HOUSTON CHRONICLE | HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM MU F ew were surprised when New Kids on the Block called it quits in 1994: The expiration date on boy bands typically arrives quickly. The Boston vocal group faced the music, and the music didn’t flinch. A reunion wasn’t a shocker — NKOTB did declare, after all, they were capable of hangin’ tough. But the fervor that greeted Jordan Knight, Donnie Wahlberg, Joey McIntyre, Danny Wood and Jonathan Knight when they returned spoke to the enduring pull of sugary pop songs and the lingering power of nostalgia. Sure the group — kids no more — were rebranded as NKOTB. But the rudiments of the music stayed in place: big pop hooks, big pop vocals. Having provided the very model of a major label pop vocal band, NKOTB saw next-generation boy bands like Backstreet Boys and ‘N Sync find NEW KIDS ON x x By Andrew STAFF W
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2023 H15 USIC e e a new audience, so the Kids got back in the game. And it turned out, in 2008 — two decades after the group’s incredible rise — that demand remained high for NKOTB. Nothing was broken, so they didn’t try to fix it. NKOTB has updated its sound and found new collaborators. But otherwise, the group sticks to what helped it sell more than 70 million albums around the world. The shows now pull fans from around the world, across generations. Jamaal Ellis/Contributor N THE BLOCK x x NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK Performing: March 7 Past performances: None Hometown: Boston Did you know?: The Super Bowl halftime show was typically a showcase for marching bands until 1991, when New Kids on the Block became the first pop group to play the event. w Dansby WR ITER
H16 SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2023 MU Jon Shapley/Staff photograp
HOUSTON CHRONICLE | HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM USIC on Pardi admitted to being “a little nervous” when he made his RodeoHouston debut last year. But he quickly settled into his boots. He takes a workmanlike approach to performing. Not flashy but always steady. And it’s a welcome contrast to the pop-country spectacle of so many other acts. Pardi has released four albums, including last year’s “Mr. Saturday Night.” (Not to be confused with the Billy Crystal movie and stage musical.) They’ve earned him a quartet of No. 1 country singles. He was supposed to make his rodeo debut in 2020, but COVID cut that season short. He would have probably made the 2021 lineup, too, but that was also canceled. Pardi’s appeal is in his traditional country sound. He learned to play guitar at 9 years old, was writing songs before he was a teenager and joined his first band at 14 years old. But he’s been known to roam outside those borders. He covered Metallica’s “Wherever I May Roam” for a tribute album and says he grew up listening to Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg and 50 Cent. Now one of those is a collaboration we’d like to hear. her JON PARDI x x x JON PARDI Performing: March 8 Past performances: 2022 Hometown: Dixon, Calif. Did you know?: He worked as a lifeguard before breaking into country music. By Joey Guerra STAFF WR ITER J
HOUSTON CHRONICLE | HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM MU Amy Harris/Associated Pr
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2023 H17 USIC A shley McBryde is making her debut this year as a RodeoHouston headliner. But this isn’t her first rodeo. McBryde was onstage last year as an opener for George Strait, who closed out the season. She has an inviting stage presence and quickly won the crowd over. This time, it’s all her. McBryde released two albums before catching what would be her big break. Country star Eric Church brought her onstage during a show, and it eventually lead to a major label deal. Her album “Girl From Nowhere” dropped in 2018, followed by “Never Will” in 2020 and “Lindeville” in September. She’s yet to score a major solo hit at radio, but McBryde’s duet with Carly Pearce, “Never Wanted to Be That Girl,” topped the Billboard Country Airplay chart. This month, it won a Grammy for best country duo/group performance. Even if another major hit eludes her, it’s likely McBryde will be just fine. She’s already proven to be one of modern country’s most unique voices. ess ASHLEY McBRYDE x x x ASHLEY McBRYDE Performing: March 9 Past performances: 2022, opening for George Strait Hometown: Waldron, Ark. Did you know?: In 2021, McBryde fell off a horse and hit her head, resulting in a concussion and stitches on her scalp. By Joey Guerra STAFF WR ITER
H18 SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2023 MU T he Chainsmokers made history in 2017 at RodeoHouston as the first EDM act to ever play the rotating stage. It was clearly a good idea. That show drew almost 75,000 fans. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen dance music in a situation like this,” Andrew Taggart told the crowd that year. EDM has since become a regular vibe at RodeoHouston. Zedd and Marshmello have been on recent lineups. The Chainsmokers return a few years removed from their biggest pop hits. But the glowsticks should shine just as brightly. Taggart and Alex Pall have headlined some big shows in THE CHAIN x x By Joey STAFF W
