It was a Big & Rich & Wet party at the New York State Fair on Tuesday night.
The country duo, featuring Big Kenny and John Rich, played a rain-delayed concert for a small crowd at Chevy Court. The show was scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. but started half an hour late; DJ Sinister warmed everyone up with a largely pre-mixed “country fried mix,” then Big & Rich took the stage at 6:45.
“Rollin’ (The Ballad of Big & Rich)” kicked off the set with somewhat subdued energy as Rich complained about having his microphone and monitors in the middle of the stage. It was still pouring, and there clearly were equipment concerns as the front of the stage isn’t covered. Rich didn’t care, he wanted to be close to everyone.
The group’s hick-hop pal Cowboy Troy next joined them on stage for an amped up version of “Comin’ to Your City,” the 2005 release that’s best known as Sean Hannity’s theme song and has long been featured on ESPN’s “College GameDay.” The soggy crowd started climbing to its feet, glad to have Big & Rich come to the Salt City.
Things cooled off a bit with the mid-tempo “Look at You” and the slower song “Lost in This Moment,” Big & Rich’s only No. 1 hit, but the women in the crowd were especially happy to sing along to the radio-friendly hooks.
But then Rich paused the party altogether to salute the troops. He brought three local veterans on stage and thanked them for their service, inviting each to talk briefly while the music was stopped, and then invited them to sit at the “Heroes Bar” (and promoting Rich’s line of Redneck Riviera Whiskey). It was a nice, patriotic moment that the crowd appreciated.
“God bless America,” Rich said.
All told, though, it took nearly 20 minutes before Big & Rich started performing the next song, “8th of November.” Some in the audience stood silently to show respect for the tune about U.S. Army soldier Niles Harris, who was wounded in Vietnam on Nov. 1965.
More casual country fans, however, were eager to hear Big & Rich’s most enduring hit, “Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy).” They had to wait a little longer, because next it was Cowboy Troy’s turn: He took center stage for “I Play Chicken With the Train,” his 2005 collaboration with Big & Rich, which is almost as fun.
The rain finally stopped, and a gorgeous rainbow emerged over Chevy Court.
After just half a dozen songs, it was somehow 7:40 p.m. and there was only time for one last song, but they made it last. “Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)” got everyone on their feet, dancing and singing along. After the second chorus, the band launched into a covers medley that allowed each musician a moment in the spotlight, wailing through portions of songs like Chumbawamba’s “Tubthumping,” Pat Benatar’s “Hit Me With Your Best Shot,” House of Pain’s “Jump Around,” Red Hot Chili Peppers’ “Give It Away,” Luke Bryan’s “Country Girl” (”Cowboy Troy, shake it for me”) and Mark Ronson’s “Uptown Funk.”
Big & Rich eventually brought it all back to the spoken-rap verse about “having ourselves a Big and Rich time” before the final chorus echoed through the largely empty fairgrounds. The rain forced the Midway to close at 5 p.m., and it won’t reopen until Thursday morning; besides Chevy Park fans awaiting Boy George and Culture Club, almost everyone else had left.
The small but wet crowd got what they came for. And then it was time to saddle up our horse and ride into the city.