Julian Austin flexed his muscles at CMT's Command Performance last night.

 

 The normally pretty Palace nightclub took on the appearance of a funky industrial warehouse.

 

 Sheet metal covered the rich wood and flexible piping covered wires and mike stands.

 

 Though the singer-songwriter rehearsed wearing black jeans and a black-leather vest -- which prominently displayed his massive arms -- for the actual taping of the CMT special, he wore a long-sleeved black T-shirt.

 

 Austin started his six-song set with his current hit, Hard Time Loving You.

 

 What Austin lacked in dance moves, he more than compensated with his flirting.

 

 He gave winks and waves to folks in the audience.

 

 A few even got a little tip of his trademark bad-boy black cowboy hat. His show, on the whole, was full of mischievousness.

 

 He seemed like he was always on the verge of doing something he's not supposed to.

 

 Austin also expressed his gratitude for seeing fans in the crowd sporting cowboy hats.

 

 "This is the place to see 'em.... It's good to be back in Calgary -- the country capital of Canada," he said.

 

 The East Coast native also shared his love of rodeo with the enthusiastic crowd.

 

 He even confessed he finally got his wish to ride a bull, which he said he did in Calgary.

 

 Austin also performed Honky Tonk Lock and Key, the Meat Loaf hit Two Out Three Ain't Bad and the title track from his debut CD, My Heart Already Knows.

 

 However, the favourites proved to be his first single, Little Ol' Kisses, and Diamond, which happens to be one of his personal favorites.

 

 Taping went smoothly, though Austin did make references to reshooting during the second set at the Sun-sponsored event.

 

 And despite rehearsing earlier in the day at the Jubilee for the Canadian Country Music Association Awards tonight -- Austin is up for the single, album, song, video and male vocalist honours -- he promised to perform for fun after the taping and even to do a few autographs.