I’ve most likely overstated it to an annoying diploma this yr, however nation from the ‘90s and early ‘00s has been the prevailing vibe at NRG Stadium in 2025, from Zach High’s stadium-sized mustache-country revival to Submit Malone’s pyro-packed pop twangers.
On Saturday, March 22, Brooks & Dunn pulled into NRG Stadium armed with 15 of their best hits to remind 71,265 followers of the duo’s stranglehold on the nation charts throughout the Clinton period.
Beginning with the one-two punch of 1991’s “Model New Man” and 1993’s “Onerous Workin’ Man” releases. Every chart-topper got here with huge choruses, crunchy guitars, hair steel drums, and politely raunchy wordplay good for honky tonk dance flooring and arenas. They have been so prolific that by 2009, when all was mentioned and finished, a career-spanning best hits compilation spanned two discs.
Kix Brooks, 69, and Ronnie Dunn, 71, debuted subsequent door on the Astrodome throughout RodeoHouston’s 1992 stand, and so they remained an annual mainstay by 2010. Their iconic back-to-back stage pose is imprinted indelibly on generations of followers over 19 exhibits. The pair disbanded for near a half-decade (personally coaxed again to the stage by Reba McEntire) and made their return to NRG Stadium in 2019 and 2023. The duo’s merchandise within the concourse turns the clock again to the ‘90s, full with purple lightning and cow skulls.
Brooks & Dunn’s newest releases have included two editions of the Reboot album collection, which has paired the duo with a few of the largest nation acts on the scene, together with Morgan Wallen, Kacey Musgraves, Megan Moroney, and Jelly Roll to reimagine hits like “Neon Moon” and “Boot Scootin’ Boogie” with new moods and attitudes. The perfect-selling nation duo of all time hasn’t launched an album of recent materials since 2007’s Cowboy City, however they’ve teased the prospect of writing new songs in latest interviews.
Kicking off simply after 5 pm, B&D launched into an additional punchy “Model New Man,” delivering a wall of surgically catchy Nashville sound. Brooks hit the mic for “You’re Gonna Miss Me Once I’m Gone,” boosting it with some further lengthy notes, exhibiting off a voice that’s now aged like a fantastic wine from the rodeo wine backyard.
For many followers, Ronnie has all the time been the voice, whereas Kix has been the center. The previous handles the rascally tunes, and the latter laments his troubles on the finish of the bar. Getting into 5 many years into their partnership, their largest hits now include a further serving to of rumpled road-weariness. Brooks supplied up a stripped-down “Misplaced And Discovered” after recounting the pair’s early days over a chilly can of beer, giving the followers a B&D historical past lesson.
“Onerous Workin’ Man” bought a tough rock makeover with 4 guitars upfront and a few Motley Crue-biting drums. My principle has all the time been that the ‘90s nation sound has extra in frequent with ‘80s hair steel than we give it credit score for, the mullet being the frequent denominator. “Play One thing Nation” from 2005’s “Hillbilly Deluxe” was launched as a response to that period’s id disaster, and 20 years later, its a quaint time capsule with the P. Diddy point out.
The gang-pleasing “Neon Moon” supplied the largest singalong of the late afternoon, whereas “Rock My World – Little Nation Woman” featured Brooks testing the boundaries of his lung capability with an prolonged roadhouse harmonica solo.
With simply someday left on the schedule, this yr’s prime drawing act has been Brooks & Dunn, with Parker McCollum, Journey, Zach High, Grupo Frontera, Carin Leon, and Submit Malone following shut behind. We’ll see how Luke Bryan does at tomorrow’s ultimate present.
- Brooks & Dunn: 71,265
- Parker McCollum: 71,205
- Journey: 70,978
- Zach High: 70,865
- Grupo Frontera: 70,775
- Carin Leon: 70,603
- Submit Malone: 70,094
Setlist
Model New Man
My Subsequent Damaged Coronary heart
You’re Gonna Miss Me Once I’m Gone
Ain’t Nothin’ ‘Bout You
Purple Dust Highway
Misplaced And Discovered
By no means Forgive My Coronary heart
Onerous Workin’ Man
Play One thing Nation
Cowgirls Don’t Cry
Neon Moon
Rock My World – Little Nation Woman
My Maria
Boot Scootin’ Boogie
Solely In America
