Country Mike Blog

Rodeo Concerts

Mike Sudhalter  |  March 6, 2009

Rodeos are fun. From the bull riding to calf roping, and the festive atmosphere.

Last night, I attended the biggest rodeo of them all - the Houston Livestock and Rodeo Show at Reliant Stadium in Houston.

Of course, I like all of the rodeo events, but I'm first and foremost interested in the music.

That's why it's somewhat disappointing to see an artist - last night, it was Clay Walker only perform an hour long set.

I guess I'm spoiled because in 2007, I saw Walker do a two-hour performance at the Bob Hope Theater in Stockton, Calif. The first time I saw him was at the American Royal Rodeo in 2000 (Kansas City, Mo.) Now, back then, his number of hits were much smaller, and it was easier to fit them all in.

I'm a fan of Walker's older material - "Live Until I Die" and "What's It To You." He performed his new single in front of the rodeo crowd - "All American." I wanted to like the song, but it was so saturated with cliches - even by the standards of a typical "mom, baseball and apple pie" type of tune.

It was neat, however, to see Walker ride a horse to the stage. Now, that's an All-American Cowboy.