The other night my partner and I went to see Brooks and Dunn with ZZ Top, with Rodney Atkins as the opener.
Although Rodney has a nice voice (clear, crisp, mellow), he really needs to take singing lessons - his pitch is all over the place and often times he sounded off tune. As well, his song writing needs some brush up - many of his songs tend to ramble until you're left wondering what the actual story line was.
ZZ Top and Brooks and Dunn were billed as 'Co-headliners' which means they take turns going up first or closing out the show. ZZ Top closed out the show the night I was there, and I cant say much about them, except that they are showmen who have a huge repertorie to choose from, and that drummer Frank Beard (the only one without a beard) has simply gotten better looking with age.
Brooks and Dunn as far as I'm concerned, stole the show this night. (And I'm not a country music fan at all) They came out with a strong rock/country song and got the audience fired up from the first notes. Backed by three female back up singers, a slide guitar player, drummer, and other musicians who pumped up the volume (but didnt detract from the Ronnie and Kix) they were out to have a good time.
[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="298" caption="photo courtesy of starpulse.com"]
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Three songs in I finally recognized one from radio play - Neon Moon. Kix Brooks came out to the center ramp with a stool and guitar and sang it solo, bathed in, what else?, neon lighting effects, but it was nicely done and the audience was singing along with him on the chorus.
Stool disappears, Ronnie joins Kix again and the lights come back up to full for more rocking honkey tonk, and at one point, Ronnie Dunn brings out a cannon - and fires a few tshirts off into the audience waaay out in the stands. Later, his empty water bottle is flung as far as he can toss it, amid shouts of fans hoping to score (it was plastic, not glass).
As I said, I'm not a country fan, so I dont know half of the songs they sang, but Believe was an amazing song, and My Maria was fun for everyone. During 'Put a Girl in It' they had their videographer film some of the girls down in the front section dancing, and would flash them up on the video screens briefly for the audience to enjoy as well. One girl in a white dress was totally into what she was doing - unaffected by being filmed and didnt 'mug' or sauce it up for the camera. During 'My Maria', Brooks and Dunn pulled this same girl onto the stage and she danced up a storm. It was funny though - every time Ronnie or Kix would get close to her, she'd back away and just be content to dance rather than play around with them! They pulled more ladies out of the audience including a girl about 10 yrs old, and by the time the song was ended, there were about 20 ladies of all descriptions up there dancing. It was an amazing way to get the entire audience involved in the concert experience.
As co-headliners, I'm sure they had a tight time frame for their set - half the audience was there to see ZZ Top remember... but they did come back and do an encore after thunderous applause - 'Boot Scootin Boogie' was the song and even I was up dancing to that one - how can you not?
observations:
-the video screen behind Brooks and Dunn was unlike anything I've ever seen at a concert - clear. crystal clear - amazing vibrant colors. The neon's stood out, the swirling patterns were crisp, even when people's faces were flashed up there, it was incredible. I'm a huge huge U2 fan. U2's screen at the Vertigo shows two years ago was amazing cutting edge stuff then - this screen blows that one out of the water. It has to be a computer screen of some sort. (sadly no pics of it)
-why do people come to a concert and not enjoy it? I ended up in an area of people that remained sitting for the entire show. At first I thought they were there simply to see ZZ Top and that's why they sat and scowled like it was torture to see Brooks and Dunn. I can understand that.. but to stay sitting and scowling for the next act as well? Why are you there? Next time stay home OR dont give people in front of you grief for standing up and dancing. (a couple 4 seats down from me wanted to dance all night and kept getting told to sit down)
-Brooks and Dunn know how to fire up an audience. Many performers do, but it never ceases to amaze me that many dont! Its fine to get the people in General Admission down at the front, to get involved in the show... but its an art form, a talent, to make the people up in the nosebleeds feel as if you're on stage singing just to them! Bono and U2 have it. Collective Soul have it. Brooks and Dunn most definitely have it. Well done guys.
-loved the contest idea. Before the show started, you could text a message to a specific number as why you wanted to meet Brooks and Dunn. One person would be texted back and would meet the duo after the show. Brilliant. (U2.. are you listening???? )