Posted on 01/24/2005 9:15:29 PM PST by stainlessbanner
In the three concerts that country star Toby Keith has performed at The Mark of the Quad-Cities in Moline in the past 27 months, he’s gone from cautious to confident to cocky.
But a capacity crowd of about 10,000 blizzard-weary fans soaked in all that is Toby Keith on Saturday night, reveling in the Oklahoman’s greatest hits.
A filmed intro, with Keith and his ever-present bulldog pulling down a bar with chains on a pickup (from the tour sponsor) led into “Stays in Mexico,” the first song from Keith’s “Greatest Hits 2” album last year.
Keith strong-armed his way through his other hits, from “Should Have Been a Cowboy,” to “Beer for My Horses,” his Willy Nelson duet.
The set for the concert resembled a honky-tonk, with a stage-sized video screen, and wooden steps at various levels.
Keith was backed by a nine-piece band, including a strong and active three-man horn section.
All too often Keith relied on reprises of his songs with audience members singing along on the choruses after the tune was finished. The top complaint, and biggest extravagance of the night, was an over-abundance of pyrotechnics and fireworks.
But Keith had the crowd on their feet most of the night, ready for more and plotting his return.
The gutsiest move of the night was Keith picking rocker Ted Nugent — whom he toured with in a USO show of the Middle East last year — as his opening act.
Nugent made a literal flag-waving entrance hauling in a large stars and stripes as he hit the stage.
Wearing a Confederate flag T-shirt and camouflage cowboy hat, Nugent — with only a bass player and a drummer — turned up the decibels with classics, such as “Fred Bear,” “Great White Buffalo,” and “Cat Scratch Fever.” He ended his set with “Kiss My Ass,” where the singer-marksman shot an arrow into the chest of a life-size Saddam Hussein effigy.
Despite apparent crowd desires for an encore, Nugent ended his 40-minute set.
Radio station WLLR-FM afternoon personality J.D. Justice promised the crowd before the show that it would be “one of the most interesting concerts you’ve ever been to,” and that turned out to be quite an understatement.
The Nuge lights it up
One of the greatest songs ever recorded.(His biggest hit in Michigan, but mostly unknown outside of the state)
yeah, I know the song too. Heck, I know pretty much that entire album by heart.
Ted Nugent : They don't make 'em like that anymore.
This guy is a total badass. God bless him.
ping
I saw him years later, and he was still incredible.
I may have to check out this Keith persons music.
L
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