Going to see Alan Jackson in concert is a bit like going to the State Fair. There's something reassuring, heartwarming or fun about visiting the same things all over again. On Friday night at the grandstand, it was obvious that it was the same old Jackson, though he's now 53. The only discernible change was that he offered just a slightly different sampling of familiar songs from his catalog of more than two dozen that have landed at No. 1 on the country charts. His opening acts are always different; in the past, he's brought Faith Hill, Hal Ketchum and Wade Hayes to the fair. Like Jackson, Friday's opener, Jamey Johnson, has a common surname, but the bearded rising star is no ordinary music-maker. He was as rough around the edges as Jackson was smooth. Check out critic Jon Bream's review and a photo gallery of the concert at www.startribune.com.
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The "winners" have all been Turkeys, no matter the honor's name.
