Jason Aldean Fires Up His 'Tough Crowd' With Electrifying Anthems

Jason Aldean was sitting at home mulling over possible names for a headlining tour when the phrase “Highway Desperado” popped into his head. Aldean not only ran with it as the name for his nationwide trek this year, but he also opted to make it the title of his 11th full-length studio album with a track by the same name.

Aldean kicked off his Highway Desperado era with an electrifying iHeartCountry Album Release Party, delivering powerful performances of some of his newest songs from the 14-track record and career-spanning anthems, plus catching up with iHeartRadio’s Wayne D during brief Q&As throughout the live-streamed show on Friday night (November 3).

The award-winning country giant fired up the L.A. crowd with “Lights Come On,” one of 15 tracks to appear on They Don’t Know in 2016, followed by “Tough Crowd,” a tribute to his fans that appears on the newly-released album. Wayne D congratulated Aldean on reaching 11 studio albums throughout his yearlong career, and the Georgia-born megastar said he “was lucky they let me make one. I want to make two, and here we are (releasing) No. 11, so it’s been a wild ride, man.” Aldean said Highway Desperado turned out to be the perfect title, serving as a tribute to his years on the road. 

“I think when I look back on it, I built my career early on my live show, and have been on the road touring since I was 18 years old,” Aldean previously said of his 11th album’s title. “For us, touring is our favorite part. Getting on the bus and going town to town and playing our shows and doing our thing and seeing the fans... the title for the tour and album was really inspired from that.”

1. Tough Crowd - Kurt Allison, Marv Green, Tully Kennedy, Kelley Lovelace, Neil Thrasher

2. Let Your Boys Be Country - Jaron Boyer, Allison Veltz Cruz, Micah Wilshire

3. Knew You’d Come Around - Kurt Allison, Ben Hayslip, Tully Kennedy, John Morgan

4. Hungover In A Hotel - Jason Aldean, Kurt Allison, Tully Kennedy, David Lee Murphy, Neil Thrasher

5. Try That In A Small Town - Kurt Allison, Tully Kennedy, Kelley Lovelace, Neil Thrasher

6. Whiskey Drink - Kurt Allison, Jonathan Edwards, Tully Kennedy, John Morgan

7. Whose Rearview - Kurt Allison, Tully Kennedy, John Morgan, Lydia Vaughn

8. I’m Over You - Josh Phillips, Michael Tyler, Micah Wilshire

9. Rather Watch You - Jessi Alexander, Kurt Allison, Tully Kennedy, Kelley Lovelace, Neil Thrasher

10. Breakup Breakdown - Jason Aldean, Kurt Allison, Tully Kennedy, John Morgan, Lydia Vaughan

11. Get Away From You - Kurt Allison, Tully Kennedy, John Morgan, Lydia Vaughn

12. Changing Bars - Kurt Allison, Jonathan Edwards, Tully Kennedy, John Morgan

13. From This Beer On - Kurt Allison, Jonathan Edwards, Tully Kennedy, John Morgan

14. Highway Desperado - Jason Aldean, Kurt Allison, Jonathan Edwards, Tully Kennedy, John Morgan

Produced by Michael Knox

Aldean told Wayne D that some of the best parts of touring include playing shows for massive crowds and the “camaraderie” between himself and his band and crew. He said “this is what we all grew up dreaming about,” and it’s the life they’ve lived for nearly two decades. Aldean’s passion for music started in his childhood. He remembered his dad’s old guitar, and trying “to figure it out all day. …I picked it up fairly quick.” He was always motivated to learn to play the guitar to be able to sit around and play with his dad and his uncle, but he didn’t stop there. Aldean remembered the first time he ever heard his song on the radio — his first single, “Hicktown,” in 2005 — and listening to it in his truck. Now, nearly two decades after that moment, Aldean told Wayne D “there’s no other feeling like it,” after working for something his whole life.

Aldean periodically signed autographs for fans in the crowd as he performed some of his biggest smash-hits and newest Highway Desperado tracks, including “Let Your Boys Be Country,” “Trouble With A Heartbreak,” “Try That In A Small Town,” “Tattoos On This Town,” “You Make It Easy,” “Dirt Road Anthem,” “That’s What Tequila Does,” “Flyover States,” “Hicktown” and “My Kinda Party.” Aldean closed his epic iHeartCountry Album Release Party with his smash-hit 2009 single, “She’s Country.”

Find Aldean’s full Highway Desperado album on iHeartRadio here.