Jackson brings good times to a sparse crowd
Country music has always concentrated its lyrical themes on the trials, tribulations and triumphs of “average folks.” That’s a generalization, and generalizations are dangerous.
But let’s just assume for the sake of argument that country does indeed appeal to average folks concerned with family, work, community, drinking cheap beer and so forth. Our particular community has long been a strong market for country music, and it’s also one that is often described as working class and “salt of the earth.” So, if we can use Buffalo as a barometer, then things must be tough all over; Saturday’s Alan Jackson concert was far from sold out. And Jackson is one of country’s biggest stars.
Even though the 300 level of HSBC Arena remained vacant
Saturday, Jackson’s “Good Times Tour” delivered just what its title would suggest.
Concert Review
Alan Jackson
With Trace Adkins and James Otto on Saturday night in HSBC Arena.
Jackson is one of the few country superstars to make it big in the past 20 years who is, at heart, a true traditionalist.
Jackson and his band played Darien Lake in 2006, but Saturday’s appearance was much more satisfying, precisely because it was relatively stripped-down, unassuming and humble. Video screens aside, there was not much more to the show than the pleasures that might be gleaned from listening to Jackson sing his songs while his absolutely stellar band played the heck out of them.
They came out with their boot heels clicking, sliding easily into the groove of “Gone Country,” and moving rapidly through a set that included mostly old, well-known tunes, with a few from Jackson’s latest album tossed in, in a manner that seemed almost apologetic. Some highlights of the set included the lilting ballad “Like Red On A Rose,” a subtle tune whose polar opposite, “Pop a Top,” displayed the breadth of Jackson’s art: He is best with mildly corny but deeply felt ballad, a style that suits his rich voice, but is equally at home with an urban cowboy-style juke-joint throw-down.
The center of the set, musically, was “I Don’t Even Know Your Name,” during which Jackson’s band members traded solos in a jaw-dropping display of country music virtuosity. This was an absolute pleasure to behold.
Trace Adkins did what Trace
Adkins does — blended gritty southern rock and classic rock guitar riffs with sports anthem-like histrionics and mildly bawdy lyrics, all delivered via his trademark “Aw, shucks, I’m just a good ol’ boy” demeanor and distinctive baritone.
Adkins is about to drop a new album, “X,” and he played two songs from it on Saturday. One of them, the gospel-based “Muddy Water,” found Buffalo’s own True Bethel Baptist Church Choir joining in and elevating the proceedings.
James Otto, in Buffalo for the third time this year, offered a killer set that was just plain too short. Clearly, Otto — who has ably blended his love for soul music and rock ’n’ roll with his country loyalties — had the crowd in his hand, even if his set was barely more than 20 minutes long.
