Country artists dazzle crowd Friday at Elliott Hall of Music

By Jenny Jones
Staff Writer

The air was thick and steamy Friday night in the Elliott Hall of Music as a massive audience eagerly anticipated the performances of country music artists Neal McCoy, Ty Herndon and Chris Cagle.

The audience got more than it could have imagined when these cowboys hit the stage.

Neal McCoy, who not only sang his own songs, such as "The Shake," also dazzled the audience when he performed portions of songs such as "Play that Funky Music," by Wild Cherry; "Get Down Tonight" by KC & the Sunshine Band; and "She's a Brick House" by the Commodores.

McCoy lit up the stage in his stereotypical cowboy attire — tight Wrangler jeans, a white button-down shirt and a wide-rimmed cowboy hat.

However, it was not McCoy's wardrobe that made the audience hysterical, it was his cut-loose style that had the fans dancing, singing and shouting.

With swinging hips and stomping feet, McCoy and his band not only sang, they truly performed.

Included in the three and a half-hour concert was stand-up comedy and McCoy's interpretation of Britney Spears' style of dance. It was with this flair that McCoy's performance radiated with energy and screamed with humor.

It was not until McCoy changed from cowboy hat to baseball hat that the audience saw just how crazy McCoy and his band could be.

Performing a rap of The Beverly Hillbillies theme song, McCoy showed his creative and spontaneous side.

McCoy did manage to blend in his hits, such as "Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye," "The City Put the Country Back In Me" and "You Gotta Love That." He concluded his performance by singing his chart-topping single "Wink" and giving high-fives to audience members who lined the stage.

McCoy was not the only performer firing up the stage in Elliott Friday night. Ty Herndon, who performed before McCoy, also heated it up with his own performance.

Herndon, who is known for songs such as "Loved Too Much," "A Man Holdin' On (To a Woman Letting Go)" and "I Have to Surrender" was filled with emotion during his performance.

With deep facial expressions and strong gestures, Herndon transmitted a personal connection to his music and the audience.

He shook hands, gave high-fives and signed autographs for audience members who approached the stage. At one point during his show, Herndon invited a young girl on stage and sat her on his knee so she could have her picture taken with him.

Although much of Herndon's performance was sugar and spice, he did not fail to get saucy.

Herndon, who looked as though he stepped out of the pages of a fashion magazine, wore fitted, black nylon pants and a black sweater.

It was during the performance of his hit "Steam," a song about how hot things can get between lovers, that things really exploded.

With smooth, seductive dance moves, Herndon had the audience in an uproar.

The audience not only had its share of entertainment with Herndon and McCoy, it was also energized with a performance from country music newcomer Chris Cagle, who opened for the concert.

Including stories about how his songs were created, Cagle opened a door into his personal life allowing the audience to peek in.

One of the stories Cagle told about concerned his song "Country by the Graze of God." He said he got the idea for the song when his younger sister took him out to what she called a "pasture party," a party out in the middle of a field with a bonfire and beer.

It was during the party that a man hopped onto the back of a pick-up truck and yelled, "I'm American born and country by the graze of God" that gave Cagle the idea for lyrics.

Cagle also performed songs from his debut album, "Play it Loud." With an up-beat rhythm, Cagle and his band rocked out to songs such as "My Love Goes On and On," "Rock the Boat" and "Laredo."

With plenty of bottled water on hand, Cagle prepared to perform "Rock the Boat" by spritzing the audience with water and then drenching himself.

It was just the kind of cooling off the audience needed after the performance.