Montgomery Gentry keeps it loose at Sunset

Leah Robinson

Monday, April 26, 2004 | 8:25 a.m.

The band played for 2,200 fans Saturday at Sunset Station's Outdoor Amphitheatre, a near sell-out. Frontmen Eddie Montgomery and Troy Gentry brought out all the hits, including the title track and probably future hit "You Do Your Thing," from the group's soon-to-be-released album.

"You know with us, what you see is what you get," said Montgomery, speaking about the group's unapologetic support for country music's highest virtues: God, country, hard work, respect for the American soldier and getting drunk. The band attracted a group of the reddest necks in Las Vegas (don't worry, it's considered a compliment), there to enjoy down and dirty barroom music. The duo spent years performing in Kentucky's bars and saloons, making for a decidedly intimate show.

Dressed in his signature black trench coat, studded jeans, boots and wide-brimmed hat, the flamboyant Montgomery strutted around stage all night with unflagging energy. Although he plays no instrument (unless you count the cowbell), he does have a unique talent for spinning the microphone stand.

Gentry, dressed in his familiar white shirt and blue jeans, sported an electric guitar emblazoned with the tour sponsor's name Jim Beam. At one point Gentry praised the whiskey maker and remembered, "Hey, I haven't had my shot yet!" to which he grabbed a ready-filled glass and put one back.

It's unclear whether this inspired fans to drink more or if they already had plans to heavily wet their whistles, but either way outdoor drink vendors ran out of drink mixers midshow, leaving many sipping on gin and water.

While the drinking may have enhanced the audience response, the group's raw and rowdy tunes came off strong. In particular, the hit "Hell Yeah," had fans singing along, raising their libation-filled plastic cups in agreement.

Other tunes, such as "My Town," "Lonely and Gone," and "Daddy Won't Sell The Farm," also filled the outdoors with a rock-infused southern sound.

Another reason the music sounded so good was the venue and the perfect 72-degree weather. Sunset Station's Amphitheatre provided great sound, and with no walls to bounce off, there were no reverberations or tinny echoes.

The show was strong, with a minor exception. The band's popular ballad-style hit, "Speed," sounded flat and a little disappointing heard live.

However, a highlight of the show was opening act Cledus T. Judd, host of Country Music Television's "Most Wanted." Judd has made a name for himself as the country music's answer to Weird Al Yankovic, parodying the industry's biggest hits.

A self-admitted "horrible" singer (that makes him funnier, though), Judd turned Toby Keith hit, "I Love This Bar," into "I Love Nascar," and Travis Tritt's hit "It's A Great Day To Be Alive," got morphed into "It's A Great Day To Be A Guy."

Between song sets, Judd let loose his quirky southern-fried humor with one liners like this: "My hometown is so small, our heavy industry is the 350-pound Avon lady."