Cowboy comfortable playing for backyard in Batavia

Justin Moore sang Thursday night about the pleasures of living in a small town, like Poyen, Ark. (population 272), where he grew up.

But he found out that a suburb of Chicago can be a friendly place too.

Moore, whose single "Small Town USA" is No. 18 on Billboard's Hot Country list, played to about 30 people in the backyard of US99 radio show host "Ramblin'" Ray Stevens' Batavia home.

An invitation to the intimate performance was an incentive for people to donate to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital during the annual nationwide Radiothon, in which US99 participates, back in December. People who signed up, for $360, as a Partner in Hope of the hospital were entered into a drawing to attend the show.

Performing seated on folding chairs under a tent, with kids jumping on a trampoline nearby, didn't faze Moore and bandmate Roger Coleman at all.

"I'll play anything, anywhere, anytime. I'm just happy people want to see me," said the 25-year-old Moore.

Wearing a cowboy hat and boots, he joked between songs. Before getting serious to sing a song he wrote about one of his grandfathers, he noted "If you've seen my videos on YouTube, you know I'm pretty much an idiot."

The crowd loved it when he sang his tune about defending yourself against self-important prigs who think they can "take my girl." Although not played on radio, the song has sold more than 60,000 downloads on iTunes.com.

Moore will be on Stevens' radio show Friday morning around 8:30 a.m. Then it's on to Louisville for a show Friday night.