comedies aimed at adults. That type of film — which is different from the raunchy, R-rated comedies of the 21st century — has fallen out of favor in Hollywood, but as the new film The Invite proves, when done well it can be as funny as anything else out there.

Joe (Seth Rogen) and Angela (Olivia Wilde) are an unhappily married couple living in San Francisco. As we meet them, Joe has arrived home to Angela preparing for a visit from their upstairs neighbors, Hawk (Edward Norton) and Piña (Penélope Cruz), who have moved in relatively recently. Their impending arrival starts a new round of arguing between Joe and Angela, something they can barely contain once the other couple comes to their door.

What proceeds is a getting-to-know-you process that is mostly awkward as Joe and Angela continue sniping at each other while Hawk and Piña put in their two cents in a much calmer manner. A sticking point between the two couples — the loud sex Hawk and Piña have on an almost nightly basis — turns the film on its head with an unexpected invitation.

Directed by Wilde and written by Will McCormack and Rashida Jones, the film is a fast-paced chamber piece that takes place almost entirely in Joe and Angela’s apartment. Wilde, the writers, and the actors speed the story along not with action but through almost non-stop dialogue that often has the characters overlapping each other’s lines. The rapidity of the speech fuels the humor of the situation and establishes the differing personalities of each person.

Sex is very much top of mind for each of the characters for most of the film, but the filmmakers approach the topic in such a way that it never feels salacious. Each of the characters is a rational adult who can talk about sex in a mature manner while also acknowledging their unique feelings on the matter. And it’s the discoveries each of them makes along the way that brings about the most comedy.

But, like any comedy for adults, the film also has a dramatic tilt to it, and Wilde edges the story back-and-forth between the two tones extremely well. Joe and Angela fighting is played for laughs at times, but the sadness of their relationship comes through loud and clear. Hawk and Piña are much more intimate with each other, but the funniness of their openness is juxtaposed with a depth that arises through their conversations.

In the 2020s, Rogen has managed to make the transition from goofy stoner to stoner with real acting chops. In a stacked cast, he is the one who sells every moment the best. That’s not to say that Wilde, Norton, and Cruz don’t measure up, though; each of them inhabits their respective roles magnificently. The four actors play off each other as if they had been working together for years.

While The Invite will likely play better to those who have experience with long term relationships, its insights — and occasional bawdiness — make it a comedy that can be appreciated universally. With four actors at the top of their games and a razor-sharp script made even better by some well-done improv, it proves that you don’t need to go low to get great laughs.

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The Invite is now playing in theaters.

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