HOUSTON CHRONICLE | HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM USIC Houston. The EDM duo played Club Nomadic during Super Bowl LI weekend. They also were a big draw at 2016’s Free Press Summer Festival, 2015’s Something Wicked festival and have played to sell-out crowds at Stereo Live. And it’s a safe bet that your mom or dad have blasted “Roses,” “Don’t Let Me Down” or “Closer” featuring Halsey during at least one trip to the grocery store. Elizabeth Conley/Staff photographer NSMOKERS x x THE CHAINSMOKERS Performing: March 10 Past performances: 2017 Hometowns: Westchester County, N.Y. (Pall) and Freeport, Maine (Taggart) Did you know?: In 2012, the Chainsmokers collaborated with Priyanka Chopra on the single “Erase.” Guerra WR ITER
HOUSTON CHRONICLE | HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM T he Turnpike Troubadours haven’t released an album since 2017. But that hasn’t slowed excitement for the band’s return to RodeoHouston. The band was among the five bestselling shows after first-day ticket sales were tabulated, just below Chris Stapleton and above Luke Bryan. Not bad for a band without a mainstream country hit. The six-piece outfit tours relentlessly and is especially popula of Oklahoma. Fift Your Heart” climb Country Albums Their 2019 Rod was a solid showc Singer Evan Felke set, only stopping nice to us, ladies a Guess there’s n the music does all TURNPIKE TR x x By Joey STAFF MU
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2023 H19 r in Texas and their home state th album “A Long Way From bed to No. 3 on Billboard’s chart. eoHouston debut performance case for the band’s low-key vibe. er didn’t talk much during the g to say, “Thank you for being so and gentlemen.” no need for conversation when l the talking. Courtesy photo ROUBADOURS x x TURNPIKE TROUBADOURS Performing: March 11 Past performances: 2019 Hometown: Tahlequah, Okla. Did you know?: The band partnered with Onyx Coffee Lab earlier this year for a limited-edition blend called Long Road Home. y Guerra WR ITER USIC
H20 SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2023 W hen the RodeoHouston lineup was announced, one of the most common questions was, “Who is La Fiera de Ojinaga?” The band playing Go Tejano Day is a new name to some. But even a cursory search shows them to be a well-established group, and Go Tejano Day always draws one of the biggest crowds. La Fiera de Ojinaga formed in 2012 in Chihuahua, Mexico. The band is considered one of the leade of the norteño-with-sax sound, par of the regional Mexican format. Norteño originated in rural areas and is typified by the use of accordion and bajo sexto. It’s heard everywhere from house parties to weddings. Norteño-with-sax incorporates the saxophone as a primary instrument. It is sometime accompanied by an electronic keyboard. The group found an early supporter in La Maquinaria LA FIERA D x x By Joey STAFF MU
HOUSTON CHRONICLE | HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM ers rt d es Norteña, who played RodeoHouston in 2015. La Maquinaria Norteña invited La Fiera de Ojinaga to join them on tour and record together. La Fiera de Ojinaga signed to Azteca Records in 2013, the same label as La Maquinaria Norteña. The group has scored a dozen hits on the Billboard chart. In August, they earned their first No. 1, “La Luna de Miel,” on the Regional Mexican Airplay chart. Other popular songs include “No Paras de Hacerme Feliz” and “La Boca Les Callamos.” Courtesy photo DE OJINAGA x x LA FIERA DE OJINAGA Performing: March 12 Past performances: None Hometown: Chihuahua, Mexico Did you know?: The band was nominated for four Premio Lo Nuestro awards, which are given out this month. y Guerra WR ITER USIC
HOUSTON CHRONICLE | HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM Erika Goldring/FilmMa MU
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2023 H21 C ody Jinks is a little bit country, a little bit rock ’n’ roll. No, really. Jinks fronted a metal band before turning to outlaw country more than a decade ago. He’s still balancing both genres. Last year, he released country album “Mercy” as a solo artist and metal album “None the Wiser” with his band Caned by Nod. He started as the singer for a thrash metal band in Fort Worth that was influenced by Metallica and Pantera. Jinks moved to country music around 2008, and several of his albums have gone top 10 on Billboard. On his website, he’s referred to as “The Biggest Independent Country Artist On The Planet.” It’s largely thanks to nonstop touring and a devoted fan base. Even today, he straddles both musical worlds. Jinks will join country singer Eric Church on the road this summer, and he’ll also play a Harley-Davidson festival with Foo Fighters and Green Day. agic CODY JINKS x x x CODY JINKS Performing: March 13 Past performances: None Hometown: Haltom City Did you know?: Jinks previously worked at a steel shearing plant, freight docks, restaurants, retail chain stores and bars. By Joey Guerra STAFF WR ITER USIC
H22 SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2023 HOUSTON CHRONICLE | HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM
H22 SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2023 HOUSTON CHRONICLE | HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM
HOUSTON CHRONICLE | HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2023 H23
