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The uneasy feeling of déjà vu surely swept over some people
when Alan Jackson opened the season at Red Rocks Amphi
theatre.
But it wasn't déjà vu.
Most of the show was a repeat of the country superstar's
May 1, 2004, performance at the Pepsi Center - from the
opening to the prolonged standing ovation when Jackson led up
to his encore with "Where Were You."
Jackson, however, has such command of his music and the
stage that he could do this same show forever and still draw
country fans.
And that is just what he did Friday night before a sold-out
crowd.
It began with a montage of TV clips that mostly showed
Jackson's name being announced at country music award shows.
Then, the curtain rose and Jackson and his fantastic band, the
Strayhorns, ripped into "Gone Country."
And just like last time, he slipped Denver into the lyrics:
"Denver, Colorado's Gone Country." Predictably, that again
provoked loud cheers.
Jackson has had about as many hit singles as there
are steps to climb at Red Rocks. But he repeated last year's
playlist with the same videos showing on three large screens
behind the band and an even larger one at stage left.
The songs included "I Don't Even Know Your Name," "Livin'
On Love," "What I Do," "Who's Cheatin' Who," "Drive," "It's
Five O'Clock Somewhere" and "Little Bitty."
He also did great renditions of two country classics: Hank
Williams' "Hey, Good Lookin"'
and Jim Ed
Brown's "Pop a Top."
Jackson captivated the crowd throughout the night,
musically creating different moods at a whim. Couples leaned
into each other and swayed together to the ballad "Remember
When." Three minutes later, they boog ied separately to "Don't
Rock the Jukebox."
The Wrights, a husband-and-wife duo, opened the show with
six songs from their just-released debut CD, "Down This Road."
It also is the first release from Jackson's new label, Alan's
Country Records.
The husband, Adam, is Jackson's nephew. But Adam and wife
Shannon have the talent to prove nepotism isn't always bad.
Then, Sara Evans, who possesses one of Nashville's best
voices, performed a nine-song set, ending with her signature
song, "Born to Fly." That brought the crowd to its feet,
setting the stage for Jackson.
Staff writer Ed Will can be reached at 303-820-1694
or ewill@denverpost.com.
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