January 24, 2003
Good ol' boy Toby

EDMONTON -- Toby Keith is what we in the scribbling business like to call critic-proof.

He likes beer, girls, family, and the U. S. of A. He doesn't like detractors, liberals or the Taliban. He plays something that's sort of like country music, but not. And he's the number-1-selling country (or not) act in the world right now.

See? Critic-proof. But hey, a guy's gotta try, right?

Actually, you can say what you will about the self-described Oklahoma redneck's music, attitude or even personal style (dude, your jacket's way too tight for that gigantic round back of yours), but Toby Keith sings the kind of songs that get your feet tapping whether you want them to or not, and whether they're shod in Skechers, high heels or cowboy boots.

It's just too bad he took so long to actually show up for 8,800 fans at Skyreach Centre last night. Oh, his set started on time, it's just that except for the odd glimmer, Toby didn't seem to actually become conscious until about 45 minutes in, and even then he wasn't the back-slappin', hat-tippin', eye-winkin' crusader of the common man (and woman) that some of us were expecting. Even Meghan, my concert companion and surrogate Tobyphile, wasn't impressed with beefy boy's lack of enthusiasm, not to mention the way he all but completely ignored his entire 10-piece backing band.

Still, he dutifully reeled out recent hits like Who's Your Daddy, Beer For My Horses, and the show-capping wince-o-rific Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue and How Do You Like Me Now, and dug back to 1993 with Should've Been a Cowboy - yep, he's been around that long - as well as a couple of acoustic "bus songs," one a jingoistic piece of poop called The Taliban Song and another about partaking of medicinal herbs with Willie Nelson, which was easily one of the highlights of the night.

But really, Keith could have taken some tips from opening act Rascal Flatts. While the country boy-band's brand of bubblegum country makes Shania sound like Loretta Lynn, at least they seemed to be having fun. Even if they did mention Edmonton at least once every three minutes. No, seriously.

So, how do you like him now? 'Cause in the end, it hardly matters what anyone else says, does it?

IN THE SEATS: 8,800 in Skyreach

NOTE PERFECT: I'll Never Smoke Weed With Willie Again

SOUR NOTE: Toby's lack of energy

JAM! Rating: 3 out of 5

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