Courtesy Photo by Luke Melinkovich
The University of Wyoming welcomes Chancey Williams to Laramie for the Cowboy Kickoff Concert. This is the first Kickoff Concert after a seven-year hiatus. Williams performed on Fraternity and Sorority Mall on Friday, September 11th to an energized crowd.
The Western Thunder Marching Band and University of Wyoming Cheerleaders started the night off with “Ragtime Cowboy Joe.” University President Shane Reeves introduced Williams to the stage. Hundreds were in attendance, ready to start the year off strong.
As Williams played, people sang along, relaxed on blankets, and ate from local food trucks.
Williams sang through much of his repertoire, including songs “It’s My Lie,” “The Saint,” “Saddle Up,” and “One Bad Mutha Buckaroo”; he also covered Toby Keith’s “Should’ve Been A Cowboy.” Couples swing danced at the edge of the crowd.
The event had a sectioned-off beer garden with key chains and koozies provided by the UW Alumni Association. A University of Wyoming alum, Chancey knew that any good UW gathering includes the beer song and invited the Western Thunder Marching Band and Cheerleaders back to the stage.
When Chancey introduced his song “The World Needs More Cowboys,” he said that he was so inspired by the University’s new tagline he knew he needed to write a song about it. Chancey spoke on his experience at Casper College and his time here at UW. He talked about his background as a bronc rider before stating that members of the University Wrestling team and University Cheerleaders are the “real athletes.” The members of the Wrestling team and Cheerleaders stayed on stage for “The World Needs More Cowboys.”
Williams’ last song was a rendition of the Isley Brothers’ “Shout” that riled the crowd back up and brought Chancey out to crowdsurf. The night ended with a show of lights and colors as drones depicted “Welcome Wyo Cowboys,” Pistol Pete, the iconic bucking horse and rider steamboat, “The World Needs More Cowboys,” the Wyoming flag, and even Rexy.
This Cowboy Kickoff Concert was a great way to start off the year.