H24 SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2023 Kevin Winter/T MU
HOUSTON CHRONICLE | HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM B efitting a guy born in Houston who spent much of his youth near Cleveland, Machine Gun Kelly resists easy categorization, even with a recording career that now spans more than a decade. Born Colson Baker to traveling missionaries, MGK bounced around the country before settling in Ohio, where he fell under the spell of turn-of-the century hip-hop stars like Eminem and DMX. By 2010, he was making noise with mixtapes and some small TV appearance before “Lace Up” was released in 2012 and sold more than a quarter million copies. He has since juggled hip-hop and punk, music and acting. On screen, MGK has played Tommy Lee in the Mötley Crüe film “The Dirt,” a crew member for a fictional rock band in the TV series “Roadies” in addition to other roles in films like “Bird Box” and “Taurus,” which he co-wrote. Kelly enjoyed significant success in 2020 with his album “Tickets to My Downfall.” By collaborating with Blink-182’s Travis Barker, MGK further incorporated big drums and guitars into the mix on last year’s “Mainstream Sellout,” which was nominated for a best rock album Grammy. His debut RodeoHouston appearance will be his second Houston visit in the span of a year, following a show at the Toyota Center in June 2022. TNS MACHINE GUN KELLY x x x MACHINE GUN KELLY Performing: March 14 Past performances: None Hometown: Houston Did you know?: Ohio has its own annual Hip-Hop Awards. Machine Gun Kelly has won a dozen. By Andrew Dansby STAFF WR ITER USIC
HOUSTON CHRONICLE | HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM Melissa Phillip/Staff photograp MU
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2023 H25 A s he closes in on 30 years as a recording artist, Kenny Chesney boasts metrics any singer and songwriter would covet. He’s placed more than 30 singles at No. 1 on the country charts. His 19 albums have sold more than 30 million copies. Consider this: Chesney assembled a “Greatest Hits” album with some of those songs — 23 years ago. His appeal has only grown since then, thanks to a fan base — No Shoes Nation — that plans its summers around his tours the way Parrotheads flock to see Jimmy Buffett. And Buffett is a worthwhile point of reference. While that particular beach bum has long been filed under rock and pop, Chesney’s base of operations is in land-locked Nashville, some 450 miles to the nearest coast. But steel drums have long seeped into country music, and Chesney had the good sense to balance his tough-times songs with good-times tunes that often involve sun and sand. His shirt/shoes optional vibe resonated across a three-coast country. Chesney will take his boatload of hits on the road this summer. But Chesney’s eighth RodeoHouston appearance affords Houstonians a chance to see him before the temperatures begin to rise and shirts get shed. her KENNY CHESNEY x x x KENNY CHESNEY Performing: March 15 Past performances: 2001-2005, 2010, 2013, 2016 Hometown: Knoxville, Tenn. Did you know?: Chesney’s No Shoes Nation following became a plot point in the hit TV show “The Patient.” By Andrew Dansby STAFF WR ITER USIC
H26 SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2023 Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photograp MU
HOUSTON CHRONICLE | HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM I f Chris Stapleton never recorded a note of music, he’d still be a huge success by country music standards. The Kentucky native has penned nearly 200 songs, with dozens of them turning to hits as sung by such artists as George Strait, Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley, Kelly Clarkson, Taylor Swift and others. But allowing Stapleton to exist solely in a writer’s room would have silenced another great talent of his. When he steps to the microphone, Stapleton can let loose a soulful howl, which finds a haunting middle ground between rock ’n’ roll rebellion and the high lonesome sound of bluegrass. That duality makes sense when one considers some of Stapleton’s previous endeavors: He has fronted both a bluegrass band, the SteelDrivers, and a rock band, the Jompson Brothers. In 2015, he released an album of his own, “Traveller,” which allowed Stapleton to braid all those elements — the rock, the country, the soul and the bluegrass — with his seemingly instinctual knack for writing a hit song. And that song struck a chord. In addition to selling albums and selling out venues, Stapleton has become a void into which awards fall, including eight Grammys, 14 Country Music Association Awards and 10 Academy of Country Music Awards. her CHRIS STAPLETON x x x CHRIS STAPLETON Performing: March 16 Past performances: 2017-19, 2022 Hometown: Lexington, Ky. Did you know?: Stapleton has co-written songs with artists outside of country music, including Justin Timberlake, John Mayer and Ed Sheeran. By Andrew Dansby STAFF WR ITER USIC
HOUSTON CHRONICLE | HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM Karen Warren/Staff photograp MU
