When Neal McCoy takes the stage, it's like a tornado touching down. You best get out of the way and find something to hang on to because it's going to get crazy! That's how it was on Thursday, April 26 when Neal McCoy took the stage at the Dusty Armadillo in Rootstown, Ohio. He was introduced by Dave Steel from K105 Country. The Dusty Armadillo is your typical fun lovin' country bar with lots of room to kick up your heels and do some serious dancing. And that is exactly what happened when Neal McCoy took the stage at 10:00 PM to a sold out show of 750 fans. The stage at the Dusty Armadillo is only about 2 feet high, so it was easy for Neal's fans to get up close and personal with him. As he walked on stage, he went across the front of the stage and shook hands with everyone who could reach him. Then, he and his seven piece band launched into the country song "Mountain Of Love." Neal is one of those performers who sounds as good live as he does on his CDs. He's a true showman in every sense of the word. He's always in motion when he's singing. Jumping around, dancing, spinning ... he's a very physical performer. He played/performed for 1 hour and 45 minutes and never slowed down for a single second. He interacts with the fans a lot during the whole show. You aren't just watching the concert, you actually become part of it.
There was a couple at the show who were celebrating their wedding anniversary. So, as Neal sang the song "No Doubt About It," they slow danced on stage in the spotlight. Neal also talked about his upcoming CD that will be released some time this summer. ** He performed the song "Red Necktified," the first single to be released from the album. He also did several fan favorites like "The Shake" as well as the "Day-O/Beverly Hillbillies" rap medley. And of course Neal being Neal, he had to look the part while doing the rap. So he put his baseball cap on sideways.
At one point, Dave Steel from K105 Country had to bring a chair up on to the stage so Neal could sit down and sing the George Strait song "The Chair." And even though he messed up some of the lyrics, he made light of it and just kept going. During the song "Dance With Me Baby," all his band members took turns dancing with him. Neal also performed the 70's hit called "Always And Forever" originally done by the group Heatwave. Then he launched into a medley of "Play That Funky Music White Boy/Brick House" originally done back in the 70's by Wild Cherry and The Commodores respectively. Neal talked to the audience between the songs. He kept teasing the club owner about how the next time he comes to the Dusty Armadillo, "I sure hope they have air conditioning installed!" He also went on to say how he went back to his home town of Jacksonville Texas last year to attend his 30th high school graduation reunion.
At one point during the concert, Neal's keyboard player did a fantastic impersonation of Tracy Lawrence singing the song "Paint Me A Birmingham." If you closed your eyes, you would swear that it was Tracy up there on stage. The whole concert was just one great song after another, and the energy of Neal's performance never stopped throughout the entire evening. And let's not forget his band who sounded nothing short of awesome! Neal's last song of the evening was his huge hit "Billy's Got His Beer Goggles On." The whole place was dancing and singing along with him. As he said his "good byes," the place went crazy demanding an encore, and Neal didn't let them down. He came back out on stage one last time and had the whole place dancing with the song "Wink."
If you ever get the opportunity to see Neal McCoy live, do not pass it up! There are those concerts that you will simply attend. A Neal McCoy concert is something that you have to experience! And if you do, you'll never forget it!
Set List:
- High On The Mountain Of Love
- You Gotta Love That
- The City Put The Country Back In Me
- Dance With Me Baby
- Head South
- No Doubt About It
- Mama Thinks I'm a Saint?
- The Chair
- Medley - Play That Funky Music, Brick House
- Always and Forever
- Red Necktified
- Day-O/Beverly Hillbillies Rap
- The Shake
- Medley - You Never Even Called Me By My Name, Every Rose Has It's Thorn, I Can't Fight This Feeling, Paint Me A Birmingham, LaBamba
- Billy's Got His Beer Goggles On
- Encore:
- Wink
