There was no need to be a boot scooting, cowboy hat-wearing
country music listener to enjoy the show put on by Trick Pony
Saturday in the Bradford Area High School Auditorium.

The trio, along with sidekick keyboard, percussion and guitar
players, were entertaining enough with their antics on stage, let
alone the music they put out.

One Baltimore, Md., couple predicted as much before the
show.

“Hopefully they are on the rowdy side tonight,” said Susan
Rush.

Her husband Dennis agreed, saying the band is usually very
lively and energetic.

“They have high energy,” he said, adding this would be the
couple’s 20th time seeing the group in concert.

“We got a late start,” he said of the band that came on the
scene in 2001. “We’ve seen bigger stars – but they are our
favorite. They are the honky-tonk type. They don’t get the
recognition they deserve. They might be considered second tier, but
they are as good as Brooks & Dunn as well as others.”

The Bradford Area Creative and Performing Arts Center brought
the band to Bradford as part of its annual series of events. The
event was sponsored by WPIG radio and W.R. Case and Sons Cutlery
Co.

By the end of the concert, seats in the back of the auditorium
were vacated by their former occupants for the chance to shake the
hand of Heidi Newfield, Keith Burns or Ira Dean. Some lucky fans
received picks from the group as they would pass them out or whip
them into the cheering crowd.

One lucky fan was able to jump on stage and pose for a photo
with Burns.

Ten-year-old Brandon Wright from Smethport, having missed the
first pick thrown to him by Newfield, received a second chance when
she saw him near the stage again.

This time, without missing a note of “It’s a Heartache” she
walked over, grabbed a pick and handed it to Wright who was
attending his first concert ever. He was in attendance with his
mother Tammy Wright, who said his father, Chris, had given up his
ticket for Brandon to be there.

“The former president of BCPAC (Jim Guelfi) was passing out
tickets to the ‘meet and greet’ before the show and we got to go
back there and meet them,” said Tammy Wright.

Her son Brandon, nodding excitedly next to his mother, said he
was enjoying the concert as well.

“I like it all,” he said.

At times during the concert, the band would stop to talk to the
audience and even had time to make jokes about each other. At one
point, one of the crew apparently missed his cue to bring Burns a
new guitar and Burns took that opportunity to tell the audience how
he would have normally switched and started a new song, but for the
crew member.

“I stopped, pointed and spun around – I usually get a new guitar
every other song,” said Burns while the audience laughed at the
mistake.

Dean and Newfield then took the opportunity to begin their own
type of personal confessions, turning it into their own version of
“Storytellers” to a roaring audience.

While playing “Big River,” which the group recorded with Waylon
Jennings and Johnny Cash, Dean decided to lie on his back while
playing the upright bass to the crowds’ cheers.

Some fans before the concert were able to meet the members – not
necessarily their first time as they were part of their fan
club.

Silver McGinnis said she has traveled across the country to see
them – flying and driving. Saturday night was a five hour drive for
her and her friends from West Virginia.

“We’ve probably seen them 60 times total,” she said, agreeing
with her friends. McGinnis said she has also gone to New Mexico,
Florida and Nashville.

And while in line, several other people said, “Well how are
you?”

They described a fellowship and/or family as part of the fan
club.

Undaunted by the breakup, but somewhat sad, Dennis Rush said
that only allows them to see two different bands of the same
quality in the future.

“Who knows? Maybe we can see two groups from one!” he said.

Jill Santly of Allentown said, “We love them dearly!”

Newfield announced last week that she will seek a solo career
after the end of their already scheduled tour through November.

The band put on a show that most Bradfordians could appreciate –
Newfield herself played instruments such as the guitar, harmonica
and tambourine, while her voice spread through the crowd. Dean
played many different bass and regular guitars while the audience
kept focus on Burns who was the most concert-goer friendly by
posing for photos and shaking hands..

The band is known for such songs as “On a Night Like This,”
“Every Other Memory” and “Ain’t Wastin’ Good Whiskey on You.”

They achieved Favorite Country Artist of the Year in 2002 and
were nominated for a Grammy last year, a CMT Flame Worthy Music
Video Award and five Academy of Country Music award
nominations.