Ducks and Trucks

Country star brings Alabama authenticism—and reverence for his grandfathers—to Las Vegas performance

Riley Green fans that make annual pilgrimages to Las Vegas for St. Patrick’s Day are extra lucky this year, as the Academy of Country Music’s 2020 New Artist of the Year brings his brand of ’90s-inspired down-home country to a multidate tour of small venues to the city that never sleeps before going on to support Luke Combs on a series of stadium concerts.

Green has played his share of fairgrounds, festivals and arenas, but the run of stadium shows is next-level for a performer who began his career playing at his grandfather’s Golden Saw Music Hall in the 34-year-old’s hometown of Jacksonville, Ala.

Green’s reverence for both his grandfathers inspired hits such as “That’s What I’ve Been Told” and “I Wish Grandpas Never Died,” with the spirit of Merle Haggard adding creative guidance and earthy grit as well. Green’s lyrics spill from him in what sounds like a flow of free association, coming up with nuggets like, “I wish country music still got played on country radio” on “Grandpas” that make audiences go nuts live as they sing the line back to him.

Lyrics that should sound like tropes come off as clever embedded in Green’s reams of rhymes. “I wouldn’t be who I am today if it wasn’t for a short-bed Chevrolet” he sings in “If It Wasn’t for Trucks.” He’s quick enough to twist a phrase on the fly in a live setting and make a reference to an audience’s hometown.

Green has Steve Earle’s authenticity combined with the drive of the quarterback he was at Jacksonville State University. The road to Nashville led north after college, although Green would make a detour on reality series Redneck Island before beginning his recording career. His 2019 album Different ’Round Here made the music industry stand up and take notice with songs such as the title track and “There Was This Girl” becoming his most popular streaming songs after “Grandpas.”

Behind the Bar from 2021 included “If It Wasn’t for Trucks” and “That’s What I’ve Been Told,” while last year’s recording output was limited to acoustic single “Hell of a Way to Go.” Opening for Combs seems like the beginning of a new career arc, with the theater tour the calm before the storm.

Continuing ascension probably won’t change Green much, though. A dedicated hunter, he includes duck calls in his line of merchandise and goes by “rileyduckman” on Instagram. It should not be too surprising to hear a chorus of duck calls from the audience at a show. In fact, it would probably make him feel very much at home. –

Matt Kelemen

Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, 8 p.m. March 17, starting at $43 plus tax and fee. axs.com