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2023 H27 C ody Johnson returns to RodeoHouston with something he didn’t have last time around: a No. 1 single. “’Til You Can’t” was nearing the top of the country chart when Johnson was here in 2022. It hit the peak a month later. This month, it won the Grammy for best country song. To his credit, Johnson was already at the top of his game before a No. 1 single. He first played RodeoHouston in 2017 as a last-minute replacement for Old Dominion. Last year, he opened the season’s 90th anniversary and big return after two years of COVID-19 cancellations. His original song “Welcome to the Show” was named the RodeoHouston theme song in 2019. Johnson was born in Sebastapol, an unincorporated community on the eastern shore of the Trinity River, and grew up in Huntsville. He’s a former rodeo rider and worked as a prison guard before turning to country music. It’s no surprise that his sound is steeped in tradition. He has a raspy, muscular voice that breathes life into much of his material and at times recalls George Jones. “Let’s just be real,” Johnson said in 2019. “I am who I am, and it’s working.” her CODY JOHNSON x x x CODY JOHNSON Performing: March 17 Past performances: 2017-2019, 2022 Hometown: Sebastopol Did you know?: Johnson released his own COJO cologne in 2020. By Joey Guerra STAFF WR ITER USIC
H28 SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2023 Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photograp MU
HOUSTON CHRONICLE | HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM I n 1999, Brad Paisley played one of those typically thankless opening slots at New York’s Town Hall, warming up the crowd for the legendary Loretta Lynn. At that point, Paisley didn’t have an album to his name, so the songs, like Paisley, were new to those in the crowd. After Paisley played two or three classic country songs built upon smart lyrics and blistering guitar solos, an audience member asked “Who are you?” He deadpanned: “Well, Garth Brooks?” Months later, “Who Needs Pictures?” — Paisley’s debut album — came out and quickly started to yield hit singles. Paisley today does much the same thing he did then: With wit and charm, he writes thoughtful and heartfelt three-minute narratives that bridge country music’s past and present and punctuates them with dexterous guitar playing. Paisley’s 11 albums have sold more than 10 million copies, and he’s scored a trio of Grammys and enough Country Music Awards (including the particularly coveted entertainer of the year award) to fill the bed of his pickup. An uncharacteristic quiet spell has settled in since Paisley’s last album, which was nearly six years ago, though the release of single “My Miracle” in 2019 hints at new work that may be found hidden between the hits when Paisley plays the rodeo for the 14th time. her BRAD PAISLEY x x x BRAD PAISLEY Performing: March 18 Past performances: 2001, 2005, 2008-12, 2014-19, 2022 Hometown: Glen Dale, W.Va. Did you know?: Brother Brad Paisley is a Freemason. By Andrew Dansby STAFF WR ITER USIC
HOUSTON CHRONICLE | HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM Brett Coomer/Staff photograp MU
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2023 H29 L uke Bryan is a RodeoHouston heavyweight. He is the only act with four performances in the all-time top 25 for paid attendance, most of them topping out at more than 75,000. Bryan made his debut on the rotating stage in 2012, and if you’ve attended any of his shows, you know that he turns hip-swiveling into an art form. Bryan has released seven albums, several “Spring Break” EPs and tallied more than two dozen No. 1 singles. His material is designed for maximum radio play. He turns the ballad “Drink a Beer” into a RodeoHouston highlight, and it’s always accompanied by thousands of swaying cellphone lights. He’s also been known to purr like a cat during songs. It activates a wave of screams every time. And in case all that isn’t enough, he has been a judge on “American Idol” since 2018. Bryan also hosts Crash My Playa, an all-inclusive concert vacation featuring various country stars; and owns Luke’s 32 Bridge Food + Drink in Nashville that features eight bars, three stages and two restaurants. her LUKE BRYAN x x x LUKE BRYAN Performing: March 19 Past performances: 2012-2019, 2022 Hometown: Leesburg, Ga. Did you know?: Bryan starred as Frank Butler in a high school production of “Annie Get Your Gun.” By Joey Guerra STAFF WR ITER USIC
H30 SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2023 A t last summer’s picnic lunch for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo’s educational scholarship recipients, 475 newly awarded students were invited to celebrate with their families. Food, games, a petting zoo and photo ops with proud parents greeted the recipients. And, at the heart of the event, the acknowledgment SCHOLARSH TO RODEO x x By Alliso CORRE SP Students receive swag bags at the annual Houston Livestock Show an EDUCA
HOUSTON CHRONICLE | HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM HIPS VITAL ’S MISSION x x on Bagley PONDENT HLSR nd Rodeo picnic for educational scholarship recipients. that higher education is what drives RodeoHouston. Since 1932, the rodeo has contributed more than $575 million to education for Texas youths. Jamie Voskamp, the rodeo’s senior manager of scholarship programs, said her favorite part of the annual lunch is watching parents arrive with their scholars, who have been awarded four-year, merit-based scholarships of $20,000. “Their parents are just beaming, they’re so Scholarships continues on H32 ATION
