Houser, Johnson bring substantive concert to Dothan

All sing, no bling.

Don’t expect an array of pyrotechnics, a set of choreographed dance numbers or a drummer and guitarist buoyed by hydraulic lifts Friday night when country music artists Randy Houser and Jamey Johnson take the stage at the Dothan Civic Center.

“Just expect an old Mississippi boy and Alabama boy to come play our songs,” said Houser, who grew up in Lake, Miss., between Jackson and Meridian. “We’re not going to run around and dance on the stage. We’re songwriters.”

Houser made his living in country music through writing songs before singing them. He co-wrote crowd favorite “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk” with Johnson for Trace Adkins, who turned it into a Top 5 hit in 2005 and 2006.

Soon after, he began to perform, recording his first album in 2008 titled “Anything Goes.” The title track from his first recording peaked at No. 16 on the U.S. Country charts. His second single from the album, “Boots On,” reached No. 2.

The softer “Anything Goes” and the harder, guitar-driven “Boots On” reflect Houser’s eclectic taste in music, especially his early musical influences. Hank Williams Jr., Willie Nelson, Lynyrd Skynyrd and AC/DC all had an impact Houser, a son of a musician.

Houser said he is starting the process of recording his second album. A pre-release single, “Whistlin’ Dixie,” debuted at No. 59 on the Billboard country charts.

“We’ll go back into the studio Dec. 9 and start really working on the album,” Houser said. “It’s hard to find time to record while on tour. But we’re getting to play a lot of new material live, and we’ll be trying new stuff down in Dothan.”

Johnson, born in Enterprise, has also had success as a songwriter. He wrote songs for Trace Adkins, Joe Nichols and George Strait, among others. He had performance success last year with “In Color,” which peaked at No. 9 on the U.S. country charts. He is currently working on his third album.

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If you go ...
Who: Randy Houser and Jamey Johnson in concert
Where: Dothan Civic Center
When: Friday, Nov. 20, 8 p.m.
Tickets: $19-$29; available at Dothan Civic Center box office (615-3175)