The last time Neil McCoy performed on stage in Albert Lea, it rained.

It rained so hard the first of two scheduled shows was canceled, and McCoy and his band played one longer concert after the skies cleared.

McCoy returned to town Saturday night, eight years later, and again it rained. This time, though, the program proceeded as planned, and that’s probably a good thing. The grandstand &045; which holds an estimated 5,000 people &045; was packed for both shows as McCoy made a triumphant return to the Freeborn County Fair.

Twice named Entertainer of the Year by TNN/Music City News, McCoy is known as much for his impromptu stage act as he is for his music. That much was clear early on when, during one of several excursions into the audience, McCoy acted startled when he walked by an Albert Lea police officer. McCoy stopped singing and, without missing a beat, the band resumed with &uot;Bad Boys,&uot; the theme from the television show &uot;Cops.&uot;

Dressed in tight-fitting blue jeans (yes, with a fancy buckle), black boots, plaid shirt and white hat for the first show, McCoy was backed by a seven-member band that included five guitarists, a keyboard player and a drummer.

They were joined on stage for three songs by Leslie Satcher, an up-and-coming singer/songwriter who wrote &uot;Elvis In The Airport,&uot; which is on McCoy’s latest album.

Some of McCoy’s best known songs weren’t performed in the first show, but it did include the No. 1 singles, &uot;They’re Playing Our Song,&uot; &uot;No Doubt About It,&uot; and &uot;Wink,&uot; and the top five singles &uot;The City Put The Country Back In Me,&uot; &uot;Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye,&uot; and &uot;Shake.&uot;

McCoy shook hands with dozens of fans during his performance. Three of them brought signs, one with &uot;Happy,&uot; one with &uot;Birthday,&uot; and one with &uot;Neil.&uot; McCoy was more than happy to point out they were displayed in the wrong order, after which the fans sang &uot;Happy Birthday&uot; to McCoy.

In McCoy’s longest exchange with the audience, he talked about going on four USO tours the last 18 months and, despite the fact he hasn’t had a hit record in four or five years, how the fans keep showing up for his concerts.

Daniell Eaton, 22, of Shakopee, is one of those fans, and not just because her dad, Robert, designs the microphones for McCoy.

&uot;Honestly, I couldn’t stand country music until I heard him,&uot; said Eaton, who was attending her &uot;fifth or sixth&uot; McCoy concert. &uot;The first time I heard him, I said, ‘What’s that?’ I love his music. It’s awesome.&uot;

Eaton’s mom, Valerie, had another idea why her daughter is such a big Neil McCoy fan: &uot;She likes watching him shake his butt.&uot;

(Contact Jim Lutgens at sports @albertleatribune.com or 379-3437.)