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    No Lie

    Texas loves The Band Perry & blonde bombshell Kimberly like no other — a recordRodeo crowd proves it

    Jayme Lamm
    Mar 15, 2012 | 2:14 am
    • Kimberly Perry got more alive with each strum of her guitar.
      Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com
    • The Band Perry played to the second largest Rodeo crowd ever.
      Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com
    • And Kimberly Perry seemed to be having just as much fun as those 74,241 fans.
      Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com
    • Neil Perry
      Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com
    • Reid Perry
      Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com

    Coming straight off the energy from the introductory fireworks at Reliant Stadium Wednesday night were Kimberly, Neil and Reid Perry, not skipping a single beat and keeping the electricity rocking throughout the crowd of 74,241 — the largest crowd the sibling trio The Band Perry has ever performed in front of and the second largest crowd in RodeoHouston history.

    That rookie enthusiasm, mostly from the blonde bombshell Kimberly, was surely appreciated by every attendee. Kimberly Perry got more alive with each and every strum of her guitar as the band offered the fans some midweek "song therapy." Coming out in a black off-the-shoulder dress, all-black jewelry and knee-high black boots, Kimberly dazzled.

    The boys stood on either side of her with Neil rocking a pearl snap and custom Reliant belt buckle (as pictured on Perry's Twitter timeline) while Reid opted for a more basic black tee and black pants. Though their outfits may not have screamed "I'm with the band," their vocals surely matched up for their 15-song set list. The Band Perry played in unison and performed their little hearts out.

    You could tell how immensely excited the group was to play in front of the large audience in a state which was instrumental in kicking off their twangy career.

    Lacking a big of a vault of No. 1 hits, like say a Blake Shelton, Perry threw in a number of classic rock 'n' roll songs to keep the crowd moving. Kimberly and the boys busted out an American Sing Along Medley which included samplings of Tom Petty's "Free Falling," John Mellencamp's "Jack and Diane," "Me and Bobby McGhee', "American Pie" and even a hymnal version of "Amazing Grace."

    Whether it was a well-timed five-hour energy drink or The Band Perry was just that happy to be in Houston, the band had much reason to celebrate and put on one hell of a show as Texas was the first place to play them on the radio. You could tell how immensely excited the group was to play in front of the large audience in a state which was instrumental in kicking off their twangy career.

    After two-plus weeks of Rodeo concerts, it was refreshing to see a group of talented artists having as much fun on stage as the crowd was in their seats (or in the aisles dancing). Throughout the show, Kimberly Perry took a few long pauses to really let it all sink in.

    I'm sure the "we finally made it" feeling has set in with the group long before now, but playing in front of this large crowd, in front of the state that heard their music first, you could tell this was one of those ah-ha moments for music enthusiasts.

    "Daddy rocked us to sleep with the Rolling Stones; Mama woke us up with Loretta Lynn. So we get it honest," is how Kimberly Perry puts it on the band's website. That gives you a little feel for how the band got its unique voice and vibe of one part honky-tonk, one part rock 'n' roll and one part punk — all of which Perry brought into Reliant.

    As the F-150 started out onto the dirt field signaling the end of the concert, I made a friendly wager that Kimberly was still so amped she'd forego the pickup and run past the end zone and into the tunnels.

    In true Texas country female form, The Band Perry ended with its most famous song to date, "You Lie." Only, they started with a little rendition of Rihanna's "I Hate The Way You Lie" — dedicating the song to "all the cheaters out there."

    I think they got the message. Well if my ex checked his voicemail, then they got the message.

    As Kimberly Perry screamed out to the massive crowd, "It is bigger and better here in Texas, y'all!"

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    Movie Review

    How to Train Your Dragon remake puts a fresh twist on the original

    Alex Bentley
    Jun 12, 2025 | 4:14 pm
    Toothless and Mason Thames in How to Train Your Dragon
    Photo courtesy of Universal Pictures
    Toothless and Mason Thames in How to Train Your Dragon.

    Let’s get it out of the way right at the top: The new live-action How to Train Your Dragon, coming a mere 15 years after the original animated film, serves no real purpose other than to make more money for Universal Pictures and Dreamworks Pictures. However, unlike Disney’s approach toward remaking their animated movies, this attempt manages to succeed on its own merits instead of being a half-baked vessel for nostalgia.

    As fans will remember, Hiccup (Mason Thames) lives in Berk, a town on a remote island populated by Vikings who constantly have to defend themselves against rampaging dragons. Hiccup’s dad, Stoick (Gerard Butler), is the community’s vaunted leader, with a legacy that seems impossible for Hiccup to measure up to, especially since he’s stuck in the armory alongside Gobber (Nick Frost).

    But Hiccup has a knack for inventions, and his use of one new weapon during a dragon attack takes down a feared Night Fury. Finding the wounded dragon deep in the forest, Hiccup decides against killing it, leading to an unexpected bond between the two of them. Most of the film shows Hiccup trying to prove himself to his townspeople, including the fierce Astrid (Nico Parker), while also nursing the dragon he dubs Toothless back to health with the help of another one of his ingenious creations.

    Written and directed by Dean DeBlois (who’s had the same roles on all four HTTYD films), the film is most notable for how engaging it is despite it retelling a story many already know and love. The biggest reason for this is a pivot away from telling a story mainly for kids toward one that feels like an extremely light version of Game of Thrones. Almost right away, there are real stakes for the people in the film, and the way DeBlois and his team stage the scenes, the danger can be felt by the audience.

    This sense of “realness” comes through especially well in the scenes between Hiccup and Toothless. The design of Toothless is faithful to the original, but the CGI makes the dragon feel amazingly believable. And when they start flying, the film literally and metaphorically takes off. At multiple points, the camera seems to have trouble keeping them in frame, a smart move toward verisimilitude when the filmmakers clearly could have made it an overly smooth watching experience.

    Even though it’s more serious than the original, the film still has plenty of fun to offer. Characters like Gobber (who replaces his two missing limbs with odd contraptions) and the ragtag group of teenagers who come to be in awe of Hiccup’s skills at taming dragons provide more than a few laughs. Hiccup isn’t quite as goofy as he was when voiced by Jay Baruchel, which turns out to be a good thing as his sense of purpose amps up the drama of the story.

    Thames’ performance gets better and better as the film goes along, as Hiccup goes from town whipping boy toward hero. He really shines in the last act when he’s given a few scenes that show off his acting range. Parker is equally good, demonstrating the girl power needed for the role, but also the softness of a potential love interest. Butler, the only actor reprising their voice role, is a great presence who sells the outsized personality of Stoick.

    Against the odds, this new version of How to Train Your Dragon is equal to the success of the first film, accomplishing the goal of making it feel like you’re watching the story for the first time. If live-action remakes are going to continue to come out, future filmmakers should study this film for how to respect both the history of the franchise and the audience paying good money to be entertained.

    ---

    How to Train Your Dragon opens in theaters on June 13.

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