From left, Big Kenny and Cowboy Troy perform at the Big & Rich concert on Sept. 6, the final show of the summer concert season at Tioga Downs in Nichols, N.Y. (Photos by JoAnn R. Walter)
Country music superstars Big & Rich performed on the outdoor summer concert stage at Tioga Downs on Sunday, Sept. 6. The final show of the outdoor summer concert season, country music artist, Cowboy Troy, and country mix master, DJ Sinister, joined the duo.
Big & Rich took the stage at about 8:20 p.m. following an energized electronic mix performed by DJ Sinister. Prompting the audience to “put your hands in the air,” Big & Rich took command of the stage with their electrifying opener, “Comin’ to Your City.” The foot stomping hit, which has been used as a theme song for ten years on ESPN’s College Game Day, immediately brought fans to the front of the stage where they stayed throughout the entire show.
After two rousing opening songs, which included “I Came to Git Down,” Big & Rich turned it down several notches for a mellower tune, and asked the audience, “Are there any lovers in the house?” The duo then performed their number one song, “Lost in this Moment.”
One highlight of the show came when Big & Rich asked service members in the audience to raise their hands, and then shared, “Thank you for your service and sacrifice, we appreciate you.”
Big Kenny, Cowboy Troy and John Rich perform at the Big & Rich concert on Sept. 6, the final concert of the summer concert season at Tioga Downs in Nichols, N.Y.
The duo then brought on stage two local veterans, Richard Olmstead of Nichols, N.Y. and Eric Bowen of Owego, N.Y. Olmstead, a Vietnam veteran, and Bowen, a U.S. Air Force veteran, sat on bar stools as Big & Rich performed their powerful and inspirational hit, “8th of November,” which tells the true story of Niles Harris, a U.S. Army soldier in the 173rd Airborne Brigade who served in Vietnam.
Olmstead was handed the microphone and said, “I’m proud to be from Nichols, New York,” and Bowen’s one word message, “Freedom” received overwhelming applause and a loud roar from the Tioga Downs crowd.
“This song is for all the cowgirls tonight,” the duo announced next, and then performed the first single from their most recent album, “Gravity,” called, “Look at You.” Big & Rich also performed another “Gravity” hit, “Run Away with You,” a song currently on the charts.
Big & Rich perform their powerful and inspirational hit, “8th of November” at Tioga Downs, N.Y. on Sept. 6. The duo invited two local veterans, Richard Olmstead of Nichols, N.Y. and Eric Bowen of Owego, N.Y. to join them on stage.
During a quick break in the show, John Rich asked the audience, “How do you like my rhinestone shirt?” He then told the audience his Granny Rich, a scrappy countrywoman, made the shirt.
A few times during the show, Big Kenny held up the backside of his guitar so fans could see his signature message, “Love Everybody.” Kenny’s guitars also sported various stickers like “Johnny Cash is a friend of mine” and “Aerosmith,” as well as the name “Niles” from the “8th of November” song.
Cowboy Troy kicked up the action even more with his dance moves while performing “I Play Chicken on the Train,” and also rocked with Big & Rich during a unique blend of cover songs including Don McLean’s “American Pie,” and Pat Benatar’s “Hit Me with your Best Shot,” among others.
When asked during a recent phone interview what Tioga Downs’ fans could expect at the Big & Rich show, John Rich replied, “It’s definitely a rowdy, interactive show.” And indeed it was, where invited fans were brought on-stage to hang out at a bar, and super-hero – Spiderman, made a special appearance.
Two local veterans, Eric Bowen of Owego, N.Y. and Richard Olmstead of Nichols, N.Y. were invited to join Big & Rich on stage during their concert on Sept. 6 at Tioga Downs in Nichols, N.Y., and also had the opportunity to meet them prior to the show.
The interactive fun continued with the explosive country-rock rap hit, “Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy,” and concluded with John Rich raising his guitar for the audience to see “Thank You” written on the back. Rich then proceeded to smash the guitar to pieces at the end of the show.
Prior to the concert, Jeff Gural, CEO of American Racing and Entertainment and owner of Tioga Downs, spoke briefly and asked the Tioga Downs audience and the community to participate at an upcoming public hearing scheduled for Sept. 18 at SUNY-Broome. Gural said, “Tell them how much you want the Southern Tier to get the casino license.”
Earlier in the day, John Rich stopped by Redneck Boot Shop & Western Wear in Owego, N.Y. for a meet and greet and to also introduce his line of boots, Redneck Riviera, which will be sold at the store located at 163 Main St. in Owego, N.Y., and the only store in New York State to carry them.
Click here to view photos from Rich’s stop at Redneck Boot Shop & Western Wear in Owego.
John Rich of Big & Rich shows the backside of his guitar to the audience, which reads, “Thank You.” The guitar, smashed on stage, concluded the final show of the summer concert season at Tioga Downs in Nichols, N.Y.
For more information about Tioga Downs, visit their website, tiogadowns.com, or find them on Facebook and Twitter.
