I capped a busy concert weekend with a trip to the ol' Emerald Queen tonight to catch country legend Randy Travis. I knew the guy has been one of the biggest names in country for more than two decades, and that the country star turned gospel singer was back on the road in support of “Around the Bend,” his first set of secular songs in eight years. But I’d never seen the guy had no idea how funny and charming he was, “Everything I Own (Had Got a Dent)” – one of two songs from the new album he sang – being case in point. Elsewhere, his selections were more poignant, with fan favorites like “Heroes and Friends,” “He Walked on Water” and “Three Wooden Crosses” sung in a rich, nasal baritone (except for when he dipped down deep for a few flamboyant, crowd pleasing low notes.) As an added bonus, Travis threw in a killer sing-along take on Roger Miller’s pop classic “King of the Road.” Anyway, check out the set list below. And maybe I’ll post one of those jokes he told in the comment section if you wanna hear ‘em.
ERNEST JASMIN

What a sad weekend! First Bernie Mack, now soul legend Isaac Hayes has died. I'll have to see if I can find the tape of the last interview I did with him and hopefully post something later this week as a tribute.

It was a little bit country and a little bit rock ‘n’ roll Saturday night when ZZ Top, Brooks & Dunn and Rodney Atkins dropped in on Auburn’s White River Amphitheatre. I posted the latter two’s set lists a little while ago. And now here is some more of what you might have missed.

”Yes, it’s the same three guys right here,” guitar god Billy Gibbons (right) declared a few songs into ZZ Top’s set Saturday night. “Same three guys, same three chords.” Yep, one of America’s sickest blues-rock acts has been around for nearly four decades with the same lineup, a miraculous achievement in and of itself. And at White River the Texas trio – also bassist Dusty Hill (left) and drummer Frank Beard – showed their skills to be not in the least diminished, as they brought some much needed heat to a blustery night in Auburn. (Their “Sure Got Cold After the Rain Fell” would have been an entirely fitting addition to their set list.) Of course, ‘80s hits “Sharp Dressed Man” and “Legs” got some of the night’s most animated response. But my tastes leaned towards the funky, bluesy end of the ZZ spectrum, represented by “Waitin’ for the Bus” and “Jesus Just Left Chicago” early in the 90-minute set. Gibbons staked his claim as one of America's greatest living blues guitarists, wowing the crowd with a series of one-handed solos, picking the fretboard with his fingertips and covering his eyes with his right forearm just to show off. And ZZ came out scorchin’ for the encore with "La Grange,” featuring that amped up Lightnin' Hopkins sound, one of rock's signature riffs. Then Brooks & Dunn re-emerged to help out with some “Tube Snake Boogie.”
ERNEST JASMIN

Brooks & Dunn’s crowd pleasing set featured many of the familiar hallmarks of live shows past: Ronnie Dunn (right) bringing down the house as he sang lead on signature, gospel-flavored ballad “Believe”; Kix Brooks revving fans up with fiery harmonica solos, and firing off the t-shirt gun; local troops making a cameo and red, white and blue streamers adding an exclamation point to “Only in America.”
ERNEST JASMIN

Up-and-coming country start Rodney Atkins (left) tested a funny new song that may be included on a forthcoming album during his opening set. Chorus: “I gave up smokin’, women and drinkin’ last night/ and it was the worst 15 minutes of my life.” Then he closed with one of his biggest hits “If You’re Going Through Hell (Before the Devil Even Knows).”
ERNEST JASMIN

ZZ Top and Brooks & Dunn just wrapped up a couple of hours ago at Auburn's White River Amphitheatre. So I thought I'd toss a couple of sets lists up here until I finish editing my photos. Think a got a couple of good ones of Billy and Dusty, too. Stay tuned.

ZZ Top set list
Aug. 9, 2008
White River Amphitheatre

Got Me Under Pressure
Gimme All Your Lovin'
Waitin' for the Bus
Jesus Just Left Chicago
I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide
I Need You Tonight
Goin' Down to Mexico
Just Got Paid
Sharp Dressed Man
Legs

Encore:
La Grange
Tush
Tube Snake Boogie (with Brooks & Dunn)
Jailhouse Rock

Brooks & Dunn set list

Cowboy Town
You Can't Take the Honky Tonk Out of the Girl
Hillbilly Deluxe
Neon Moon
Put a Girl in It
She Likes to Get Out of Town
Believe
Red Dirt Road
Mama Don't Get Dressed Up For Nothing
Ain't Nothin' 'Bout You
Only in America
Play Somethin' Country
My Maria

Encore:
Brand New Man
Boot Scootin' Boogie

Opener: Rodney Atkins