Ed. note: While the BitTerrorists were downloading the leaks of Graduation and Curtis yesterday, the other contender in the battle for mid-September album-chart supremacy was throwing a sorta-beach party, complete with sandless “sand pit,” in New York City. We sent writer Tobey Grumet Segal to Kenny Chesney’s show at Madison Square Garden, and she got to know the Kenny faithful.

Kenny Chesney descended on New York City last night, filling Madison Square Garden to the brim with cowboy hats, and I got up close to watch the people’s country star–although the “sand pit” I was allegedly standing in had no sand. (I guess they figured New Yorkers wouldn’t notice.) The timing of last night’s show couldn’t have been better: The new albums by Kanye West and 50 Cent both leaked, so I got to see how their No. 1 competition for the No. 1 slot on the Sept. 11 charts was rallying his fanbase. The crowd was full of folks with t-shirts bearing slogans like “Land of the Free, Home of the Brave,” as well as lots of waving flags–which professed alliegiance to both the U.S.A. and Kenny himself. For his part, he was all about his tight little jeans–I mean, like, lay-on-the-bed-to-zip-up tight. Full of energy and ripping through “Young” and “Live Those Songs” with gusto (and a horn section behind him), he slapped a lot of hands with the crowd. Though he’s no Jimmy Buffett (yet), his country-lite tunes seem to have captured the hearts of the tri-state area’s Nascar-fan demographic.

To give the show a bit of a New York edge, the end saw Yankees Roger Clemens, Johnny Damon, and Andy Philips prancing around a bit awkwardly and autographing a guitar; Kenny then very sweetly handed it to a young boy in the audience, a preface to the poor kid being pulled on stage. (I thought he might actually wet his pants–but whatever, that guitar should sell well on eBay.) Anyone up for a cheeseburger in paradise? Wait, wrong guy …