Big & Rich and Craig Morgan

If you’ve not yet had the pleasure of seeing country music super-duo Big & Rich live, trust me, you’re in for a treat. The enigmatic pair, Big Kenny and John Rich, first teamed up in 2004 for their first release on a mjor label, the hugely successful ‘Horse Of A Different Colour’, which spawned the epic cowboy imagery-laden single, ‘Wild West Show’. Both Kenny and Rich sing and play the steel-string guitar, as well as collaboratively writing all their own material. The Nashville-born rockers create fun-loving, knee-slappingly catchy country-rock tunes and memorable ditties that always get a crowd moving. Their repetoire of hits includes the country drawlin’ ‘Save A Horse (Ride A Cowboy)’, their balladic number 1 single ‘Lost In This Momemnt’, and the Vietnam War-inspired rag ‘8th Of November’- all of which are staples of their live set.
When I saw Big & Rich at the Morongo Casino earlier this year, I had a fantastic night of singalong songs, and it was clear from the start that these two have a true passion for country music, as well as performing live together. The energy and charisma between the pair, as well as the dancing, hand-waving energy of the audience, combined to make an unforgettable show. As well as performing all their well-loved hits, the stars mixed things up and added a countrified medley of pop songs, such as Madonna’s ‘Like A Virgin’ and ‘Chumbawumba’s ‘I Get Knocked Down’, which definitely added to the awesome party atmosphere. A great, rocking country show!

My absolute favourite genre of music is country, so I’m reasonably hard to please when it comes to hearing new country music, but when I first heard Craig Morgan pick up his guitar and start singing away to his classic That’s What I Love About Sunday, I was immediately converted into a massive fan.
When Morgan walked out onto the stage, a hush fell across the audience in anticipation as he arranged himself in front of the microphone. He introduced himself modestly and the way he engaged with the audience was humbling. One of the most poignant elements of the concert was Morgan’s explanations of the lyrics of his music. The insight that he gave the audience to his compositions was something very special to be a part of. Knowing the motivations of the lyrics made each song resonate even deeper with the audience. He had us singing along to the hit tracks, and waving our hands in the air to the more ballad style tracks. His energy was contagious and electric, and everyone in the audience appeared to be having the best time in his presence and talent. One of the most talented musicians of today, and a real honour to see in concert.