NASHVILLE, TN. (Montogomery Gentry Official Website) -
Trace Adkins and
Montgomery Gentry "Turn It Up & Bring It On" tour kicked off this past weekend and was deemed a complete success as they performed to packed houses all three nights. The rowdy, fun-loving fans added fuel to the fire by bringing the excitement level up a notch at each venue. The floor was open for general admission ticket holders and as the doors were opened each evening there was a rush to the front of the stage for the most sought after spots.
The weekend had several unexpected happenings. The first night in Madison, WI Montgomery Gentry were a little surprised to have six fancy bras thrown on stage – they proceeded to hang them on the mic stands, much to the crowd's delight. "It may be hard to believe," chuckled Montgomery, "but we don't have this happen every show." Adds Gentry, "At first we were a little surprised and then when they kept coming we couldn't help but to laugh!"
The good times continued on Friday evening in Columbus, OH when Cledus T. Judd was in his dressing room conducting an on-camera interview when a SWAT team in full gear stormed in demanding that he "Hit the ground!" As the men in uniform informed Judd he was being arrested for impersonating a country star and comedian, he realized it was his tour buddies behind the masks pulling the tours first big prank. "This means war!" Judd laughed. Earlier in the day, Montgomery, Gentry, and Adkins spent time at the local SWAT division where they toured the grounds with the officers.
While onstage the third night in Johnson City, TN., Adkins leaned over to shake hands of audience members when he realized he had split his pants all the way down the inside of his left leg. "Nothing like this has ever happened to me before," Adkins stated as the crowd roared. Audience members then began grabbing at his exposed leg and loudly chanting, "take it off, take it off!" After changing into a new pair of jeans, Adkins returned to the stage with his torn jeans in hand.
He then ripped the jeans into several smaller pieces and hurled them into the frenzied crowd. After finishing his set, Adkins, who is always a crowd-pleaser, gave the audience even more of what they wanted as he ripped off his shirt and tossed it into the audience and declared, "This will definitely be a show I'll never forget!"
The "Turn It Up & Bring It On" tour continues this weekend in Tyler, TX on Friday, February 11th. (Texas native Trent Willmon will be filling in for Judd, who had a prior commitment.)
