Jason Aldean Is ‘Wide Open’ on DVD

For Jason Aldean, timing is everything. And the timing of this week's release of 'Wide Open Live and More,' his first-ever concert DVD, couldn't be better, considering the Georgia-born country rocker is sitting atop the country chart with his third No. 1 single, 'Big Green Tractor.'

Jason has scored an impressive seven Top 10 hits from his three albums, and snagged high-profile opening spots on concert tours with Rascal Flatts, Trace Adkins, Toby Keith and Keith Urban. And along the way, he says he's learned a few valuable lessons from those veteran performers.

"Keith Urban -- he's a great singer, a great player," Jason tells The Boot. "Visually there's not a lot of bells and whistles that he uses during his show. There's not confetti flying out of a cannon, there's not pyro stuff going on. It's just him and his band up there doing their thing, and it's a really cool show. Sometimes when things are simple, it's better."

Yet, while Jason strives for simplicity, he's on the cutting-edge of technology with 'Wide Open Live and More.' The concert was captured in high-definition, meaning, as Jason admits, "You see everything, that's for sure!"

Shot in front of a sold-out crowd in Knoxville, Tenn., the concert was presented in part as a GAC TV special for the April launch of the current album, 'Wide Open.' Along with high-octane performances of every one of Jason's hits, the behind-the-scenes bonus features take you on Jason's bus and backstage for a glimpse into what concertgoers rarely have the chance to experience.

"You get to see what goes into setting up the show," says Jason. "People a lot of times go to a concert and everything's already set up -- the stage, the lights. It just gives people a chance to check out things that normally they wouldn't see."

And the hits? Concert -- and radio -- staples such as 'Johnny Cash,' 'She's Country,' and Jason's breakthrough hit 'Hicktown' are included, along with favorites from all three of his albums.

While he's opened shows for some of country music's biggest acts, Jason reveals that one of the most important lessons he's learned -- and carries with him to this day -- came from the guys in Rascal Flatts, whom he supported on the Me and My Gang tour in 2006.

"[They said] if you're going to put money into things, putting it into your to make your show better is gonna pay off," Jason recalls. "The goal is if you go and play Dallas, Texas, this year with a certain look to your show, you don't want to go back next year and have the same look. You want to change it up, make it fresh, make it new, and keep it different. Always let the fans know that you never know what to expect from us."

While the stages of some of the country's biggest venues are a far cry from the VFW hall in Macon, Ga., where a teen-aged Jason got his start, he still looks back fondly on his early days as a performer.

"We've played every barbecue pit, every club, every free show," he says in a behind-the-scenes bonus interview on the DVD. "Hell, I think we played a couple birthday parties ... whatever. That's how we established our fan base. Just keep 'em involved in what was goin' on with my career. It's crazy. I see some people that have been to 50 shows since I started, which is just insane to me!"

Jason Aldean - 'Johnny Cash' Live Performance
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