Howdy, rowdy friends

No stranger to Tuscaloosa, Hank Williams Jr., aka Bocephus, aka that country boy who can survive, returns to play the Tuscaloosa Amphitheater on Friday. Opening the 7:30 p.m. show are a pair of rising country singer-songwriters, Nikki Lane, whose third studio disc "Highway Queen" reached into Billboard country charts, and Frank Foster, whose seventh studio disc, "'Til I'm Gone," debuted at No. 2 on Billboard charts.

The man born Randall Hank Williams was not yet 4 years old when his legendary father, Hiram King "Hank" Williams, who nicknamed his son Bocephus, died tragically of heart failure, probably exacerbated by alcoholism and prescription drug abuse, late at night on Jan. 1, 1953. As his own career began to shape up in the '60s, the son wasn't shy about stepping into his father's boots, going professionally by Hank Williams Jr., and frequently covering his dad's songs. For the 1964 biopic "Your Cheatin' Heart," in which George Hamilton played a young Hank Williams, Hank Jr. dubbed-in the singing voice.

As he began to find his own harder-edge Southern style, Bocephus leaned into rock and blues; even when he continued to cover Hank Williams' songs, he'd put a harder stamp on them, as in his driving, electric cover of "Kaw-Liga." But also like his father, Hank Jr. struggled with drug and alcohol problems. Though born in Shreveport, Louisiana, he moved to Alabama, where his father and mother had been born, to try and get cleaned up, in the '70s.

Then in August 1975, he nearly died in a mountain-climbing accident in Montana, when snow collapsed, sending him almost 500 feet into a field of rocks. Suffering multiple skull and facial fractures, he grew out a beard to hide the scars, adding sunglasses and a hat, creating what's become a readily recognizable look. Recovery took nearly two years, including numerous reconstructive surgeries, and therapy to re-learn how to talk and sing. Parts of his early life, including struggles with his mother over his dad's legacy, the accident and recovery, were chronicled in a 1983 TV movie titled "Living Proof: The Hank Williams, Jr. Story."

That same year, Hank Jr. played one of the rare concerts held in Bryant-Denny Stadium. Designated the Bama Blast, the would-be series died after just two iterations: A 1982 Alabama show, followed by the '83 concert in which Hank Jr. closed for another volatile and veteran rocker, Jerry Lee Lewis.

He also played Tuscaloosa's Coleman Coliseum in October 2008 for the University of Alabama homecoming concert, and performed at the amphitheater in April 2012, with opening act 38 Special. The year before, he'd help organize benefit shows for Alabama tornado recovery efforts. In May 2011, Hank Jr. flew in to tour devastated areas, spending an afternoon in Tuscaloosa, becoming especially shaken by the stomped-on appearance of Holt and Alberta.

Recent concert set lists show Hank Jr. rolling through a number of his hits, including "Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound," "All My Rowdy Friends (Have Settled Down)" and "All My Rowdy Friends are Coming Over Tonight," blended in with his dad's songs from "Kaw-Liga" to "Move It On Over" to "Hey Good Lookin'," and adding covers from Ted Nugent, Neil Young, ZZ Top, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings and others.

Over decades, he's scored hits including “A Country Boy Can Survive,” “Texas Women,” “Eleven Roses,” “Dixie on My Mind,” “Born to Boogie,” “Young Country,” “I’m For Love,” “Old Habits,” “If Heaven Ain’t a Lot Like Dixie,” “Family Tradition" and “Heaven Can’t Be Found." Hank Jr.'s also charted with covers of his dad's songs, including “Kaw-Liga,” “Honky Tonkin’,” “There’s a Tear in My Beer,” “Move It On Over,” “Long Gone Lonesome Blues” and “Mind Your Own Business.” He’s father to country-punk star Hank Williams III.

Foster's seven indie releases have shown steady sales progressions since 2011. Writing for AllMusic, critic Jonathan Widran wrote "Foster's ability to connect lies in the raw emotional authenticity of his storytelling."

Lane's outlaw country sound has been compared to early Neko Case. Her second disc, "All or Nothing," was produced by Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys. Paste critic Holly Gleason, writing about that disc, said Lane's songs "read like Polaroids from a wild heart gone ragged."

As of last week, tickets remain available through the Amphitheater box office, Ticketmaster.com, or by calling 800-745-3000. Seats cost $99.50, $79.50, $69.50, $49.50 and $29.50, plus fees and service charges. For more, see www.tuscaloosaamphitheater.com.

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday

Where: Tuscaloosa Amphitheater, 2710 Jack Warner Parkway

Admission: Tickets cost $29.50, $49.50, $69.50, $79.50, $99.50 through Ticketmaster, or by calling 800-745-3000.

More info: www.tuscaloosaamphitheater.com.

Hank Williams Jr. Concert