ICON’s 25th anniversary brings Brooks & Dunn
When country sensation Brooks & Dunn came to the Spectrum Thursday it was clear the event was something to celebrate. After all, it’s not every day a big-name act comes to Logan.
The duo came to town as part of ICON Heath and Fitness’ 25th anniversary. Free tickets were distributed to employees and their families, as well as the community.
The Associated Students of Utah State University were given 500 tickets to pass out as they pleased.
Athletics Vice President Tyler Olsen headed to Tuesday’s volleyball match against Utah Valley State College to hand out his set of tickets.
“I gave them to people wearing blue,” he said. “Getting people to wear blue is one of my biggest campaign things I am trying to do.”
He said he handed out about 20 tickets.
Folding chairs on the floor gave some fans an up-close view of the concert, but changed when fans began to rush the floor to get next to the stage.
There was a blue star sticker on the back of passes of those who were allowed on the floor, but many people moved passed security to make their way to the front.
Katie Diaz, a junior majoring in deaf education, said she got her ticket for Brooks & Dunn through a friend on ASUSU.
“I loved [the show],” Diaz said. “I thought it was so much fun and I couldn’t have asked for a better concert.”
Diaz ended up on the floor during the concert, she said.
She was surprised when she first heard the duo was coming to town because she couldn’t understand why they would play in Logan.
Jami Voorhees, a senior majoring in exercise science, said she got her tickets through the student activities office. She didn’t go to the concert, though, because she gave her tickets to a girl in one of her classes who is a big fan.
Voorhees said even though ASUSU Activities Vice President Tara Bradshaw didn’t bring Brooks & Dunn to the Spectrum, it was still a big deal for Utah State University.
She said every year during elections people campaign that they are going to bring names in to perform.
The Indigo Girls, Tone-Loc and Tim Reynolds have all been brought to Logan in the last few years.
The concert started off with a bang with a mini-fireworks display for about five minutes before Brooks & Dunn came out on stage.
Despite the crowd of more than 8,000, the country duo made the concert a personal experience.
Kix Brooks borrowed one fan’s cell phone to make a call and then told the person on the other end they would get to listen to the concert via telephone. The fan got their phone back after the concert.
Ronnie Dunn signed numerous cowboy hats and threw out sticks he used to play an instrument.
Prior to the concert, former NFL and BYU quarterback and ICON spokesman Steve Young addressed the crowd and congratulated the company on its successes.
Individuals who have been with ICON for more than five years were asked to stand up and were recognized by the crowd.
Brooks & Dunn, whose hit record “Red Dirt Road” is on stands now, will perform on the “Today Show” Nov. 22. They were supposed to be on the show in August as part of the Summer Concert Series, but had to reschedule because of the power outage that struck New York City.
-juag@cc.usu.edu