Country music really doesn't fit in the happy-go lucky uplifting music genre. Some poor down home boy has lost his girlfriend or wife. She's usually strayed away, found another man and has subsequently left the downhearted dude with nothing but his horse and a jug of Jack Daniels. He croons to his ride, swigs from the dusty old bottle and wonders aloud if he is able to go on without his beloved. You wonder how many deserted liquor bottles litter the Southwest countryside.

Of course every once in a while there is the anomaly. The country music tune that doesn't make you want to start stocking your closets with rum and whisky. It is a ballad that might make you start humming and tapping your foot. You feel a lift of weight from your shoulders. You might crack a smile or a joke, and you might even think it is necessary to sign up for those line-dancing classes at the local community center. Dust off those boots, get your hat and holster, you wranglers. Big and Rich is in town and they're singing a type of country unheard of ‘round the southern parts. It's fresh, it's funny and it's enough motivation for you to cancel your appointments at the psychiatrist's office and jump at the chance to purchase your very own pair of Big and Rich tickets before they all sell out, because these boys are some of the biggest names in the country music community.

The carefree country tunes first started in 1998 with singer-songwriters Big Kenny and John Rich. After several years dabbling in solo tunes, with occasional collaborative efforts in songwriting, their first album together, Horse of a Different Color, was released in 2004. It easily reached the number one slot on the Billboard national chart and the Billboard country music chart. How could it not? The most popular ballad from that album was the quirky little jingle “Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy).” Cowboys and horses around the nation applauded. The now famous duo recorded their second album, Comin' to Your City, in 2005. This funny little song has since been recognized as their signature tune.

Big and Rich has been previously criticized from the die-hard country music fans who all seem to concur that their more unusual approach to making music is destroying the genre of country music. Big and Rich have a response. In their opening song on “Horse of a Different Color” they sing, “I ain't gonna shut my mouth, don't mind if I stand out in a crowd. Just wanna live outloud, well I know there's got to be a few hundred million more like me, just tryin' to keep it free!” Big and Rich are keeping us free from the monotony of depressing country-style tunes. Save yourself from sadness and listen to Big and Rich. Be sure to check out their upcoming tour schedule, not just to the Southern states but many different spots around the nation by going to http://www.stubhub.com/big-and-rich-tickets.