In my 42 years of life, I have never attended a country music concert. This is hard to believe, considering I grew up in a small town in North Georgia and country music was dominant on the local radio stations and the preferred music of most of my family. However, for me, it’s just never really been my thing, I’m more of a classic rock guy. Although, I have to admit, I’ve always been a fan of old school country artists like Hank Jr. and Waylon Jennings.  With that said, I wasn’t sure what to expect as I arrived at the House of Blues Thursday night.  

As it turned out, the music felt like home, transporting me right back to my childhood, and to my great grandmother’s kitchen.  I arrived around 6 pm and after grabbing my press credentials I did a bit of people watching. It’s always fun to gauge the energy of the crowd before they enter the venue. It helps to determine how the night is going to go. This crowd was laughing and having a good time and it was obvious they were ready for some good ol’ country music. The doors were slated to open at 6:30 and when they did the crowd flowed in, some staking claim to tables while others headed straight to the “rail” so they could be up close and personal. 

Paul Cauthen opened and the crowd was pretty fired up and ready when he took the stage. He reminded me of Hank Williams Jr. I used to listen to Hank Jr in my younger days and when Paul took the stage, the resemblance was instantly there. The crowd danced and sang along to songs such as “Holy Ghost Fire” and “Big Velvet” and another handful of songs and then Mr. Cauthen fired everyone up with his ass shaking closer “Cocaine Country Dancing” (I have to admit, I’ve had this on repeat in my truck since the concert). The band kept the energy in the room as they played while Paul left the stage.

Randy Houser took the stage and the crowd was bursting at the seams. He grabbed his guitar and when his thunderous voice came through the mic the fans went crazy! Orlando was on 9th stop on his 12-city tour for his newest album Magnolia. This show was a bit different for photographers, and we weren’t allowed in the pit for the opening song. Why? Because Randy thinks it important to directly connect with his audience right out of the gate. It really says something about an artist who takes that connection so seriously. So, I headed out into the crowd to enjoy the first song from that vantage point and wasn’t disappointed. 

Randy did an outstanding job interacting with his fans from the first note. They tapped their feet, clapped their hands, and sang along as he opened with “What Whiskey Does”. His vocals are commanding, drawing you in and grabbing your attention. With that voice and band backing it up, there was no question why the house was packed. There was a nice mix of his previously released songs and several from his newest album. We were also treated to two classic covers, “Good Hearted Woman” (Waylon Jennings) and “On the Road Again” (Willie Nelson) that brought the house down. 

There wasn’t a moment during the show that the fans were not into the music. Everyone smiled and sang. The energy in the room was buzzing. While this was a completely different type of music than I’m used to listening to, the feeling and energy were the same, providing more proof that music has no boundaries. No matter the type of music, the fans experience the same feelings across all genres. That, my friends, is why music is so important. It’s why we need Randy Housers in the world. If you’ve never heard his music, give it a listen. He has such an amazing, powerful voice that will pull you right in.

Thank you, Randy Houser (and Paul Cauthen) for opening my mind and expanding my playlist. Fantastic job on making my first Country music concert an enjoyable one. I will definitely be back! Enjoy these photos of both artists performing at House of Blues, Orlando on November 21st. All photos courtesy and copyright of Chris Cornett.