Diverse, across-the-board, top-quality pure entertainment is what Big and Rich brought to our city Saturday Jan. 26, 2013 at Mystic Lake Showroom in Prior Lake.
Big Kenny Alphin and John Rich not only came to our city, but they made their presence known.
From the time they took the stage with no intro – they just walked out and launched into their hit “Comin’ To Your City” – to doing a shot at the on-stage bar with a local soldier, leading the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance, inviting a couple on stage to share a dance (and a passionate kiss), to debuting their newest single and singing a Madonna song, there wasn’t a dull moment.
A polished and fun show throughout, with as many meaningful moments as fun, Big and Rich are certainly entertainers. Dare we say pioneers in the sound and shows of many of the artists who have broken into the industry in the past few years.
A few years before Jason Aldean was doing a rap-style Thomas Rhett-co-penned song paying homage to 90s-hitmaker Joe Diffie, Big and Rich were breaking down barriers, doing things their style, and mixing it up a bit along the way.
That being said, Big and Rich’s country version of the classic rock AC/DC hit that came about halfway through their Prior Lake set sounded more country than some of what is getting spins on today’s country airwaves.
Rich’s half blue jean, half black rhinestone studded pants showed the crowd he still isn’t afraid to push those barriers and do things the Big and Rich way.
They kept the show moving along nicely and, after the intro “Comin’ to your City,” they did the fun “Jalapeno,” and “Wild West Show,” which was the debut single the duo released back in 2004.
“It’s good to be back in Minnesota,” Rich told the crowd after performing “Wild West Show.” “Minnesota is the number-one selling Big and Rich market in the entire world,” he added.
A special giveaway took place for an autographed guitar in which several country cuties walked onto stage and encourages concert goers to text for their chance to win.
The same girls later served as bartenders for the on-stage bar.
The country version of “Shook Me All Night Long” came next, followed by local couple Jeff and Janice being called onto the stage, interviewed by the band, and then serenaded with “Lost in This Moment,” one of the decade’s top love songs and a number-one hit for the duo.
For a few moments as Big and Rich were questioning the couple, many in the crowd thought a wedding was about to take place on stage as Big
Kenny is an ordained minister. However, it was just a dance (and that passionate kiss).
The duo’s latest album, “Hillbilly Jedi,” was released September 2012 and its debut single, and the next song on the set list, “That’s Why I
Pray” made its way up the charts for the band.
As the powerful song came to a close, the lights dimmed and an American flag was quickly placed on the stage. While the country girls were readying the on-stage bar, Rich joked about Kenny’s “plunging V-neck shirt” before sharing that at each Big and Rich show, they call a local soldier on stage and do a shot of Crown Royal with them before the duo sings the song “8th of November.”
Craig Kreiling of Farmington, who served in the Minnesota National Guard, was chosen to go on stage and have a drink with the guys.
“Aren’t you glad they have liquor in this place,” Rich quipped about Mystic Lake’s recent addition to its offerings.
The duo shared their appreciation for the American way, and said people always stand up for one joyful word – freedom. “8th of November” is a Vietnam story, and the subject of the story told Big and Rich that when they play the song live, to do it in honor of every single person that serves – and that’s exactly what they do.
Though the band overpowered the vocals on several of the song’s verses, making it difficult to understand all of the song’s lyrics, it
received one of the loudest applauses of the night and was quickly followed with everyone in the 2,100-seat theatre reciting the “Pledge of Allegiance.”
Their new single, “Cheat On You,” followed and also received a favorable response from the crowd.
“This is the first time we have ever played this song live in front of an audience,” Rich told the lucky crowd.
“Love Train” with their friend Cowboy Troy, “Loud,” and Troy’s hit “I Play Chicken With the Train” all followed before Rich shared a story about meeting a woman from Minnesota years back who took him ice fishing.
And that led into a medley of Madonna’s “Like A Virgin,” Tom Petty’s “Free Fallin,’” and Don McLean’s “American Pie.” There was no shortage of musical genres being explored Saturday night.
Then a familiar guitar intro launched the seven-piece band into perhaps the duo’s most well-known hit “Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy).”
They highlighted the band members and Cowboy Troy during the song, and genuinely had fun performing one of their biggest hits.
Encore:
After sharing the story of how Big Kenny and Rich met (they were both dating the same woman and when they found out they became instant friends), they confided their best work has come when pulling overnights drinking coffee and Crown Royal.
They said they’ve become successful by dreaming really big and going forward every single time.
The final song was “Rollin’ (The Ballad of Big and Rich)” after which Rich lit his guitar on fire, smashed it, and gave the pieces out to the audience.
He and Big Kenny shook hands with the audience for several moments before riding off into the sunset.
The only thing missing was Two Foot Fred.
Other notes:
• Meadows Bar and Grill at Mystic Lake provides the perfect place for a pre-show dinner with great selections at reasonable prices.
• A complete schedule of events for Mystic Lake Casino Hotel can be found HERE.
– Contributing Writer: Ryan Gueningsman
– Photos by: Adam’s Travel Photography