HUNTINGTON, W.

Friday, March 22, 2002

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – The Tri-State area loves Kid Rock – and he will be the first to tell you that and how much he appreciates it.

During his sold-out concert at the Huntington Civic Arena last night, the Detroit performer told the audience that the Huntington W.Va. area has been his top market as far as CD sales and radio play.

"And for that, I thank you," he told the crowd.

He and his band, Twisted Brown Trucker, repaid the fans with an over two-hour, high-energy concert that didn’t disappoint.

The crowd of close to 9,000 strong were on their feet, chanting his name, singing along as pyrotechnics and fireworks shot from his stage setup. At one point, early in the concert, Rock disappeared from the stage and later emerged in the stands – with body guards, of course – as he was appropriately rapping out "Where You At Rock?"

Opening with "Trucker Anthem" from his latest CD, "Cocky," Twisted Brown Trucker got the crowd pumped. During this number, Uncle Kracker (of "Follow Me" fame) laid down some raps before introducing the Kid, who rose from a makeshift trailer that served as part of the set, belting out "Cocky."

For more than two hours, Kid Rock and Twisted Brown Trucker wowed the fans with numbers from the hard-rocking "I’m Wrong, But You Ain’t Right" to the rock/rap anthem "Forever" to the ballad "Lonely Road of Faith" to the bluesie "Baby Come Home," where Rock played the lap steel guitar, the latest musical instrument he has learned to play.

And he showed his wide variety of musical talents as well. During "What’s My Name," Rock proceeded to rock the turntables, belt out licks on the guitar – including excerpts from Z.Z. Top’s "LaGrange," and Aerosmith’s "Walk This Way" – play the keys and beat out a solo on the drums.

After his musical display, a stagehand dressed in Blues Brothers attire covered a kneeling Rock with a fur coat three times, a la James Brown’s famous stage shenanigan.

In addition to performing some of his old favorites, including "Cowboy," "Bawitaba," "Devil Without a Cause" and "Wasting Time," Kid Rock and TBT did some cover tunes, including Led Zeppelin’s "Rock and Roll" and parts of Fleetwood Mac’s "Second Hand News," Lynyrd Skynyrd’s "Freebird" and "Sweet Home Alabama," AC/DC’s "Back In Black," The Allman Brothers’ "Midnight Rider," Waylon Jennings’ "Dukes of Hazard Theme," Grand Funk Railroad’s "American Band" and a Detroit medley which included Bob Segar’s "Old Time Rock N’ Roll," Ted Nugent’s "Catscratch Fever," The Supremes’ "Where Did Our Love Go," and MC5’s "Kick Out The Jams."

Kid Rock’s Huntington performance was the 12th stop on his "Lonely Road" tour. He also pointed out there were two special guests in the audience – Winston Cup drivers Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Tony Stewart. There whereabouts, however, were not disclosed.