Weekend Warmup for June 4-6, 2010
John Hammond
Here is a list of events happening around the state this weekend (June 4-6). For more options, go to www.wimgo.com:
- Listen to Oklahoma singer-songwriter K.C. Clifford at 8 tonight, Grammy-nominated bluesman John Hammond at 9 p.m. Saturday and Philadelphia roots rockers Hoots & Hellmouth at 9 p.m Sunday at the Blue Door, 2805 N McKinley. Information: 524-0738 or www.bluedoorokc.com.
- YUKON — Taste crawfish and other Cajun treats, participate in children’s activities and hear live music at the Taste of Louisiana Crawfish & Living History Festival from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday at Kirkpatrick Family Farm, 1001 S Garth Brooks Blvd. Information: 350-8937.
- Hear Jacob Abello and Broncho at 9 tonight at Electro Lounge, 5929 N May Ave. Information: 843-8777.
Snoop Dogg (Associated Press file photo)
- THACKERVILLE – Listen to rapper Snoop Dogg with Mike Epps at 9 tonight or Texas music star Jerry Jeff Walker with Joe Ely at 8 p.m. Saturday WinStar World Casino. Information: www.winstarworldcasino.com.
- Take in live entertainment, wine tastings and an array of Italian delicacies at the sixth annual Italian Festival from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday at the Elks Lodge, 4711 N Tulsa. Information: 840-8409 or www.italiansofcentraloklahoma.com.
- Watch Ghostlight Theatre Club’s production of the musical [title of show] at 8 p.m. today and Saturday at the theater, 3110 N Walker. Information: 286-9412 or www.ghostlightokc.com.
Jason Boland & the Stragglers
- SALLISAW – Take in a carnival, car show, arts and crafts fair, live music and more at the Diamond Daze Festival today and Saturday at Sallisaw High School, 2301 W Ruth. Jason Boland & the Stragglers will play at 7 tonight; Keith Anderson will perform at 7 p.m. Saturday. Information: www.sallisawchamber.com.
- Celebrate independent art, literature and fandom at SoonerCon 2010 today-Sunday at the Biltmore Hotel, 401 S Meridian. To read Matt Price’s column on the event, click here. Information: www.soonercon.com.
- NORMAN – Hear The Boom Bang, Copperheads and Brother Gruesome at 8 tonight at The Deli, 309 White Street. Information: http://thedeli.us/blog.
- Take in new artwork, refreshments, wine tastings and more at the monthly Paseo Gallery Walk from 6 to 10 tonight and noon to 5 p.m. Saturday in the Paseo Arts District. Information: www.thepaseo.com.
Straight Ahead
- Celebrate the legacy of guitar great Charlie Christian today-Sunday at the 25th Annual Charlie Christian International Music Festival at Regatta Park, SE 5 and Lincoln. Festivities include a battle of the bands featuring Grady Nichols vs. Straight Ahead at 7 tonight and live music from 3 to 11 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. To read my feature on Saturday headliner Najee, click here. Information: 524-3800 or www.charliechristianfestival.com.
- See the Oklahoma City Theatre Company’s production of “Top Girls” at 8 tonight and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at the Civic Center’s CitySpace Theatre, 201 N Walker. Information: www.okctheatrecompany.org.
- Listen to Candlelight UFOs and Of the Tower at 8 p.m. Saturday at 66 Bowl, 3810 NW 39. Catch a show at the Route 66 landmark while you still can, since it is destined to become a Spices of India grocery store. Click here to read Robert Medley’s story about the sale of the historic bowling alley. Information: www.66bowl.com.
Chelsea Yeager plays Annie and Jeff Perkins as Daddy Warbucks in Jewel Box Theatre’s summer musical production of ” Annie.” (Photo by Jim Beckel/The Oklahoman)
-Watch Jewel Box Theatre’s production of “Annie” at 8:30 tonight and Saturday at the Jewel Box’s outdoor amphitheatre, 3700 N Walker. Information: www.jewelboxtheatre.org.
