Kenny Chesney, Brooks & Dunn, LeAnn Rimes, Big & Rich, Gary Allan and Sammy Hagar. The stellar lineup, playing Saturday at M&T Bank Stadium, reads like a country music lover?s concert wish list.
The majority of the acts cross genre lines, but Big & Rich, known for the hits “Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)” and “Lost in This Moment,” rebel the most. John Rich, half of the multiplatinum duo, recently spoke to The Examiner.
Why do you and Big Kenny work so well together?
Big Kenny is the ultimate hippie ? the ambassador of love ? and I?m always breaking stuff. If there was ever a ying and yang, it was Big and Rich. We really are 180s from each other, but we meet in the middle when making music. [Our partnership has] created its own sound. … We?ve never been compared to another act, and that?s very rare. We?re a pretty unique entity in music.
Besides Two Foot Fred and rapping Cowboy Troy, who else will join you onstage?
A lot of the time, Chesney calls us out on the stage during his show to sing a song with him. He?s very gracious with his stage and likes to get everybody out to jam. He?s a real entertainer. He has an outrageous energy.
But not as outrageous as your act. Any surprises in store for Saturday?s show?
One little piece I?m working on is lighting my guitar on fire and smashing it.
Do you think onstage antics distract from the music or add to the spectacle people paid for?
I base what we do on what I like when I go to a concert. One of my favorite bands to see in concert is Aerosmith. I go to hear the songs, and Steven Tyler is such an outrageous singer, but above and beyond, I go out for the antics ? for Steven Tyler and Joe Perry tearing the place up.
What?s the best moment during a performance for you?
The beginning and the end. At the beginning, the energy is there and everybody is screaming at the top of their lung to see you. Then the show gets into a pace. At the end, we take it over the top. It?s no-holds-barred, pulling out every trick you got. You can?t breathe. Your head aches. Your heart is pounding. You just rocked the socks off 50,000. It?s incredible.
IF YOU GO
Poets & Pirates Tour
M&T Bank Stadium, 1101 Russell St., Baltimore
2:30 p.m. Saturday
Tickets: $49 to $99.50
ticketmaster.com, 410-547-SEAT
