If there was ever a skeptic about an artist not being able to live up to album hype and all its glory at the Houston Rodeo, Luke Bryan shattered every piece of that Monday night. In fact, he sounded better than every one of his hit songs you hear on the radio or iPod.
Acoustically, Bryan was more on point than perhaps any Rodeo performer this season, although I could have personally done without all 2,549 bedazzled hip thrusts throughout the hour-long set.
Bryan was more on point than perhaps any Rodeo performer this season, although I could have personally done without all 2,549 bedazzled hip thrusts throughout the hour-long set.
Bryan brought more cheese to the Rodeo than the entire state of Wisconsin knows what to do with. With all his "Who's feeling lucky?" references to St. Paddy's Day, his awkward roaring like a tiger complete with eye winks, and his simultaneous crotch shaking and blowing kisses to the crowd flair, it felt more like an uncomfortable episode of something on MTV rather than a Rodeo concert we've grown to love during the month of March.
"From the bottom of my heart, thank you for having me back at the Houston Rodeo and thank you so much for selling this big ass place out. The Houston Rodeo is our biggest crowd every year," Bryan told the crowd of 75,078.
And at least 75,077 had no issues whatsoever with his indiscriminate pelvic thrusts.
Playing a short tribute to none other than country legend George Strait, Bryan noted, "You can't come to Texas without playing a little bit of George Strait," to the crowd's delight.
Luckily there were no hip thrusts or fist bumps while he sat at the piano.
Bryan, who was last year's Academy of Country Music (ACM) Entertainer of the Year, most definitely showed some range on the vocals, proving why he tops the pop country charts on a regular basis, but his stage presence was quite lacking, even with all those hip thrusts. It wasn't until the very last song, Country Girl, that Bryan finally jumped onto the dirt for an entire Houston Texan-sized lap for fans, before indulging in the ultimate selfie with one lucky fan.
Set List:
That's My Kinda Night
Rain
Kiss Tomorrow
Calling You Baby
Play It Again
Crash My Party
Drink A Beer
Drunk On You
Night To End
Country Girl
Luke Bryan had a good time at the Rodeo
