As the 2016 New York State Fair got off to a rocky start at the expanded midway, the clouds parted and the sun shined on the newly renovated Chevy Court stage.
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy kicked off this year's free concert lineup with a fun mix of swing, jazz and cool funk Thursday afternoon. Several thousand fans got to enjoy the hour-long set from their seats -- making it hard for the swing revival legends to get people to dance.
That's one benefit of the changes to Chevy Court: Plenty of room to sit and chill while enjoying live music during the NYS Fair. It'll make it easier for more people to enjoy the bigger draws on this year's lineup, like Flo Rida, Daughtry, Chicago and Kesha.
(In fact, most of the front rows at Chevy Court appeared to be filled with younger people squatting all day for prime spots to enjoy Kesha's Thursday night show hours after BBVD. The "Tik Tok" singer, formerly known as Ke$ha, takes the stage at 8 p.m.)
Still, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy got the audience of all ages to at sway their hands, tap their feet and clap along. Two infectious Cab Calloway covers brought smiles to the senior crowd, and '90s hits like "Go Daddy-O" (made popular by the Jon Favreau-Vince Vaughn movie "Swingers") and "You and Me and the Bottle Makes 3 Tonight (Baby)."
It just goes to show that lead singer Scotty Morris knows how to play to any crowd, whether it's the Super Bowl halftime show (in 1999) or Syracuse Jazz Fest (2014).
And Morris' eight-piece backing band never once paused the music, as every instrument - from upright bass, piano and drums to saxophones, trombones and trumpets -- got a chance to shine on stage through lively solos. Glen "The Kid" Marhevka even got to help sing on the band's farewell tune, the aptly titled "So Long-Farewell-Goodbye," which featured a brief break for a cover of Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama."
The other highlight of the show was getting to appreciate the new, "de-commercialized" Chevy Court. There are less retail stands, including the famous hot tub displays, along the venue, leaving more room to walk around, sing along and dance (when it's not too hot for a big pinstripe suit).
The Steve Miller Band closed out last year's fair before the changes, and a record 36,900 fans were packed in like sardines to hear "The Joker" live. No more discomfort.
With the grandstand gone (and marquee acts, like Keith Urban tonight, taking place at the nearby Lakeview Amphitheater) the free concert stage is now the NYS Fair's major music venue. And with the space opened up, it gives everyone a chance to enjoy it -- which is the whole point of both Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and the great New York State Fair: to have fun.
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy setlist at New York State Fair, Aug. 25, 2016
Jive Brother
Calloway Boogie (Cab Calloway cover)
I Wanna Be Like You
Mr. Pinstripe Suit
Hey Now
Reefer Man (Cab Calloway cover)
Zig Zaggity Woop Woop
You Me and the Bottle Makes 3 Tonight (Baby)
Mambo Swing
Go-Daddy-O
So Long-Farewell-Goodbye