TAKE FIVE: Pat Green

Monday, April 30, 2007 | 7:38 a.m.

Who: Kenny Chesney's Flip Flop Stadium Tour 2007, featuring Sugarland and Pat Green

When: 8 p.m., Thursday and Friday

Where: Mandalay Bay Events Center

Tickets: $80.75 to $101.75; 632-7777

When Texas troubadour Pat Green performed at Mandalay Bay two years ago, he was riding the hit record "Wave on Wave."

This year he has high hopes for his latest, "Dixie Lullaby."

Green returns to Mandalay Bay on Thursday and Friday with superstar Kenny Chesney's Flip Flop Stadium Tour 2007. This, his second tour with Chesney, continues through September. The Grammy-nominated Green also has toured with Keith Urban and the Dave Matthews Band.

Green recently commented on a number of topics.

1. On the concert

I'm the opening act. Sugarland, which is arguably the hottest band out there right now, is in the middle. With Kenny being the hottest artist and us kind of being an up-and-comer, the concert covers all the bases for everyone.

2. On playing Vegas

I usually play the House of Blues at Mandalay Bay. It's a good place for us. I love playing in Vegas because everyone seems ready to go party before they get there. It's such a destination that, for a concert-goer, it takes it to the next level when they know they're going there to have a good time. Then for the locals, it's the same thing. We just go out there and party with them.

3. On career moves

Back home in Texas I had this monster career going, but you don't want to drill the well dry, so you go out and make something happen on the national level. That transition has been very easy, very comfortable for us. The career is definitely getting bigger and better. The more we have hits on the radio and the more we do things in the public eye, like touring with Kenny Chesney - we're getting a leg up from all that.

4. On "Dixie Lullaby"

It's a crap shoot whenever you put a ballad out, really, but the record is doing well. We're definitely keeping the pace as to what we're trying to get accomplished, which is to get the name out, get a little bit better known, start something. If you don't have more hits on the radio then it's hard to keep the full momentum. Certainly now that we're on Kenny's label, DNA, it's an easy way to piggyback stuff. It's been an easy year touring, getting the word out.

5. On finding the right song

Telling the truth when you're writing a song is really the key to it, otherwise it's really difficult to make a connection. I would have no business writing a song about an auto mechanic because I've never been an auto mechanic. I couldn't even put myself in those shoes. But when it comes to how I feel about my wife and family and life in general, I don't deviate from that too much. The process, to me, is trying to find that connection and writing about it.