- TULSA – See the new exhibit “To Live Forever: Egyptian Treasures from the Brooklyn Museum,” opening Sunday at the Philbrook Museum of Art, 727 S Rockford Road. Information: www.philbrook.org.
- NORMAN – Hear neo-acoustic quintet Elephant Revival at 7:30 p.m. Sunday at Lions Park, 405 S Flood. The free show is part of the Summer Breeze Concert Series. Information: www.thepas.org.
-BAM
Keith Anderson, Sandi Patty to play Grand Ole Opry this weekend
Sandi Patty
Keith Anderson
The Grand Ole Opry, presented by Humana, will return to the Grand Ole Opry House after a three-month run at the historic Ryman Auditorium on Friday. Two Oklahoma performers are on the Opry lineup for this weekend.
Scheduled to appear this weekend are Opry members Josh Turner and Bill Anderson as well as special guests Miami, OK, native Keith Anderson, Deer Creek area resident Sandi Patty, The Oak Ridge Boys, Chris Young and more.
In celebration of the Opry’s first night back at the Opry House, the Opry and Turner are launching the first sweepstakes on MyOpry, www.opry.com’s video and photo-sharing site. Inspired by Turner’s current hit single “Why Don’t We Just Dance” from his album “Haywire,” due in stores Tuesday, fans can upload videos of themselves dancing to the single to MyOpry.com for a chance to meet Turner at the Opry later this year.
Fans who upload videos will be entered in the contest, and their dance moves will be posted online. Later this spring, fans will be able to vote for their favorite dancer from among six finalists, and one winner will receive a trip to Nashville, including accommodations at Gaylord Opryland Resort, tickets to the Opry, the chance to meet Turner, and more.
Among the artists scheduled to make Opry appearances later in February are Tishomingo residents Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton, Dierks Bentley, Luke Bryan, Jewel, Craig Morgan, Ricky Skaggs, Marty Stuart, Mel Tillis and Steve Wariner.
Opry performances take place very weekend of the year and on Tuesdays beginning March 2. To plan an Opry visit, call (800) SEE-OPRY or go to www.opry.com.
-BAM
Weekend Warmup for Dec. 31, 2009-Jan. 3, 2010: Special New Year’s Eve edition
Flaming Lips frontman Wayne Coyne performs at last year’s New Year’s Eve Freakout. (Photo by John Clanton/The Oklahoman Archives)
Happy New Year! It’s New Year’s Eve, and there are many festivities planned around the state for today and throughout the weekend. Here is the special New Year’s 2009-10 edition of the Weekend Warmup (for Dec. 31, 2009-Jan. 3, 2010). For more events, go to www.wimgo.com:
- Celebrate the start of 2010 with psychedelic music, confetti cannons and a giant balloon drop at The Flaming Lips New Year’s Eve #3, featuring Stardeath and White Dwarfs, at 8:30 tonight at the Cox Convention Center in downtown. After the midnight countdown, the Lips and Stardeath will return to the stage to perform Pink Floyd’s famed album “The Dark Side of the Moon.” Click here to read Gene Triplett’s story on the event. Information: www.coxconventioncenter.com.
- NORMAN — Listen to the legendary B.B. King at 8 p.m. Friday at Riverwind Casino, 1544 W State Highway 9. Information: 322-6464 or www.riverwind.com.
- MIAMI – Mark the end of the year with local country singer Keith Anderson, along with Cowboy Troy, Della Rose and Boogie Fever dance band, at Buffalo Run Casino’s New Year’s Eve Celebration at 7 tonight. Information: www.buffalorun.com.
- Take in the children’s area, Tornado Alley Rollergirls bout and performances by The Non, The Uglysuit, PowerHouz and more at Opening Night 2010 from 7 to midnight tonight at 10 venues in downtown Oklahoma City. Click here to read George Lang’s story on the event. Information: www.artscouncilokc.com.
- Hear Cody Canada, Mike McClure, Stoney LaRue, Jason Boland and more at the sixth annual Hangover Ball at 6 p.m. Friday at the Wormy Dog Saloon, 311 E Sheridan. Information: 601-6276 or www.wormydog.com.
