The Country Music Hall of Famers are still packing arenas, two years into their latest trek
They’ve been called “The Beatles of Country Music.” They are regarded as one of the genre’s most important bands in the 20th century for carrying the genre from the 80s into the 90s. And over four decades later, Alabama’s hits have become bona fide classics. And the band still packs arenas to this day for fans to hear them.
The superstar group stopped at EagleBank Arena in Fairfax, VA on Sunday (Nov 23rd) as part of their continuing, multi-year Roll On II Tour. Alabama—consisting of Randy Owen and Teddy Gentry of the original foursome, along with a contingent of backing musicians—opened with the signature song “Tennessee River,” which melted into “If You’re Gonna Play in Texas (You Gotta Have a Fiddle in the Band).”
Lead singer Owen remains deceptively spry. His ability to stand as still as a statue and direct all his energy into the microphone is equally matched by the spirit that seems to compel him to dart across the stage to wave at a different section. An unlikely goofball, if a fan wanted to toss him a hat, he obliged, motioned for it, and put it on. (Disclaimer: Please don’t throw anything at artists without their nod of approval. Thank you.)
The wry interactions between Owen and bassist Gentry, who are cousins, were on display in between numbers. One such interaction before “When We Make Love” had the arena in stitches. But I won’t spoil it for you.
Speaking about his pride to have been involved in the Country Cares program, raising money for St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, Owen sang Alabama’s pensive and hopeful, “Angels Among Us.” The candles floating on screen encouraged the arena to light up their phone lights in support.
Owens’ voice still sounds great, his signature twang still strong. He still sounds like the voice that straddled the 80s pop country and 90s traditionalism and, along with his band, rode that wave to legendary status.
Gentry took lead vocals for a driving (pun intended) “5 O’Clock 500.” And the always-on-fiddle-fire Megan Mullins Owen stood center stage for a unique, killer “Orange Blossom Special.” It earned her a well-deserved standing ovation. I’m going to need that rendition on a live album, stat.
I’m often asked why I’ll see and cover the same band a year apart. A big reason is the setlist. My personal favorite Alabama song has returned to the setlist. It wasn’t played the first two times I saw them in 2021 and 2024, nor at the 2023 CMA Fest during their surprise appearance.
That song? The tour’s namesake—“Roll On.” See, I’m just like you, I travel the miles to hear a particular band or singer do that song. There’s nothing like the feeling. As Randy and company belted the chill-inducing “Roll on highway, roll on along // Roll on, Daddy, “til you get back home,” the five-year-old in me that first fell in love with country music jumped for joy.
The fans who sang every word clearly felt the same about the music. I sat next to a lady who had been to over 350 Alabama concerts. She told me she was a fan from the beginning and had gotten to know Owen and Gentry personally.
It’s because of connections to the band and to its larger-than-life catalogue that Alabama is going to keep on rolling down the highway, with no desire to hang it up and head home soon. That’s a true (Dixieland) delight.
