BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Early in his show on Musikfest's main stage on Sunday, country music star Darius Rucker told the audience he had just found out he has headlined the festival more than any other artist.
That's true: Sunday's show was the fourth time Rucker headlined the massive music festival as a solo act, and he headlined twice more with his band Hootie and the Blowfish.
"That's pretty cool," Rucker told the nearly sold-out crowd in the 6,500-capacity Steel Stage.
But what that also means is that Musikfest remembers how well Rucker performed in those earlier shows, including a 2015 show this reviewer picked as Musikfest's best that year.
Rucker didn't measure up to that Sunday, as his voice frequently seemed restrained and ragged through a 21-song, 84-minute set.
It was concerning that Rucker just three weeks ago stopped an Atlantic City show after just three songs, telling the audience he could no longer sing.
But while Rucker's voice seemed diminished, his setlist drew on his strong catalog — and his talented six-man band helped make the show a success.
It also helped that he was playing to a sympathetic crowd that was with him all the way.
Pushing throughout performance
Rucker opened the show with "Forever Road," the first song on his 2008 first country album "Learn to Live," and followed it with his 2017 platinum No. 1 hit "For the First Time."
His voice was restrained on the opening song and sounded slightly hoarse on the latter — he had the audience sing the chorus alone, and they gladly did.
But the fact that he brought out such a hit so early foreshadowed the set, which included 10 of his solo platinum hits and three Top 10 hits from Hootie and The Blowfish.
And the next song, the 2010 No. 1 hit "This," with its sharp mandolin, showed the strength of his band.
Rucker growled in some places on "Sunday Morning" and his voice noticeably broke and faltered on the very good 2008 No. 1 hit "It Won't Be Like This for Long," but it's such a good song.
Likewise, he was rasping on the 1995 Hootie hit "Only Wanna Be With You," but the crowd cheered as soon as the band played the opening lines.
And when he asked them to clap along, saying "Come on Bethlehem!" they enthusiastically did.
He brought out supporting act Austin Williams to sing a fun and successful duet on Hank Williams Jr.'s "Family Tradition," and gave a good rendition of his 2008 platinum hit "Don't Think I Don't Think About It."
Despite any difficulties, Rucker clearly pushed his performance.
Finding his groove
But it seemed that Rucker's raspiness rose with his enthusiasm.
That was true on the 2016 No. 1 platinum hit "If I Told You," and on a cover of The Doobie Brothers' "Takin' It to the Streets" that he croaked out.
He offered "Southern State of Mind" in a softer presentation, and his voice was better, and started the Hootie hit "Let Her Cry" alone on guitar before the full band kicked in and the crowd sang along.
But he faltered badly on the Hootie hit "Hold My Hand," and as the audience sang loudly along, he told them, "Sing it!" and they did.
Certainly others have continued their careers long after their voices have diminished, and Rucker's voice has always had a bit of a rasp that distinguished it.
So it still sounded like Rucker, even if lacking some of the tone. And again, many of the songs are just so good, even in a reduced presentation.
Rucker wound down his main set with his 2010 No. 1 platinum hit "Come Back Song," and its loose and fun approach made it one of the night's best.
That also was the key to the success of the set-closing "Alright," his triple-platinum hit from 2009.
Rucker opened his encore with a cover of Blackstreet's R&B groove "No Diggity," and he sang it in a lower register — and with a big smile. It, too, is a good song, and Rucker nailed it.
And he closed the night with a six-minute version of his biggest hit, 2013's 11-times-platinum "Wagon Wheel," fun and ragged — perfect for the song.
After all, that song's author is Bob Dylan. And you know what people say about his voice.