- STILLWATER – Party into 2010 with Jason Boland & the Stragglers at 8 tonight at Tumbleweed Dance Hall, Lakeview and Country Club roads. Information: www.tumbleweedconcerts.com.
“Untitled (landscape)” by Joe Andoe
- See the works of Oklahoma-connected artists Shelley Horton-Tripe, Joe Andoe and Marko Krakohvil from 1 to 10 p.m. Friday during the seventh annual New Year’s Day Opening at JRB Art at the Elms, 2810 N Walker.
- View new exhibits opening at other galleries in the Paseo Arts District from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday and noon to 5 p.m. Saturday during the monthly Paseo Gallery Walk. Information: 525-2688 or www.thepaseo.com.
- Watch American Indian dancing at the Oklahoma City Pow-Wow Club’s Annual New Year’s Dance at 2 p.m. Saturday in the Centennial Building at State Fair Park. Information: 919-1572 or www.okstatefairpark.com.
Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey
- TULSA – Spend New Year’s Eve listening to Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey and The Panda Resistance at 8 tonight at The Eclipse, 1336 E Sixth Street. Information: www.myspace.com/eclipsetulsa.
- Take advantage of the last weekend for Downtown in December, which includes the Devon Ice Rink, Chesapeake Snow Tubing at the Brick and the new Automobile Alley Lights on Broadway. The festivities end Sunday. Information: www.downtownindecember.com.
- THACKERVILLE – Hear the Zac Brown Band at 8 p.m. Saturday at WinStar World Casino. (I’ll have an interview with Zac Brown Band fiddler Jimmy De Martini here Friday.) Or catch Earth, Wind & Fire in concert at 9 p.m. Friday at WinStar. Information: (800) 622-6317 or www.winstarworldcasino.com.
Hosty Duo (The Oklahoman Archives photo)
- NORMAN – Celebrate the New Year with the Hosty Duo at 10 tonight at The Deli, 309 White Street. Information: www.thedeli.us.
- Bring in the New Year with Little League Hero, Oida and Green Corn Revival at 8 tonight at 51st Street Speakeasy, 1114 NW 51 Street. Information: www.myspace.com/51speakeasy
- Watch the Oklahoma City Thunder take on the Utah Jazz in a New Year’s Eve game at 7 tonight at the Ford Center, 100 W Reno. Information: www.thunder.nba.com.
Aelbert Cuyp, “Herdsman with Cows”
- See the special exhibit “The Dutch Italianates: 17th-century Masterpieces from Dulwich Picture Gallery, London” Saturday or Sunday before it closes at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive. The final day for the exhibit is Sunday. Information: www.okcmoa.com.
- Ring in the New Year with special shows featuring comic Rahn Ramey at 7:30 and 10 tonight at the Looney Bin Comedy Club, 8503 N Rockwell Ave. Information: www.loonybincomedy.com/ok.
- TULSA – Catch the sixth (and possibly final) Copy Copy Holiday Extravaganza, also featuring Algebra, Popular Culture and Lizard Police, at 6 p.m. Friday at The Marquee, 222 N Main. Information: www.myspace.com/themarqueetulsa.
- BAM
Keith Anderson, record label part ways
Oklahoma singer-songwriter Keith Anderson and his record label, Columbia Nashville, have parted ways, CMT.com is reporting.
Anderson, who was born and raised in Miami, released his second album, “C’Mon,” in 2008 and reached No. 2 on Billboard’s country charts with the ballad “I Still Miss You.”
His 2005 album, “Three Chord Country and American Rock & Roll,” which was released on Arista Nashville, was certified gold. His other singles include “Pickin’ Wildflowers,” “XXL,” “Every Time I Hear Your Name,” “Sunday Morning in America,” She Could’ve Been Mine.” His single “Podunk” included a video filmed in his hometown.
He also penned Big & Rich’s hit ”Lost in This Moment” and the Grammy-nominated George Jones/Garth Brooks duet, “Beer Run.”
It’s been a tough year for Anderson, who underwent vocal cord surgery in January 2009. Hopefully, his fortunes will get brighter soon.
