Charley Crockett
RodeoHouston
NRG Stadium
March 17, 2025
Most artists at RodeoHouston choose to be escorted to and from center stage in a black SUV or a brand new Ford Truck. Earlier this month, rapper Don Toliver made his entrance during Bun B’s Birthday Bonanza in a classic red Ferrari F40. Slim Thug chose to drive his two tone Rolls-Royce Phantom drop top as he led the SLAB parade.
Last night, country singer-songwriter Charley Crockett selected an all black 1965 Ford Thunderbird convertible as his vehicle for entry and exit, doing so with smooth style and supreme reverence. This was his RodeoHouston debut, so going the extra step to make the show memorable was certainly as important as tuning his guitar and warming up his vocal chords.
Crockett is a new country star, although his story and demeanor is far removed from mainstream, arena country acts. He spent years busking on the streets, and he reminisces at the end of his song “$10 Cowboy”:
“When I was out there on them street corners, learning to stand behind this guitar… Ten dollars was a whole lot of money!”
He took to the stage wearing a denim shirt, dark jeans, and a nubuck leather jacket, his tan cowboy hat tilted ever so slightly. Crockett doesn’t smile much, but does have a signature snarl as he sings. His eyes are a piercing blue/green, and he wears a full beard that adds to his vintage, rugged good looks.
The night began with the track “Game I Can’t Win”, an somewhat upbeat song about career, love, and hard luck. His band is called The Blue Drifters, including players of the banjo, slide guitar, baby grant piano, and even a trumpet. Its an old school country style that sounds straight out of the sixties or seventies, no autotune or synths anywhere.
In fact, last night’s show did not feature any pyrotechnics, lasers, or fire. The massive LED screen that flanks the stage displayed one static image the entire evening – the name “CHARLEY CROCKETT” in white text outlined with red, surrounded by yellow dots simulating amber incandescent light bulbs.
“This one goes out to the Rio Grande Valley” declared Crockett as he began to sing the autobiographical track “The Valley.” He is indeed from San Benito, Texas, which was also the birthplace of Freddie Fender. He later moved to Dallas with his family, and then he began to travel all around the United States, making it all the way to New York City, singing and doing odd jobs and gigs along the way.
“If you ask me where I’m going /
I can’t tell ya ’cause I don’t know /
But in my mind I see the valley /
You should see the way it glows!”
Crockett and his guitar stood atop one of the elevated star stage legs during “Life Of A Country Singer”, and he turned his gaze over the crowd of 52,654. That’s a relatively low number by RodeoHouston standards, but its still respectable in any other room besides NRG Stadium. I think it was a perfect Monday night for Crockett’s debut: relaxed, understated, and peaceful.
“Thank you so much Houston Rodeo, it’s been the pleasure of my life to serve you. I’m Charlie Crockett….. That’s Crockett with two “T’s”!
The night ended with a cover of George Strait’s “Amarillo By Morning,” which is tough to pull off, but Crockett and his band delivered a sweet rendition. As the song ended, Crockett walked down the stairs, held his girl by the hand and ventured on back into that old Thunderbird. He waved “adios” to the crowd and rode off into the belly of the stadium.
Great job by the $10 Cowboy himself. We hope to see him at RodeoHouston again soon.
