"How many of you are rednecks?!" Craig Morgan shouted to the crowd, who responded with a resounding, "Whoo!"

This question sums up the theme of last night's country performance at the BJC, starring Trace Adkins, Craig Morgan and Danielle Peck.

Peck kicked off the night providing her own brand of uninspired, cliché country music.

I'm not sure what was funnier. The fact that she sang the words, "Jesus loves you, but I don't," or the fact that a middle-aged man shaking his butt in the front row got a bigger reaction from the crowd than she did.

I won't deny her singing ability, but what good is that voice if you're only using it to sing tired clichés that anyone could hear by simply turning on CMT.

Morgan was up next, offering basically the same bland sound, but the only difference was that he actually tried to work the crowd and did so successfully.

Morgan was reduced to having to run into the crowd and pose for photos mid-song to get the crowd on their feet.

I was glad, too, because Peck and Morgan's tired approach of asking the audience questions before each song in order to relay the meaning -- as if we couldn't tell what "Redneck Yacht Club" was about -- was getting old quick.

Needless to say, I was getting very restless with the performance thus far, so I was expecting fireworks from the self-proclaimed "Dangerous Man."

Well, there were no fireworks, but Adkin's entrance was probably more entertaining for the crowd than both opening acts put together.

Walking the stage in his best impression of a dangerous man wearing a black coat, Adkins strutted while the band displayed their energy, sporting a lap steel guitar and keys in addition to the usual two guitars, bass, violin and drums.

But once again, the momentum shifted after Adkins electrified the crowd, so that he could take the time to inform us that a close friend of his was experiencing a death in the family.

While it's commendable that Trace would open himself up to his audience, it was an awkward moment to say the least.

Adkins got the crowd back on their feet with "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" while showing off some dance moves that basically consisted of him moving his hands all around his crotch.

I will give him credit.

I think he recognizes the stale qualities that exist in a lot of country music today, so he does his best to mix up genres. Even if it does result in him telling the audience in so many words, "Hey this is why I'm different and good," it still is refreshing to hear R&B and southern rock being fused into what is ultimately his own style.

While he did entertain the crowd, it seemed that the crowd only really got into it when the hit singles, like "Honky Tonk Badonkadonk" and "Ladies Love Country Boys" were being performed.

It begs the question: What if Trace performed these songs in the beginning of the show?

Would people just get up and leave?

This isn't to say people weren't having fun.

They definitely were.

But when I looked out into the crowd and saw one teenage couple standing up and dancing -- not just for the hits but for the entirety of the set -- I realized there was something very wrong.

Adkins did his best to breed some creativity into his music and for that, he should be commended.

But as far as the other stale acts go, well, Craig Morgan said it best: "I'm country and I ain't scared of it."

Well, Craig, I'm scared for you.