All four members of Eli Young Band are from Texas, and it’s where they experienced the live shows that would shape their own career, including some of the biggest entertainers in country music. Lead singer Mike Eli says, “Most of my major concert experiences when I was a kid were all at the Houston Rodeo… George Strait played all the time and we probably saw him five times, as well as Garth Brooks. I saw Garth Brooks play several times at the Houston Rodeo. I mean, he’s just such a great performer, and as an entertainer, you can only hope and pray that you can be that entertaining.”
The funny thing about seeing so many shows at the Houston Rodeo, where the performers are on a rotating stage in the middle of the venue, is that Mike says, “When we started seeing concerts where the stage wasn’t rotating, it was odd for me, you know, because all of my big concerts that I went to, the stage rotated.”
Now, Eli Young Band, who followed up their #1 song, “Love Ain’t,” with their latest single, “Break It In,” have had a chance to perform many times at the Houston Rodeo. Perhaps they’re inspiring the next generation of country stars who might be in the crowd watching them and dreaming of being on that stage.
Eli Young Band – early concerts Mike :34
“You know, I grew up in the Houston area, so I guess most of my major concert experiences when I was a kid were all at the Houston Rodeo. So, it’s funny because when we started seeing concerts where the stage wasn’t rotating, it was odd for me, you know, because all of my big concerts that I went to, the stage rotated. But man, we saw so many shows at the Houston Rodeo. Some of my favorites were… obviously George Strait played all the time and we probably saw him five times, as well as Garth Brooks. I saw Garth Brooks play several times at the Houston Rodeo. I mean, he’s just such a great performer and as an entertainer, you can only hope and pray that you can be that entertaining.”