14 November 2005
For More Information
Holly Gleason, Joe's Garage
Allen Brown, Arista Nashville
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Brooks & Dunn Mark The Marquis
14-Time CMA Winners + This Year's Hosts Are 1st Act To Play MSG Sign

   New York: In all the years Madison Square Garden has graced Manhattan, no artist has ever mounted the marquis to play. So when Brooks & Dunn took the sign outside one of America's flagship venues, they did so with a vengeance and a searing honky tonk attack -- not just lodging a pretty impressive first for the building, but planting a flag for perhaps the most iconic genre of music in this country.

   "What was that line: 'dream as big as you want to?'," says Kix Brooks, invoking the 4-time Entertainer of the Year's set-closer -- which he dedicated to New York City's police and fire fighters -- "Only In America," in speaking about the reason behind the impromptu outdoor show. "We were looking out at the marquis back in August, and we thought 'Why not?' So, we did."

   The 'did' was a little bit more than just jumping up and playing a set that included the #1 hits "Red Dirt Road," "Only In America," "Cant Take The Honky Tonk Out of the Girl" and Brooks' freewheeling "Get Out of Town" from their brand new practically platinum Hillbilly Deluxe. Because this was a never been done endeavor, a plywood floor had to be put down, a separate generator was brought in and a pair of scissor lifts were employed to get the gear and musicians on the marquis.

   But the end result was more than worth it. Lunch-time New Yorkers crowded the sidewalks to listen to the 30-minute turbo-set. And if country hadn't made its mark on Manhattan by now, the full-throttle attack certainly had a huge impact -- as the local crews and photographers were on hand.

   "We've done some pretty amazing stuff," Ronnie Dunn, the hardcore power-singer, said. "We've played the Olympics, the Republican National Convention, Farm Aid. But none of it came close to this. Being up in the air, watching the New York traffic fly by, that's a rush that's pretty hard to beat. This is the kind of thing you think of U2 doing, or the Stones, and now I know why bands that can do stuff like this do."

   With their hosting stint tonight on "The 39th Annual Country Music Awards" - broadcast live from Madison Square Garden on CBS -- Brooks & Dunn are more than making the storied New York City venue their home away from home. Given their larger than life persona, it makes perfect sense that the duo would be the first to take their show to the marquis -- just as they'd host the first ever CMA Awards from the Big Apple. Slated to perform "Believe" with a stripped-down band featuring Grammy-winner Randy Scruggs, Stevie Ray Vaughan vet Reese Wynans and Steve Winwood/Lee Ritenhour/Rodney Crowell alum Michael Rhodes, Brooks & Dunn are all about creating moments in Manhattan that'll last a lifetime.
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