-BAM
Rascal Flatts’ Joe Don Rooney discusses Keith Anderson, Steve Gaines and other famed Ottawa County folks
Joe Don Rooney (Associated Press photo)
Rascal Flatts Week continues here at BAM’s Blog, as the band, including guitarist Joe Don Rooney of Picher, will play a show Friday at the Buffalo Run Casino in Miami, OK. That venue is just three miles from Picher.
Rooney did a special conference call with Oklahoma and Missouri media last week to talk about the homecoming show, his family and his music. I’ll have much more from the interview and other information about the band in the coming days.
Among the topics of conversation last week with Rooney: Other famous folks from Ottawa County.
Keith Anderson
He grew up about 10 miles from another country music artist, Keith Anderson, who was raised in Miami. Rooney laughingly said he and the “I Still Miss You” singer-songwriter still live about 10 miles apart, only now in Nashville, Tenn.
“Hard work and perseverance sometimes really pays off in big ways, and Keith’s a great guy, what a sweetheart of a guy. I’ve known him for a lot of years obviously, and so proud for him, too, because he has worked very hard. You know, he lived down in Texas for many years and got to be friends with a lot of people in radio before he was even an artist in Nashville. And he worked his tail off and I’m so proud for him and his success.
“Every now and then, we get to run into each other and see each other and it’s great to be able to talk about all of this and to just catch up with him. Because he’s somebody who can absolutely relate to where I come from and where I’ve been, and I can do the same for him. It’s good to have that ’cause there’s … not too many people in Nashville … who can relate to me like that and vice versa. So, I’m really proud for him, he’s going to do well for a lot of years, no doubt about it.”
Steve Gaines solo album “One in the Sun”
One of Rooney’s musical influences as he took up the guitar as a teen was the late Steve Gaines, the Lynyrd Skynyrd axe man who grew up in Miami. Gaines and his sister Cassie, a backup singer for the band, died in the 1977 plane crash that also killed the band’s singer-songwriter Ronnie Van Zant.
“I had a hero that I never got to meet, obviously, but I learned so much about him named Steve Gaines. He and his sister Cassie grew up in Miami. And I started getting into Skynyrd obviously at a young age, and I had a friend who knew Steve pretty well and gave me a bunch of these - it was back when there were cassette tapes still - gave me a bunch of these cassette tapes of these recordings – some of you probably don’t remember that, cassette tapes (laughs) – … of his old band, Crawdad, that a lot of people don’t know about,” Rooney said.
“And man, I used to listen to these old club gig recordings, and man, I just remember his playability was so amazing. He could really stretch out and his singing was great, too, I mean, a lot of people don’t realize he was a fantastic singer. And I was real inspired by him at a really young age, and I still have those copies of those tapes and stuff. And now since then, my friend, I’ve run into several times the last 10 years, he’s given me all these CDs now, so I have it on CD, which is even better.”
Steve Owens (Photo by Steve Sisney/The Oklahoman Archives)
Rooney continued, “But yeah, people like that that come from that area are just fantastic. … There’s so many people that have come from that area that have done so well. Like (University of Oklahoma Heisman Trophy winner) Steve Owens, jeez almighty. Wonderful talent. I’m proud to be an Okie, no doubt about it, and proud to be from that area.”
-BAM
Reba McEntire, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton and more to sign autographs at CMA Music Fest
Reba McEntire (Associated Press photo)
NASHVILLE – The 2009 CMA Music Festival, recently named “the country’s premiere Country Music festival” by the New York Times, is planning a full range of experiences for fans, with more than 100 hours of live music, celebrity events, family activities, and more. The event, now in its 38th year, will take place over four days – June 11-14 in downtown Nashville.
CMA Music Festival is a celebration of the relationship between the fans and the artists, and this connection is vividly demonstrated at the Greased Lightning Fan Fair Hall. Inside the Nashville Convention Center, the Greased Lightning Fan Fair Hall gives four-day attendees the exclusive opportunity to meet some of their favorite entertainment personalities, discover new rising artists, and obtain an autograph and photo, according to a news release.