HOUSTON CHRONICLE | HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2023 H31
H32 SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2023 EDUCA deo.” While scholarship recipients are in college, the rodeo provides support through regular check-in emails and ongoing communication, as well as a host of other services, Voskamp said. For JD Sartwelle, a 2022 scholarship recipient from Campbellton and a freshman at West Texas A&M University, representing the rodeo is a family affair. Sartwelle was raised helping with his family’s production cattle operation, and he’s the son of parents who were both rodeo scholarship recipients. His great-great grandfather, J.W. Sartwelle, was the founding president of the rodeo. “Every generation has served and volunteered. It’s a family tradition,” said Sartwelle, who attended his first rodeo when he was 10 months old and hasn’t missed a year since. When he was 8, he showed his first heifer and went on to show heifers and bulls at rodeos nationwide. The Houston show was his favorite “by far,” he thrilled,” she said. “It’s really fun to see that.” The rodeo’s 2022 educational commitment was $14.2 million in scholarships. Of the 2022 scholarship winners, 49 percent are first-generation college students. “They’re always just so thankful,” Voskamp said. “For a lot of them, it’s what makes it possible to go to school.” Kyle Lottinville, a 2013 scholarship awardee who grew up in Pasadena, said a high school counselor first made him aware of the rodeo’s program. Lottinville used his rodeo award to graduate with a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Texas at Austin, then worked for ExxonMobil. He has recently accepted a new position with Tesla and is applying to graduate schools. Growing up with a single mom and a grandmother who helped raise him, “finances were always tight,” Lottinville said. When his mother was diagnosed with thyroid cancer and faced a job layoff, things got even worse. As he began to explore college, he remembers, “It was always a matter of, ‘Is this even possible?’” He was “living with that anxiety” about what he would be able to achieve after high school. The scholarship helped ease those fears. At UT, Lottinville was on the engineering class council and served as president of his class of the Texas Wranglers. He was involved in fundraising and volunteer efforts, including mentoring local students. Each year, he said, he looked forward to the on-campus lunch the rodeo hosted for current scholars. “It was really nice to see how students were making impacts across campus and how many people there were (on a rodeo scholarship),” he said. “It’s really rewarding to see the scope and breadth of the ro RODEOHOUS Total educationa • Since its beginn million to the you • The rodeo has p more than $275 m • Currently, more ties and colleges • Current scholars From page H30 JD Sartwelle, center, is a 2022 RodeoHouston sch freshman at West Texas A&M University. Since the Houst more than $575
HOUSTON CHRONICLE | HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM ATION said, “because I felt they do the most” for the community. As a youth, Sartwelle participated in several of the rodeo’s programs, including the Agricultural Public Speaking Contest. All the while, his mother, who served on the rodeo’s scholarship committee, impressed upon him the importance of high achievement to be considered for a scholarship. Earning a rodeo scholarship was “honestly life-changing,” said Sartwelle, who is studying agricultural business and economics with plans to graduate early and apply to graduate school. “I was ecstatic. It made me feel very, very grateful.” “The rodeo made such an impact in my life,” he added. “I’ve seen how far it’s set me.” Scholarship winners remain connected through networking events and the rodeo’s Scholarship Alumni Association. When alumni learn about opportunities to volunteer, they are enthusiastic about giving back to an organization that changed the trajectory of their lives, Voskamp said. One way they serve is on the scholarship administration committee, which helps review and score essays and “evaluate applications for the next generation,” she said. For his part, Lottinville volunteers as an alumni by speaking on behalf of the rodeo. “The mission to provide access for marginalized students is something that resonates deeply with me, given my background,” he said, adding that he feels inspired when he learns about what current scholars have overcome to earn their achievement. “Everyone I’ve ever met who is a scholar not only deserved it but has gone above and beyond to make an impact not only in their community … but with the rodeo, too.” “I know firsthand what the rodeo can do,” he said. “There’s no better place for me to not only give my money but my time.” STON SCHOLARSHIPS al commitment for 2023: $22,560,562 ning in 1932, the rodeo has committed more than $575 uth of Texas and education. presented more than 20,000 scholarships valued at million since 1957. than 2,300 scholars attend more than 80 universi throughout Texas. s hail from 181 Texas counties. Photos HLSR holarship recipient from Campbellton who is a ton Livestock Show and Rodeo began in 1932, million has been committed to education.
