Monday, December 13, 2010

Randy Houser brings southern soul to Kentucky

Randy Houser - by Jessica Blankenship
Bringing the honky tonk to Covington, Randy Houser brought alongside new songs blended in with classic country with his recent show at the Madison Theatre. The show benefited the local Toys for Tots. Starting off with the rowdy "My Kind of Country," Houser brought the crowd to its feet singing along to the tune. He followed it up with the unreleased song, "Waylon Would Have Kicked Your Ass," in tribute to Waylon Jennings. The tune itself was originally set to be released with his latest album, however according to Houser, "we didn't have enough room to place it on the album." Hopefully he will plan on releasing the song in the future.

Taking a page out of the instructional manual of singing a song that would be fitting for Conway Twitty, Houser would go on to sing "Man Like Me." The current tune is climbing up the charts and was recently featured as a New Music Monday Spotlight. Slowing down the set, he would go to play "Anything Goes." The soulful song on the fact that after losing everything including the one he loved, anything goes. The tune itself was his first released two years ago and would lead itself to a performance on the David Letterman Show after Letterman himself loved the song.

With the title track of his newest album, "They Call Me Cadillac," the crowd was dancing to the rowdy roadhouse tune. He would follow up with "Out Here in the Country," "Always Be This Way." Houser would feature a newly written tune, "Welcome to the Doghouse."

One of the special tributes Houser is a part of the Lynard Skynard tribute album, singing "Simple Man." Live, Houser sailed through the song with ease while playing the electric guitar as the crowd sang along. Flowing with the groove, Houser kicked it into rowdy "Lowdown and Lonesome."

Paying tribute to the legends, Randy Houser would play "Mama's Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to be Cowboys," "Whiskey River," "Long Haired Country Boy," "Folsom Prison," "Dinosaur," and "Midnight Rider."

After closing out the set with the crowd pleasing, "Boots On," Houser and the band came back for an encore that included the soulful "Baby Go." He would conclude the set with the rousing version of "Whistlin' Dixie," bringing the southern swamp sound up north of the Mason Dixon line near the banks of the Ohio River.

Overall, the concert showcased Randy Houser's vocal and musicianship abilities as an artist. If he coming to a venue near you, be sure to check out this rising country music singer-songwriter.

Randy Houser Set List
My Kind of Country
Waylon Would Have Kicked Your Ass
Man Like Me
Anything Goes
Mama's Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to be Cowboys
They Call Me Cadillac
Out Here in the Country
Whiskey River
Always Be This Way
Dinosaur
Long Haired Country Boy
Midnight Rider
Welcome to the Doghouse
Simple Man
Lowdown and Lonesome
Boots On

Encore:
Baby Go
Whistling Dixie

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