“The heart of CMA Music Festival has always been the interaction between the artists and the fans, and the best place to witness that special relationship is in the Greased Lightning Fan Fair Hall,” said Tammy Genovese, CMA Chief Executive Officer, in the release.
For the first time in 13 years, six-time CMA Award winner Reba McEntire, an Oklahoma native, will be among the artists meeting their fans and signing autographs in the Greased Lightning Fan Fair Hall.
Taylor Swift, 2007 CMA Horizon Award winner, will be signing in the Big Machine Records booth all day (10 a.m. to 3 p.m.) on June 14. Swift is a Fan Fair Hall favorite. Last year, she signed more than 900 autographs in eight straight hours with no break – the longest consecutive signing since Oklahoman Garth Brooks’ legendary 23-hour signing in 1996.
Other Oklahoma stars who will meet with fans in the Greased Lightning Fan Fair Hall include Carrie Undewood, Blake Shelton, Keith Anderson and Point of Grace.
Julianne Hough, Montgomery Gentry, LeAnn Rimes, Gretchen Wilson, and Wynonna will also meet their fans in the Greased Lightning Fan Fair Hall. Other artists scheduled to be in booths include: Frankie Ballard, Luke Bryan, Sarah Buxton, Caitlin & Will, Jason Michael Carroll, Eric Church, Brad Cotter, Bucky Covington, Whitney Duncan, Gloriana, Jessica Harp, Randy Houser, Jack Ingram, Joey + Rory, Jason Jones, Jypsi, Kate and Kacey, Little Big Town, The Lost Trailers, Charlie Louvin, Love & Theft, Neal McCoy, Richie McDonald, Justin Moore, Craig Morgan, Lorrie Morgan, David Nail, Heidi Newfield, James Otto, Jake Owen, Michael Peterson, Julie Roberts, Ashton Shepherd, Sunny Sweeney, Aaron Tippin, Trent Tomlinson, Jimmy Wayne, Emily West, Chuck Wicks, Holly Williams, Mark Wills, Darryl Worley, Chris Young, and many more.
Dates and times for the signings are still being scheduled, so fans should check the artists’ Web sites for details. The most current information will also be posted in the individual booths onsite at CMA Music Festival. Artists and schedules are subject to change.
Check for ticket information and other tidbits after the break.
A dozen great Oklahoma country songs
Since I’ve dubbed it Oklahoma Country Music Day here at BAM’s Blog, I’ve compiled a list of an even dozen of my favorite country songs that reference my fantastic home state. With Oklahoma’s strong country music tradition, it’s no surprise that this list is just a small sampling, listed in no particular order and dictated entirely by my mood.
1. “You’re the Reason God Made Oklahoma,” David Frizzell and Shelly West. Current Oklahoma country music stars Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert, sweethearts who live on neighboring Tishomingo farms, do a really great version of this heartfelt ballad, as you can see from this YouTube video of CMT’s 100 Greatest Duets countdown.
2. “Outlaw Band,” Jason Boland and the Stragglers. Boland and Co. close their latest album ”Comal County Blue” with this song penned by the late Bob Childers, Randy Crouch and Layle Stagner.
3. “Boys from Oklahoma,” Cross Canadian Ragweed.
4. “Okie from Muskogee,” Merle Haggard. Check out this YouTube video of a Merle and Tammy Wynette duet to this classic country song, which you already knew was going on this list. (Yes, the placement of No. 3 and 4 back to back is deliberate. Yes, I have a cheeky sense of irony.)
5. “Honky Tonk U,” Toby Keith. He outlines how he broke into the music biz, starting with summers at his grandmother’s night club on the Oklahoma-Arkansas line.
6. “Oklahoma Swing,” Vince Gill and Reba McEntire opened the Oklahoma Centennial Spectacular with this terrific two-stepper, as you can see in this YouTube video.
7. “Oklahoma-Texas Line,” Rascal Flatts.
8. “Does the Wind Still Blow in Oklahoma,” Reba McEntire and Ronnie Dunn.
