Kid Rock [ tickets ], the self-proclaimed "Pimp of the Nation," kept it simple for the kick-off of his Rock 'n' Roll Pain Train 2004 Tour on Thursday (1/22), keeping the pyro, female dancers and fur coats to a minimum.

Rope lighting outlined the stage of Wendler Arena, while a curtain--adorned with a replica of the American Eagle tattoo on Rock's back--provided a backdrop. Rock even eschewed his usual getup of black hat, white tank top and black pants for a Southern-rock flavored, brown, suede-fringed jacket, black hat, gray tank top and jeans.

The sold-out crowd of 7,600 fully embraced Rock's metamorphosis. They sang along to newer songs such as "Jackson, Mississippi," and "Hillbilly Stomp," from his latest album, and banged on seats to "I Am the Bullgod" and "Somebody's Gotta Feel This."

The concert showcased Rock's band, Twisted Brown Trucker, as a much more cohesive unit, and Detroit Red Wings' National Anthem singer Karen Newman stepped forward from background vocal duties to provide Sheryl Crow's parts on "Picture."

Rock seemed at ease, often clowning around with his bandmates. When Kenny Olson broke into his guitar solo during "You Never Met a Motherf----- Quite Like Me," Rock removed his hat and saluted the guitarist in a "we're not worthy" fashion.

He took a more serious tone during a tribute to his late sidekick Joe C., removing his hat and kneeling.

The concert wasn't without the usual opening-night glitches. In preparation for an acoustic set, Rock tackled problems with his in-ear monitor. In an effort to explain the situation to the audience, he stressed the importance of being able to hear his own vocals. "Of course, you could go see Britney Spears and see the whole thing on tape."

The Romeo, MI, native plowed through his two-and-a-half hour show with few words to the audience, allowing the music to do the talking for him. He frequently paid homage to his influences, interjecting "Freebird" in "You Never Met a Motherf----- Quite Like Me," the "Dukes of Hazzard" theme into "Cowboy" and "We Will Rock You" into "Hillbilly Stomp."

He teased the audience with a few measures of Bob Seger's "Night Moves," much to the delight of the working-class audience.

"Damn, that's a good one," he said of the song. "But I wrote a couple good ones, too," he added with a laugh.