Keith stirs crowd with patriotism, hits

TOBY KEITH, Friday, USANA Amphitheatre.

As Toby Keith performed his final song of the night for the sold-out crowd at USANA Amphitheatre, lights from the simple stage bathed the crazed crowd up front in a red, white and blue glow.

The country superstar played a guitar decorated with an American flag as he closed Friday night's show with one of his most famous, or at least controversial, singles, "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)."

And then, at the end of the pro-U.S. song, written by Keith in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the straight-talking Keith drove the crowd crazy with a simple statement.

"Don't ever apologize for being patriotic," he said. The remark was one of few from Keith, who focused instead on his music and showed once again that although he may be a man of few words onstage, those he chooses to say are ones that he really means.

Opening the show with "Big Dog Daddy," from his latest album of the same name, Keith flowed through a steady stream of hits (including "Honky Tonk U," "What Happens in Mexico," "I'm Just Talkin' About Tonight," and "Whiskey Girl") before even greeting the crowd.

After joining longtime back-up singer Mica Roberts for a quick duet, Keith left the stage briefly to give Roberts, who Keith has recently signed on his own record label, Show Dog Nashville, and his Easy Money band a chance to shine on their own.

Keith, wearing a black sleeveless shirt, distressed blue jeans and a straw cowboy hat, returned to slow the night down briefly with "Love Me If You Can," one of the few singles from his latest record that Keith didn't write himself, and "You Shouldn't Kiss Me Like This," an early ballad.

With a giant Ford truck grill as his backdrop (Keith is sponsored by Ford and stars in their commercials,) the Oklahoma native worked through his repertoire of high-energy hits, including his first single, "Should've Been a Cowboy," and "Whiskey for My Men (Beer for My Horses)," "How Do You Like Me Now," and "A Little Less Talk and A Lot More Action."

Keith performs his music, nearly all of which he has written, with the same direct approach he exhibits offstage. He doesn't run wildly around the stage, shaking his hips and playing to the crowd a la Kenny Chesney, nor does he wade into the crowd to shake hands and kiss babies like Tim McGraw and Faith Hill.

With few special effects, save for a large video screen and a few pyrotechnics, Keith simply sings his songs, occasionally throwing in a dance move or acknowledging a sign-holding fan in the crowd. As he does in every show, Keith stopped briefly Friday night to thank firefighters and law enforcement personnel, as well as the "boys and girls proud enough to wear my country's uniform."

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E-mail: awelling@desnews.com