Riding the Lightning: Warren Zeiders makes electric debut at RodeoHouston

Rising country star Warren Zeiders has had social media in a chokehold with chart-topping songs such as “Pretty Little Poison.” However, his invitation to take center stage at NRG Stadium was an opportunity to showcase newfound stardom. As a newfound semi-fan, I would say he did a good job in doing so. 

Zeiders opened the show with a track from his newest album Relapse, Lies, and Betrayal – the track titled “Intoxicated.” Many of the concertgoers who have not previously listened to Zeiders were likely so, but he reinvigorated folks when bringing out debut title tracks off his recent album like “Betrayal” and “Lies.” He continued to pursue crowd favorability with the hit song “Heartbreaker,” a song so serious that Zeiders decided it was necessary to take his glasses off. This slight aesthetic touch changed the concert’s tone from the pompous, bland take on new country to an authentic engagement with the genre, supported by his bandmember’s Alan Jackson shirt.

Zeiders is often noted as a dramatic performer, with country music fans on Reddit evenly split between dragging and applauding his approach. However, I can definitively say that the theatrics worked on the release “Sin So Sweet,” as Zeiders impressively held and hit vocal notes throughout the song. His melody also began to differentiate between songs, the band engaging with acoustics on “You For a Reason” and electric guitars on “Without You.” 

After addressing the crowd with gratitude for his recent success, Zeiders broke out the crowd-popper “Pretty Little Poison.” Fortunately for Zeiders, his hit song is also “the favorite he has ever written,” and has a long way to go before catching the hit-song syndrome that plagues other artists. He did well with this one, but his closing act was none other than the song inspiring his bolted logo, “Ride the Lightning.” Zeiders took over guitar responsibilities, and let the crowd sing much of the song on their own accord (on purpose – unlike the night before). Although the criticisms of Zeiders being out-of-touch and routine resonated with me at moments, I felt that he took the responsibility of his debut RodeoHouston performance seriously – and I hope to see him perform again.

(Photography provided by RodeoHouston)

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Vincent Ruggiero

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Shows Reviewed: Thundercat, Billy Joel, Christopher Cross, Steve Lacy, Funk N Soul, Legendz of the Streetz, JID, Paul Wall and Gary Clark Jr., John Mellencamp, Larry June, Hot Summer Nights, Kenny Loggins, 50 Cent, Lil Uzi Vert, Aaron May, Santana, Andre 3000, Warren Zeiders, Post Malone, Denzel Curry, Key Glock, The Weeknd & Playboi Carti, Nelly, Chance the Rapper, Shaboozey, T-Pain, Kenny G, Rascal Flatts, Dwight Yoakam, Chris Stapleton, The Red Clay Strays, Miguel

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