Big $ Rich and Gretchen Wilson hit the CN Centre stage with an energy that rocked the cowboy-booted crowd Sunday night, with guest Lindsay Ell and Cowboy Troy.
Finessing their way onto the stage, bigger than life Big Kenny with all his flash and over-the-top rocker gestures of high kicks and flailing arms, who eventually ripped his own shirt right off his body, was having a great time entertaining the audience while John Rich was the grounding force of talent that anchored the whole show.
The duo started off the night with their hit Fake ID and very quickly Wilson announced she was Here For The Party. In a recent interview with The Citizen, Wilson promised it would be a show like no other as two headliners shared the stage, sharing in harmony and lead vocals.
Wilson likes to rock out as proven by her version of Foreigner's Hot Blooded. Not to be outdone, Big $ Rich did a rock medley including songs like She Drives Me Crazy, Free Fallin' and Pretty Woman.
Wilson's slight size belies her ability to harness a powerhouse voice.
She's a Redneck Woman and showed the chops to back it up belting out Got Your Country Right Here, Homewrecker and All Jacked Up. These songs were alternated with Big $ Rich hits Comin' To Your City, Wild West Show, Lost In This Moment.
And then Cowboy Troy bounced onto the stage. Rich introduced the six foot five, 260-pound performer like the heavyweight champion of the world, giving stats including the obvious fact he's black, and he's a cowboy from Texas who raps.
Cowboy Troy infused the audience with a contagious enthusiasm while he shuffled through I Play Chicken With A Train, along with a list of fun-lovin' songs through the night.