HOUSTON CHRONICLE | HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2023 H33
H34 SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2023
ith thousands of visitors each day, the area surrounding RodeoHouston can become chaotic. Below are various parking and transportation options attendees can choose from. Public Passenger Drop-Off Use Gate 9 off Kirby, note that Kirby is closed at 9 p.m. on weekdays and 6 p.m. on weekends. Take Main Street to Westridge and head east to Gate 9. Uber and Lyft Ride Sharing Drop-offs and pickups are in the Yellow Lot. Entrance Gate 16B off Main; from the northbound lanes of Main is the only access to the lot. There is no left-turn lane access allowed from the southbound lanes of Main. Taxis Drop-offs and pickups will be in Gate 14 Teal Lot off Murworth. Limos Drop-offs and pickups will be at the southeast side of the Miller Lite Green Lot, Gate 13 off Lantern Point. METRORail The light-rail train delivers rodeogoers to NRG Park daily, with northbound service until 1:40 a.m. Mondays-Saturdays and until 11:24 p.m. Sundays. Southbound service runs until 3:25 a.m. Mondays-Saturdays and until 1:15 a.m. on Sundays. Park & Ride Park at several convenient locations and ride a shuttle to NRG Park. Metro Park & Ride lots are at 4675 S. Braeswood ($7 round trip for ages 4 and older), 8833½ Interstate 45 S. ($7 round trip for ages 4 and older) and 515 Maxey ($4 per person round trip), 1604 W. Bellfort, $20 to park (free MetroRail passes for all passengers). Rodeo Express lots are: OST1, 2103 S. Braeswood, this lot is handicap accessible and costs $25 per car to park, shuttle-bus ride is free and $2.50 round trip with MetroRail; Reed Road, 2400 Reed, $25 per car to park, ride shuttle bus to/from NRG Park included with parking fee. Trams Trams operated by rodeo committee members offer visitors free rides to and from parking lots and the grounds, as well as to and from NRG Center and NRG Arena. For details see tram map. The Woodlands Shuttle The Woodlands riders should park at the Sawdust Park and Ride located at 701 Westridge with return trips leaving NRG Stadium from the Metro/Rodeo Express pickup location throughout the afternoon and evening at scheduled intervals. The cost of round-trip transportation to the event is $13 per person. This service will be available only on weekends during the rodeo, and reservations will be required. On-site Parking Look for three parking lots near NRG Park, the Yellow Lot, the 610 Lot and the OST 1 lot, located nearby. Parking is $25. The Yellow Lot opens daily at 6 a.m., the 610 Lot opens daily at 9 a.m. and the OST 1 opens weekdays from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. and weekends 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. For more information on parking, visit the RodeoHouston website or download the RodeoHouston mobile app. [email protected] x x x By Ana Khan STAFF WR ITER W WHERE TO PARK HOUSTON CHRONICLE | HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM
HOUSTON CHRONICLE | HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2023 H35
H36 SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2023
HOUSTON CHRONICLE | HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM
HOUSTON CHRONICLE | HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM FOO I t’s easy to divide the myriad delectables available at RodeoHouston into two camps: the original and the outrageous. The former group would include beloved, old-school favorites such as barbecue, turkey legs, sausage on a stick, corn dogs, cotton candy and candy apples. Think of these staples as the traditionalists of midway fare. The latter collection goes for a sensory punch: flashy superfoods flamboyant in construction, shocking in flavor and shameless for attention. Think of chunks of pork belly on a stick wrapped in 2 feet of thick, honey bacon CARNIVA GOES OVER x x Smash burgers from Bun B’s Trill Burgers are back at RodeoHous By Greg STAFF W
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2023 H37 OD smoked to crispy, juicy perfection and you get the picture. Both camps, and almost anything in between, will be well-represented among the delicious and dazzling food offerings at the 2023 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Whether on the midway, along restaurant row, or in the arenas, food options will be abundant, marking the rodeo experience in showers of sugar, lashings of chocolate, crunchy coatings, deep-fried mummifications and buttery slathers. Last year when RodeoHouston returned after the pandemic, more than 2.4 million visiAL FARE R THE TOP x x Becca Wright ston for a second year. Morago WR ITER Food continues on H38