9. “In Oklahoma,” Cross Canadian Ragweed. Cody Canada co-wrote this musical history lesson with Stoney LaRue.
10. “Oklahoma Breakdown,” Hosty Duo. LaRue covered this smoking song on his album “Live at Billy Bob’s Texas,” and you can see his rendition (or at least part of it) in this YouTube video.
11. “I Ain’t in Checotah Anymore,” Carrie Underwood. I’m rounding out this list with a pair of songs by fellow small-town Oklahoma kids paying homage to their hometowns.
12. “Podunk,” Keith Anderson. Check out Miami, OK, in this video, from YouTube.
-BAM
Weekend Warmup
Oklahoma City Ballet (The Oklahoman Archive photo)
Arts
- American Indian Mural Painting: The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63, is opening Saturday a new exhibit of “American Indian Mural Painting in Oklahoma and the Southwest.” http://www.nationalcowboymuseum.org/.
- Oklahoma City Ballet: See the first production of the newly named Oklahoma City Ballet, “Stars of American Ballet,” at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Civic Center, 201 N Walker. Information: 848-8637 or http://www.balletoklahoma.com/.
- Magic Lantern Celebration on Paseo: Celebrate Halloween in artistic fashion from 2:30 to 6:30 p.m. Sunday in the Paseo Arts District. Information: www.thepaseo.com.
Edgar Cruz (The Oklahoman Archive photo)
Family
- Harvest Festival featuring Edgar Cruz: My Small Wonders Child Development Center, 733 Village Parkway in Edmond, will have its first Harvest Festival and Fundraiser 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. It is benefiting Educare, a charity that helps at-risk children in OKC. It will include a costume contest, hayride and concert featuring guitarist Edgar Cruz. Information: Bill@mysmallwonders.com.
- Sonic’s Spooky Saturday: Free admission will be offered to the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History in Norman from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Information: www.snomnh.ou.edu.
Flaming Lips (The Oklahoman Archive photo)
Miscellaneous
- March of 1,000 Skeletons: See the Flaming Lips lead their March of 1,000 Skeletons during the Ghouls Gone Wild Halloween parade at 7 p.m. Saturday in downtown Oklahoma City. Information: www.ghoulsgonewildokc.com.
- Steven Wright: Hear the deadpan, oddball comedy of Steven Wright at 7 p.m. Saturday at Firelake Grand Casino, Interstate 40 at Exit 178, Shawnee. Information: www.firelakegrand.com.
Carrie Rodriguez
Music
- Ruthie Foster and Carrie Rodriguez: Catch singer-songwriters Ruthie Foster and Carrie Rodriguez at 8 p.m. Friday at the Sooner Theatre, 101 E Main. Information: 321-9600 or http://www.soonertheatre.org/.
- Jimmy LaFave: Hear singer-songwriter Jimmy LaFave at 9 p.m. Friday at the Blue Door, 2805 N McKinley. Information: 524-0738 or http://www.bluedoorokc.com/.
- “Carousel” concert: Listen to Shirley Jones, her son Patrick Cassidy and Miss America 2007 Lauren Nelson perform a concert of “Carousel” at 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Rose State Performing Arts Theatre, 6420 SE 15, Midwest City. Information: 297-2264.
Reckless Kelly
Statewide
- Red Dirt Rivalry, STILLWATER – Hear Stoney LaRue, Reckless Kelly and more at the Red Dirt Rivalry Friday and Saturday at the Tumbleweed Ballroom, Lakeview and Country Club roads. Information: (405) 377-0067 or http://www.calffry.com/.
- Keith Anderson, TULSA – Hear the Oklahoma native with openers George Ducas and Chasing Dixie at 8 p.m. Friday at Cain’s Ballroom, 423 N Main. Information: http://www.cainsballroom.com/.
-BAM
Keith Anderson playing tonight at Tulsa’s Cain’s Ballroom
From Friday’s Weekend Look section of The Oklahoman.
Oklahoma native’s path may lead to stardom
Road takes Keith Anderson to Nashville
Standing on stage at Oklahoma City’s Zoo Amphitheatre, country singer-songwriter Keith Anderson starts talking about the time-honored tradition of cruising Main Street on Friday nights.
