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Life & Arts

Strait opens Rodeo with classy show

Country legend's act filled with favorites, Johnny Cash cover

by MARIO GUDMUNDSSON
The Daily Cougar 

The first night of RodeoHouston 2006 got right down to business, as 69,542 paying ticket-holders crammed into Reliant Stadium on Tuesday. With the midway lights blazing outside of the glittering stadium, young cowpokes in ironic western shirts rubbed elbows on the concourses with rhinestone-encrusted big-hair types.

Even with ProRodeo events, the calf scramble and chuck wagon races rolling, the crowd had really come for one thing: country gentleman George Strait.

After fireworks and a multimedia presentation dedicated to those affected by Hurricane Katrina, George Strait made his big entrance riding onto the dirt field in a bright yellow convertible.

Strait was, as always, immaculate, cool and trim. Wearing a cream-colored shirt with blue windowpane check just as perfectly starched as his crispy Wranglers, Strait mounted the familiar rotating stage with the smug aplomb of a man in his own home.

Completely at ease, guitar slung over shoulder and hat pulled low over his eyes, he immediately launched into a block of songs that drew from his back catalogue as well as more recent hits.

The old favorites like "Amarillo by Morning" and "All my ex's live in Texas" were soundly represented, but the typically ballad-heavy selection of songs was surprisingly studded with honky-tonk and classic country covers this year.

Johnny Cash's "Folsom Prison Blues" found a powerful match in the rolling lilt of Strait's voice and gentle treatment by the Ace in the Hole Band.

In one of the few breaks between solid hits, Strait took a leisurely moment to introduce the band, as well as each artist on stage with him. Then -- back to the music.

One of the more memorable moments of the evening came with the ballad "Milk Cow Blues." An odd video montage of sexily posed cows played lazily on the big screens suspended over the stage. Fans in the $300 chute seats were allowed onto the stadium floor to witness the bovine splendor up close.

With his own performance, though, Strait showed the audience just exactly how a gentleman does things in Texas -- no undue flash, no undignified dancing or antics.

This is Strait's 19th RodeoHouston performance since 1984. George Strait has sold out every show he has played at the Rodeo.

George Strait@ Reliant Stadium
Verdict: Strait always brings classic, straightforward country music at its smoothest.
 

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