In their 1983 Hot Country Songs No. 1 “Houston (Means I’m One Day Closer To You),” Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers sang about “singing on the world’s greatest rodeo present” – a reference to the long-lasting Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Watson feels the phrase sums up the town’s greatest occasion so properly that he borrowed the phrase in titling his new dwell album, Live At The World’s Biggest Rodeo Show. Watson tells Billboard that if one has by no means skilled enjoying the occasion first-hand, they’re actually lacking out.
“I inform those that for a Texas artist enjoying the Houston Rodeo is sort of a golfer getting that inexperienced jacket. It’s precisely just like the Gatlin Brothers sing about. It was a beautiful night time. I used to be surrounded by my spouse, my youngsters, my mother and pa, numerous household, numerous buddies and about 60,000 followers who’ve been supporting my profession for a very long time. It was a kind of nights that you just simply always remember.”
Unlike many rodeos – which could final for a day or two – Houston takes the time period rodeo to a brand new degree, lasting a number of weeks. Though he is a Texas native, and may be very aware of the occasion, he says he can not help however be overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of the occasion. “It’s simply huge. It lasts for a complete month. For a straight month they create in acts from all genres, and naturally then there’s the rodeo itself. I believe the rodeo has one of many largest purses, and pays out of the biggest sums of cash. And then there’s the livestock present, with all the youngsters coming in exhibiting their animals. Unless you’ve got been there and you have witnessed it, it is onerous to grasp. The occasion does so many nice issues for the neighborhood and the youth all through the state of Texas. I’m proud to be related to it.”
Being on the heart of the occasion final yr was one thing that Watson would not take frivolously. Though he has labored tirelessly at establishing a presence exterior of his native Lone Star State, he’s fast to level on the market’s no crowd like a house crowd.
“I let all people know wherever we go that I’m a Texas artist and I’m honored that I get to share my model of nation music with people world wide. It was a little bit of a homecoming for me. I believe folks have been involved that I used to be going to get away from my Texas roots. But, I believe we have proven them that you could’t educate an outdated canine new methods. I’m what I’m. I’m the product of being raised on Willie & Waylon, and my mother slapping me at the back of the top in church once I wasn’t singing.”
Watson stresses that he’s conscious of the alternatives that he has been given – and he would not take a second with no consideration. “I do not actually have bucket listing of issues that I’d love to do. I simply take each day for what it is price, and recognize all these blessings massive or small,” he says earlier than stating that enjoying the Rodeo was removed from an extraordinary night time.
“Playing the large stage on the rodeo was at all times proper there a kind of issues that I type of dreamed about. And, being the primary unbiased artist to get it play that stage, that was a extremely massive deal. I really feel that type of opened up the gateway for a few of these different Texas boys to rise up on that stage. It was a beautiful alternative.”
Watson can level to a number of profession highlights previously three years. His albums The Underdog and Vaquero each made No. 1 and No. 2 on the Country Albums itemizing, respectively, and he notched his first high ten final yr with “Outta Style.” He says the success has enabled him to develop his confidence a bit – and he is been capable of do it his approach.
“The freedom that I’ve proudly owning my very own report label is a superb factor. I haven’t got guys carrying fits and ties telling me what I should be doing. Instead of chasing after hits, man, we’re chasing after hearts.”
Watson initially meant to launch the album final yr – however with the town of Houston being hit by Hurricane Harvey, he did not really feel the timing was proper. “It simply did not look like the proper factor to be placing out a dwell album Houston was going by means of such hardships and heartache,” he mentioned. “So, we pushed the pause button, and revisited the thought a number of months later, and determined to launch the disc to coincide with the one-year anniversary of the storm – pledging to donate a part of the proceeds from the album to the town. Even although it is gone making headlines, the town nonetheless aches from the storm’s impression.
“When you’ve got $125,000,000,000 in damages, 13,000,000 folks affected throughout 41 Texas counties, that is going to take properly over are decade for them to get well from such devastation. We known as up the governor’s workplace, in addition to the Texas Music Office, and so they’re serving to us out with this marketing campaign. It’s only a approach for us to present again to all these followers and all the great issues that the state of Texas has completed for me, my music, and my household over time, so it is only a actual honor.”
Watson is at present using the wave of his second high 40 single on the Country Airplay chart with “Run Wild Horses.” The video for the tune was a private one for him, because it featured his spouse Kimberly. “I had a lot enjoyable filming the video. My spouse is such a doll, however she’s such a mother. She doesn’t need something to do with crimson carpets or brilliant lights. I informed her ‘I would like you to be on this video.’ We had some folks write up some concepts for the video, and so they had actors and actresses, and horny automotive rides. I simply thought it wasn’t actually the place the tune got here from. So I type of wrote the script myself. I believe it turned out nice, and I’m so glad she agreed to do it.”