“It doesn’t matter where we go – New York, Florida, Nebraska … wherever – everybody knows about dragging Main if they’re from a small town,” said Anderson, before launching into his mischievous down-home hit “Pickin’ Wildflowers.”
The Miami, OK, native made his share of spins around Main and then took several strange turns on his way to Nashville, Tenn., and a life on the road.
For the past week, the up-and-coming country star has spent much of his time in his home state, playing shows last weekend at the zoo and Buffalo Run Casino in his hometown. He plays at 8 tonight at historic Cain’s Ballroom in Tulsa.
“I wouldn’t change what I’m doing for the world,” Anderson said in a recent phone interview from Tampa, Fla.
Anderson’s path out of Miami first went to Oklahoma State University, where he played baseball and was scouted by the Kansas City Royals. When a shoulder injury ended his athletic aspirations, he earned his engineering degree.
He also rehabbed his shoulder by taking up bodybuilding, eventually placing second in the Mr. Oklahoma contest and earning a personal trainer certification.
Anderson, 40, landed out of college at a Dallas engineering firm, while continuing to work on his lifelong passion: songwriting. The desire to write and perform music led him to quit his lucrative career for gigs at Grapevine Opry, Six Flags Over Texas and even as a singing telegram.
He moved to Nashville in 1998 and worked as a bad waiter, eventually building a career and catalog as a songwriter. He got a big boost in 2001, when fellow OSU grad Garth Brooks and country legend George Jones recorded his song “Beer Run” as a duet. It not only was a hit, it was nominated for a Grammy.
“It changed my life, and it also changed my checking account balance and my address,” Anderson said with a laugh.
His 2005 debut album, “Three Chord Country and American Rock & Roll,” produced two top 10 hits and the single “Podunk,” about his Miami childhood.
He released his sophomore effort, “C’mon,” in August, scoring the biggest hit of his performance career with the No. 2 song “I Still Miss You.” The ballad has taken on new meaning since his mom, Janice, died of cancer June 30.
Anderson also continues to see success as a songwriter, with Gretchen Wilson and Jason Michael Carroll recently cutting tracks he penned. Duo Big & Rich notched a No. 1 hit this year with “Lost in This Moment,” which he and John Rich co-wrote about nine years ago.
“When it becomes such a monster hit, you know, there’s that part of you that’s going ‘Wow, that sure would have been nice to have had in my repertoire, too.’ But as a writer, I’m still making the same amount of money,” he said.
As the Oklahoma native performed his rowdy party songs and heartfelt ballads last weekend at the zoo, he also shared some encouraging words with the crowd.
“I grew up in Miami dreaming of doing this, so dream big.”
In concert
Who: Keith Anderson with openers George Ducas and Chasing Dixie.
When: 8 tonight. Doors open at 7.
Where: Cain’s Ballroom, 423 N Main, Tulsa.
Information: (918) 584-2306 or www.cainsballroom.com.
-BAM
Concert review: Montgomery Gentry, Gary Allan and Keith Anderson
Montgomery Gentry, from left, Eddie Montgomery and Troy Gentry, in an archive Associated Press photo.
Concert review: Country stars close Zoo Amphitheatre’s season with a party
A fun-loving duo, smoldering heartthrob and Oklahoma native on a homecoming tour closed the Zoo Amphitheatre’s concert season Friday night with a fittingly raucous country-rock party.
With the lineup of Montgomery Gentry, Gary Allan and Keith Anderson, Country Fest 2008 promised to fire up the crowd of about 8,500 fans with a steady fuel of drinking songs, brokenhearted ballads and rebel anthems.
But the fall temperatures cooled off some fans, indicating that the outdoor venue’s season closer came a little too late. While the evening started out comfortably mild, the shivering started when the sun went down. Several quaking fans barely waited for headliner Montgomery Gentry to finish their set before filing to the exits.