H38 SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2023 FOO tors passed through the gates. And they came hungry. “People came out in droves, and it was wonderful to be together again, enjoying the food, drink, music. It was a great year,” said Amanda Schlatre, senior manager of exhibits and events. “We weren’t sure what was going to happen, and look what happened. It was awesome.” And the 2023 rodeo promises to be just as gangbusters, especially where food is concerned, with about 70 different vendors spread throughout NRG Park. What will tempt rodeo foodies this year? For starters, the upscale the Ranch Saloon + Steakhouse, the fine-dining restaurant from Berg Hospitality Group, returns for its second rodeo run. A blockbuster for both the restaurant group and rodeo, the Ranch is coming back bigger and better with more seats, extended hours and more live music, in addition to the lively bar and steakhouse menu. Bun B’s Trill Burgers, the Houston rapper who launched a smash-burger brand, also returns for a second year at Rodeo Plaza. Last year, Trill Burgers served more than 12,000 burgers during its rodeo debut; since then the concept has gained national attention. On March 2, the annual Gold Buckle Foodie Awards, celebrating the best food at the rodeo, will be judged when 18 finalists will be vying in categories such as best fried food, best food on a stick, most creative food and best new flavors. Fairgoers can look for the winners’ booths to sample the diverse, best-of carnival foods. RCS, the carnival concessions company that operates 32 stands, has been devising a slew of new foods for its 29th year at RodeoHouston. Both in the wacky realm as well as iconic carnival staples, RCS says it is committed to making happy, lip-smacking rodeo memories. “There’s no other event like this anywhere on the planet,” said Dominic Palmieri, the RCS food manager known as the “Midway Gourmet.” “The people of Houston love to eat and show so much interest in food. Concessionaires have tried to push the limits to make memories and make new traditions for families. And isn’t that what fairs are all about?” While a day at the rodeo can be an expensive proposition for families, RodeoHouston has created Community Day (presented by TC En March 8, with fr for all until noon one on rides and Junction Carniv p.m.; and discou beverage offerin ($3 mini corn do ney Corn Dog, $ corn at Kid Shac sour apple lemo ers). In addition to Day, there are tw nesdays (March similar discount admission for se than 60 and chil than 12 until noo greg.morago@chr From page H37 The Ranch Saloon + Steakhouse returns with its fine-dining restaurant and bar. HLSR Asian Streetness offers the Un-PHO-gettable Burger. Deep-fried trea fans to RodeoH
HOUSTON CHRONICLE | HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM OD nergy) on ree admission n; buy-one/get d games in the al area until 4 unted food and ngs until 4 p.m. ogs at McKin $3 small pop ck, and $3 small onade at Squeez o Community wo Family Wed 1 and 15) with ts and free eniors older ldren younger on. ron.com HERE’S WHAT YOU CAN TASTE AT 2023 RODEOHOUSTON NEW AND NEWISH VENDORS Pioneer Wagon: Offering Snake Bite Nachos: tortilla chips topped with ground rattlesnake sausage and topped with “venom sauce.” Located on Circle Drive. Asian Streetness: Asian street food new to the rodeo with its Un-PHO-gettable Burger, a beef burger infused with pho spices. Located on Rodeo Plaza. Texas Skillet: Returning to the rodeo with a menu of familiar Texas fare, including the signature cowboy burrito. Look for the booth with the two enormous skillets. Located near the MetroRail entrance on Rodeo Plaza. Pretzel Bros.: New with a menu of pretzels, both classic and flavored with seasonings and sauces. Located in Arena. Topo Chico Hard Seltzers Backyard: Texas’ favorite fizzy water sets up with its hard seltzer lineup. Located next to the Astrodome close to the carnival area. NEW CARNIVAL FOODS These new creations will be available at RCS-managed food stands throughout the