Toby Keith
Toby Keith is not only a staple but also an icon of country music. His accomplishments read like a novel and include forty-two top ten hits; thirty-two number one hits, forty-million albums sold. Since 1993 he has recorded twenty studio LPs, seven compilation LP’s, many of which have gone gold or platinum, and has released sixty-nine singles, with sixty-five of them charting. He is an inductee in the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, the Academy of Country Music’s Merle Haggard Spirit Award, and the National Medal of Arts. He also has a new album, Peso In My Pocket, scheduled for release on October 15th.
I want to mention the opening act, a band called Thunder Road. These guys are a local So. Cal. country band who have opened up for Toby Keith in the past. The band played a great set with mostly originals that demonstrated their talent for writing and delivering memorable lyrics woven effectively within catchy country melodies. I spoke with singer Chris Lozano, a new edition to the band, who mentioned that the band would be heading to Nashville to do some recording. Hopefully, we will hear more from Thunder Road soon.
Toby Keith took to the stage among a multitude of fans standing and cheering with excitement. He raised his cup, and the crowd lifted their drinks in response. It was apparent to see the adoration from his fan base as they sang along to “Made In America” off his 2011 Clancy’s Tavern LP. The lap steel guitar ushered in the following song, “God Love Her.” The three-piece horn section added brightness to the up-tempo tune.
The drums jump-started “American Ride” as Keith let out a growl before belting out the beginning lyrics. The crowd joined in as Keith had them sing the Na Na’s at the end. After indulging in a bit of country rap with the song “Talk About Me,” Keith chatted with the audience a bit and then introduced the next song by dedicating it to the ”girls who drink whiskey.” Keith started with the line “Dance whiskey girl, dance” that he sang acapella; guitarist Rich Eckhardt followed with a splintering guitar fill to lead into “Whiskey Girl,” the single that went gold in 2004. It was not a surprise to hear a cacophony of women joining in on the chorus. Before the next song, Keith raised his glass and toasted the first responders, the boys in blue, and the armed forces.
Chris Lozano (Thunder Road)
The country singer asked the women in the audience to raise their drinks and repeat after him, “Whiskey for my man and “Beer For My Horses.” The horn section shined on this number with snappy fills throughout the piece. They added their moxie by dancing with their horns and moving from stage right to stage left. The audience got a special surprise as Willie Nelson appeared on the giant screen behind the band and sang the second verse while Keith watched with his cup raised. It was a special moment watching the country-singer icon honor one of country music’s beloved veterans.
The tempo slowed down for the next song, which was my favorite of the night. Toby Keith told the story of the inspiration for the song attributing it to a conversation he had with Clint Eastwood. He said a few years back he had been golfing with Eastwood in Monterey, Ca. Keith asked Clint how he would be celebrating his upcoming 88th birthday, and Clint said he would be shooting a movie. Keith asked him, “What keeps you going” and Clint told him that he stays productive, doesn’t listen to anybody, and “I don’t let the old man in.” Keith went home and wrote the song “Don’t Let the Old Man In.” Eastwood ended up putting the track in the movie The Mule. Keith’s smooth baritone glided effortlessly over the melodic acoustic guitar while the lap steel wove a bluesy vibe. Lyrically, the expertly crafted song is simple yet profound, and Keith performed it with sincere emotion.
Rich Eckhardt
Next up was a medley of Keith’s hits from the 1990s. Guitarist Eckhardt took center stage for a blistering solo, showing off his stunning tapping skills reminiscent of the late, great Eddie Van Halen. He then broke into a complex rhythm that bled into the number one hit, “Who’s Your Daddy?” The keyboardist was rolling out an infectious blend of rhythms while the lap steel provided a classic country twang. The audience was feeling the vibe, and everyone around me was twistin’ and turnin’. Toby Keith raised his cup……his red cup….his “Red Solo Cup,” and the banjo began plunking. Although Keith did not write this song, after he recorded it, it became a hit. The audience cheerfully sang the famous chorus…”Red Solo Cup, I fill you up, let’s have a party,” while raising their cups, and yes, many of those cups were red. The song ended with Keith’s raised cup and a final “Salud.”
“I apologize in advance, but I need to do some redneck songs right now,” Keith announced as the drumbeat banged out the ever-popular “Good As I Once Was.” The fans in my immediate vicinity sang the entire song, every single word. “I Love This Bar” was next up in the set that showcased the guitars sliding and bending with slow country rhythms. The band members fused their vocals resulting in some superb harmonies. Keith ended the song with a dandy little yodel.
The audience got a chance to sing an acapella chorus on “Should’ve Been a Cowboy.” Keith tossed his microphone to a gentleman in the audience, who sang the verse quite robustly. A couple of new songs off the upcoming album followed. Then the number one song of 2000, “How Do You Like Me Now?” Once again, the audience chimed in, reciting all the lyrics. Keith hollered to the crowd, “Alright, you crazies, sing it,” the audience answered with a collective roar of the chorus.
The excitement level kicked up another notch for “A Little Less Talk And A Lot More Action” The audience engaged in some call and answer with Keith on the chorus. Eckhardt delivered screaming fretwork and blazing rhythms of guitar while sax player Roman Dudok gave a wailing solo. The song ended, the crowd erupted, and Toby Keith left the stage. The crowd chanted “Toby,” and Keith returned for an anchor.
The keyboards played delicately as Toby Keith strummed his signature red, white, and blue acoustic and began the heartfelt lyrics of “American Soldier.” As the song progressed, Keith’s rich baritone climbed to a higher register that perfectly reflected the song’s message. Throughout the piece, various images of veterans in the audience flashed on the screen. Keith thanked each branch of the armed forces on behalf of his family and band. Guitarist Eckhardt played a bit of The National Anthem to finish things up. Toby Keith introduced an army commander he met when performing in Afghanistan and brought him on stage for the next song. “Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue (The Angry American)” was written by Keith in response to a personal family tragedy along with the horrific events of 9/11;( you can read about it in several articles online.) With the veteran commander standing by his side Toby Keith began the chorus of one of the biggest hits of his career. As the song unfolded, the audience was thoroughly engaged, singing every word. Keith handed the mic to the commander so that he could take over for a verse. The song ended in an eruption of applause as Toby Keith, and the veteran commander walked off the stage, arm in arm.
With his indelible songs, patriotic spirit, and the phenomenal Easy Money Band, the American singer-songwriter performed what his fans referred to as an “epic show.” BackStage360 gives a great big THANK YOU to Pala Casino and Resort for hosting such great shows for all of us die-hard music fans in Southern California.
Jen B. / BackStage360
