Not Even a Summer Sprinkle Can Dampen Shaboozey's Spirits at PBR Gambler Days

A little rain didn’t stop Shaboozey from setting off PBR Gambler Days with a boot-stomping, hype-inducing performance at Moody Center.

Despite the auditorium being filled with dust and dirt for the bull-riding festivities, a small outdoor stage was set up for the rising star who blends hip-hop breaks with modern country. True fans waited out the weather, unfazed by the sudden summer storms.

Here's how the hottest music event of the weekend unfolded.

Uptick in Sunny Storms Puts Spotlight on PBR Gambler Days

6:30 p.m. Originally scheduled to start before the bull-riding extravaganza inside the arena, Shaboozey's set was postponed due to a light sprinkle that morphed into a torrential downpour.

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Lightning flashes prompted a shelter-in-place notice, barricading anyone inside from leaving the lobby. Fans eager to secure the best spots crowded around the doors, ready to dash to the outdoor stage the moment they got the green light.

Post-Storm Humidity Brings Out the True Cowboys

7 p.m. As the rain subsided, restless fans stormed out to secure spots under the tent for Shaboozey's performance. The scaled-down stage added an unexpected intimacy to the show, offering fans a rare close-up of the rising star’s talents.

For the next half-hour, the crowd stirred as they waited for Shaboozey. Cowboy hats and middle-aged country enthusiasts filled the tent, all familiar with his viral drinking anthems. Even little cowpokes showed up, with elementary school-aged fans in the front row, eager to catch a glimpse of their hero.

Shaboozey Shines Despite Delays

7:30 p.m. Any frustration over the delay vanished the moment Shaboozey stepped onstage in his silver-spurred boots. Dressed in an intricate Western-embroidered shirt and blue jeans, the Virginia-born singer donned dark sunglasses and scanned the audience. His signature thick dreadlocks swayed as he kicked off with his 2021 single “Tall Boy.”

Shaboozey rallied the “bootcut boys, bootcut girls, and bootcut babes” before breaking into a country jig for “Beverly Hills,” a track from his 2022 album “Cowboys Live Forever, Outlaws Never Die.” The 40-minute set was brief but unforgettable. The singer teased the final song as his assistant poured Jack Daniel’s into a Styrofoam cup and handed it to him side-stage. Shaboozey polished off the “double shot of whiskey” before belting out his viral hit “A Bar Song (Tipsy).”

The crowd sang along with infectious energy, illuminated by the wisdom of “shaboozery.” Gambler Days might be a parade for cowboys, but it was clear that a superstar stallion stole the show on opening night.