carnival area: The Corn Shack: New item is the Loco Elote Ramen Cup, spicy and saucy ramen noodles topped with sweet corn, crushed Flamin’ Hot Cheetos, mayonnaise and cheese. Cowboy Kettle Corn: This stand will offer candied grapes (cold grapes dipped in a clear, sugary coating). Funnel Cakes: These stands are the place to find Cap’n Crunch and Fruity Pebbles cereal funnel cakes. Fried Affairs: Here’s the booth for the new Deep Fried Krispy Kreme Banana Split made with ice cream, doughnuts and deep-fried bananas topped with whipped cream, sprinkles and cherries. Get Fried: The new Fruity Pebbles Shrimp Fried Rice Bowl can be found here; a hollowed-out pineapple filled with fried rice, sausage and pineapple. Tater Twister: Offering the Honolulu Hog Spud, a baked potato stuffed with pulled pork in teriyaki barbecue sauce, pineapple and sesame seeds. Enzo’s Pizzeria: The newbie is a pizza built with dill pickle sauce and topped with Flamin’ Hot Cheetos and pickles. Biggy’s: Look for the Bacon-Wrapped Pork Belly on a Stick, chunks of marinated pork belly wrapped in 2 feet of honey bacon that is smoked for two hours. Biggy’s also will offer a Nashville hot chicken sandwich and a Cap’n Crunch Chicken Sandwich (fried chicken coated in raspberry honey glaze and rolled in crushed cereal). Jenn Duncan full-service RCS ats bring foodie Houston. RCS Enzo’s Pizzeria features hand-stuffed cannoli.
HOUSTON CHRONICLE | HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM A lthough it may seem incongruous at first glance, bubbles and bull riding will share almost equal billing during the 2023 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. But it makes perfect sense considering that promoting agriculture through a vast array of scholarships is central to RodeoHouston’s mission and grapegrowers are most definitely farmers. However, the man behind the current Grand Champion Best of Show bottle is the rapper Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, which segues nicely, too. Music, of course, is a critical component of the 20-day cowboy and cowgirl jam on the NRG grounds that’s equal parts sports spectacle, songfest and swirling-and-sipping extravaganza. Once again, the Champion Wine Garden at Carruth Plaza between NRG Stadium and the Astrodome will become the city’s most visited wine bar from Feb. 28 through March 19 and Jackson’s Le Chemin du Roi Brut champagne figures to be flowing freely there, along with the other most decorated wines. Jackson considers Houston his home these d champagne’s top 3,071 entries from the 20th annual ed! Internationa tition is all the m The Le Chemin sells for about $1 had previously c Grand Champio 2021, the news of said, “Almost ma The thinking- idea for inserting ponent into the r the end result of versations betwe Dalton and his c former Houston writer Mike Lon was an expert ho was involved wi when he became UNCORKING THE BES x x By Dale Robertson CORRE SPONDENT WI
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2023 H39 days, so his pping a field of m 18 countries in Rodeo Uncork l Wine Compe more special. du Roi, which 142 at Spec’s, claimed Reserve on honors in f which, Jackson ade me faint.” -out-of-the-box g a wine com rodeo’s mix was f many con een the late Bear close friend, n Chronicle wine nsford. Dalton orseman who ith the rodeo e Spec’s finewine buyer. “Bear was our resident cowboy,” Spec’s Wine and Spirits owner John Rydman said when Dalton passed away in December 2020. “I turned the Bordeaux aisle over to him (in 1996) and sent him to France. Then I could hardly get him back.” Lonsford covered the wine beat for the Chronicle from the 1980s through 2007. The Wine Garden will be open 4-11 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 4 p.m.-midnight on Friday, 11 a.m.-midnight on Saturday and noon-10 p.m. on Sunday. Live music also adds to the nightly energy, and there’s an educational component, too, with almost daily seminars presided over by some of Houston’s leading oenophiles. The rodeo wine “season” officially kicks off with the Round Up and Best Bites competition at NRG Center Feb. 19, when more than 450 wines and signature dishes from 100-plus local restaurants will be available for tasting. ST FOR WINE LOVERS x x Karen Warren/Staff photographer The Champion Wine Garden features winners of the Rodeo Uncorked! competition. NE