Legendary Travis is still hot

RANDY TRAVIS, RAY SCOTT, Kingsbury Hall, University of Utah, Tuesday.

Opening act Ray Scott summed up the problem with modern country music when he said, "Can you believe the stuff that is being passed off as country music these days?"

Scott made the remark after he had finished singing his hit single, "My Kind of Music," the title cut of his soon-to-be-released debut album.

The singer's style is in the same vein as traditional modern country — much like that of his hero, Randy Travis. So it must have been something for him to open for Travis Tuesday night.

And the young man did the job. Scott got the audience revved and ready for the legendary headliner.

Once Travis stepped onstage, during "Deeper Than the Holler," the audience was screaming its welcome. And being an elder statesman of traditional country, Travis showed those youngsters a thing or two.

The crooner wasted no time getting into the songs. He and his band were eager to play "Look Heart, No Hands," "Better Class of Loser," "On the Other Hand" and "Too Gone Too Long" for his adoring audience.

Though Travis has been in the business for more than 20 years, his baritone-to-bass vocals are still clean as ever.

"I Told You So" and "Hard Rock Bottom of Your Heart" brought out the sentimental side of Travis. Those two songs prepared the fans for a new song, "Angels." "I liked the song's lyrics because it reminded me of my mother," said Travis before launching into the spoken first verse.

Audience members hung on the spiritual metaphors and were easily led into the gospelesque "Raise Him Up." With a smile and nod of gratitude, Travis and his band played "Pray for the Fish," a song written by Scott.

"I liked this song because it was different," said Travis about the tune.

"It's a Matter of Time," a loyal take on Roger Miller's "King of the Road," and then "Horse Called Music," had the audience singing and snapping along.

Travis had the audience in the palm of his hand by the time he dipped into his trademark tunes — "He Walked on Water," "Three Wooden Crosses," "Forever and Ever Amen" and "Digging Up Bones."

---

E-mail: scott@desnews.com