Stillwater singer/songwriter/guitarist Nick Gibson and the Can’t Hardly Playboys, who won a radio contest to open the show, warmed up the crowd, setting an appropriate outlaw tone with their original songs “No Other Way,” “Another Hole in the Wall” and Gibson’s solid electric guitar rendition of the National Anthem.
For Anderson, who was born and raised in Miami, OK, playing at the zoo was a dream come true, and his dad and sister were there to live it with him. The rising country star, playing the first of three Oklahoma shows in a week’s span, told the crowd he attended many concerts at the zoo while seeking his degree “at the greatest university in the world,” Oklahoma State.
When some University of Oklahoma football fans objected, Anderson quipped, “Hey, at least we won last week.”
He opened his short set by amping up the good-time atmosphere, drawling the rollicking “C’mon,” his new album’s title track, and “XXL,” a party song suited to the former Mr. Oklahoma runner-up’s hunky physique.
“I love coming back to Oklahoma. … Ain’t nothing like it,” he told to the crowd.
The up-and-comer had some devoted fans who danced and sang along throughout his short set. The rest of the crowd greeted him warmly, but many stayed in their lawn chairs.
Anderson, who started out in Nashville, Tenn. as a songwriter, got more people singing with a pair of songs he penned that became hits for others: “Lost in This Moment,” a chart-topper for Big & Rich, and “Beer Run,” a big duet by George Jones and fellow OSU alum Garth Brooks.
He romanced the audience with the poignant piano ballads “I Still Miss You” and “Every Time I Hear Your Name,” and charmed with the boisterous “Break My Heart” and “Somebody Needs a Hug.”
“We’ve even got ‘Somebody Needs a Hug’ panties,” he joked, laughing. “My grandma loves that; she’s got three pair.”
By the time he closed with “Picking Wildflowers,” his mischievous tribute to small-town loving, Anderson clearly had gained some fans.
Despite his ranking on the bill, Allan was the main attraction of the night for many people, particularly among the ladies. The crowd noise reached a piercing shriek when Allan, dressed in a black hoodie, T-shirt and jeans, emerged at the top of the stage.
With his tattoos and stubble accenting his bad boy with a heart of gold persona, the California native charmed with several big ballads, including “Watching Airplanes,” “Nothing on But the Radio” and “Still Learning How to Bend.”
He swaggered around the stage tossing out guitar picks through the defiant rockers “Like It’s a Bad Thing,” “Alright Guy” and “Man of Me.”
“I feel like we could go take over a building now if we wanted to. Solve some problems,” he said as the audience roared its adoration.
When the crowd demanded an encore, Allan started with a surprising classic rock twist: a sexy, extra bluesy take on Tom Petty’s “Breakdown,” in which he showed off his guitar chops in an electric duel with one of his band members.
He finished with the honky-tonkers “He Can’t Quit Her” and “Drinkin’ Dark Whiskey,” setting the stage for hard-partying headliners Montgomery Gentry.
Eddie Montgomery and Troy Gentry showed their flair for theatrics and Southern rock right away, taking the stage dramatically silhouetted behind curtains that suddenly dropped as they charged into their bombastic “Big Revival.”
Their set was classic Montgomery Gentry, mixing rebellious rockers (“Hell Yeah,” “What Do Ya Think About That,” “All Night Long”) with hefty down-home doses of spirituality (their No. 1 hit “Back When I Knew It All,” “Lucky Man”) and patriotism (“Something To Be Proud Of”).
Their high-energy set got the crowd cheering, dancing and clapping along, and Montgomery would settle for nothing less, frequently shouting “I can’t hear you,” in between cackling crazily and twirling his microphone stand. His showy antics prompted Gentry to joke, “You could at least act like you’re having fun.”
As usual, the pair shared singing duties with Gentry also playing rhythm guitar, and the chemistry between the longtime friends and musical partners was apparent not just in their playful teasing but also in their perfect harmony.
Their enthusiasm proved infectious: While groups of chilly fans headed for the exits, many were willing to bear a few more minutes of the cold to scream for an encore. The duo sent the audience away singing with the uplifting anthem “Our Town” and appropriately, the rowdy goodbye song “Gone.”
-BAM
