HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. – It’s been rising on the country charts, but Jake Owen’s “Eight Second Ride” will carry a different meaning at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 5 at the Sears Centre.
That’s when Owens will be sharing the stage with the Professional Championship Bullriders tour. It’s great country music with Owen and the danger and attitude of the best bull riders in the game rolled into one fantastic night of entertainment.
“I saw Jake in concert and knew he’d be a great fit for our shows,” said Robert Sauber, a former bull rider who runs the PCB. “He’s got some great music out there and some great stuff coming.”
“Eight Second Ride” is one of the newer releases from Owen, who has had hits in “Startin’ With Me,” “Yee Haw,” “Something About A Woman” and “Don’t Think I Can’t Love You.”
It’s also fitting given the wild nature of bull riding, whereby cowboys try to tame wild bucking bulls in eight-second increments.
With Owen showcasing his tremendous on-stage presence, it just adds to the excitement of the original extreme sport and the danger of man vs. beast – men have died trying to ride bulls. Tickets for the event are on sale now at the arena or through Ticketmaster.
“There is something about the danger that draws people to our sport,” Sauber said. “They may not want to see anyone get hurt, but people want to say they were there when the wreck happened. Yet, there’s something beautiful when it all comes out right.”
Sauber should know. Besides being a former contestant, he’s been producing PCB events for some time and knows how to bring a full night of entertainment to the fans. The addition of Owen on the schedule brings a new frontier to the grand ol’ game of bull riding.
Owen’s “Easy Does It” was recognized as one of the top five country albums in 2009 by the Chicago Tribune. Owen has been performing before sold-out crowds, and those close to the event at Sears Centre expect that won’t change.
“My main goal with this album was to make music that’s not overdone or over thought,” Owen said in the bio that’s posted on his Web site. “I just went into the studio and sang. I’d sing the song from start to finish a couple of times, and then leave because there was no doubt in my mind that I’d done the best I could do. Whether it’s perfect or not, it’s who I am.”
Who he is will be on display – along with the baddest bulls and best bull riders in the sport – in early February in the Chicago area.
