Toby Keith plays in the tailgate of a Ford F-150 during his appearance at Cruzan Amphitheatre. (Allen Eyestone / Palm Beach Post)

Photos: Toby Keith and Trace Adkins at Cruzan Amphitheatre

There were fewer kids in the audience this year at Cruzan Amphitheatre when Toby Keith’s American Ride Tour rolled in.

I guess people learned from last year’s performance, which was criticized for being R-rated, and they left the kids at home.

Well, Keith’s not going to apologize for being too adult. And he’s not going to apologize for being patriotic either. In fact, you can buy a T-shirt that has a red, white and blue hand with one particular finger extended and the words “Never apologize for being patriotic” written below.

Apologies aside, Keith is no bait-and-switch act. It’s a like what Vince Gill once said about Alan Jackson: Like McDonald’s you always know what you’re going to get. What we got was a brash, bold, sarcastic smart guy who happens to sing okay. But if you’re showing up to at Toby Keith concert for the vocals, well, you’re missing the point. Keith’s act is two-thirds music, one-third comedy. And sometimes you just want to laugh.

For years, Keith has started his show with a commercial for Ford Trucks, his tour sponsor. This year’s commercial didn’t plug Ford Trucks as much as it did Keith, citing his stats: 33 million albums sold, eight USO Tours, etc. But the tailgate of a Ford Truck took center-stage when the black curtain dropped and Keith rolled out of it with the battle cry of his fans: Let’s party!

A Marine in his dress uniform handed him his guitar.

Keith kicked things off with the title cut of his upcoming album, Bullets in the Gun, due out Oct. 5. It’s tough to start a show with a song that’s not yet ingrained in the psyche of your fans, so it wasn’t the running start Keith usually gets. And following with American Ride – well, that’s a song I appreciate for its message, but it’s not a signature song for the big dog. If I never heard it again, I wouldn’t mind.

Finally, the third song in, we started cooking: I’m Just ‘Talkin’ ‘Bout Tonight. Classic Keith. Then Whiskey Girl, another classic.

I’ve always said a live show like this is no place to try out new material. I don’t usually like those songs, because I’m a) mad the artist isn’t play a song I know and love, and b) I can’t understand the lyrics. But Keith played a song from his upcoming album, called Somewhere Else. (“If you don’t know where you’re going, you might end up somewhere else.”) A real toe-tapper. And a song I’ll buy the album just to hear. So I guess even though I don’t like it, it works.

That was a turning point and things picked up speed from there: Trailerhood, You Shouldn’t Kiss Me Like That, Crying for Me, the song he wrote about Wayman Tisdale.

Not too many surprises. But Keith is like McDonald’s. You know how you’re going to feel okay even after you’ve eaten yourself silly. With all the alcohol being consumed, I’m sure a lot of fans will be waking up with big heads tomorrow morning. But hopefully they’ll have some great memories too.

Trace Adkins opens for Toby Keith at Cruzan Amphitheatre. (Allen Eyestone / Palm Beach Post)

And if you do wake up with a pounding head, take a lesson from Trace Adkins and get a BC Powder.

Adkins started his set selling the popular pain remedy with a hilarious commercial. After a series of mishaps, including splitting his pants, banging his head and nose, getting chased by two pit bulls, rolling down a hill and crashing into a convertible driven by a hot blonde, Adkins claims all he needs is a little BC Powder and he’ll be right as rain. Not sure I’m buying that, but the commercial was LOL funny.

Adkins looked right as rain in his tight black T-shirt and jeans. Women everywhere were fanning themselves, and not just from the heat.

Adkins’ new album, Cowboy’s Back in Town, debut at No. 1 on the country charts in August and Adkins kicked things into gear with the song Whoop a Man’s Ass. That’s his philosophy he says: Two kinds of men deserve a beating: Men who swear in front of children and who ‘rough up’ ladies. Can’t say as I can argue with him.

Adkins had a few more surprises too: He pointed out his daughters who were perched on the stage enjoying the show, and told the crowd it was his daughter Brianna’s birthday. After we joined him in a chorus of Happy Birthday — and with not even a second’s rest — Adkins said, “Now here’s a nasty song about her mama,” and played Hot Mama. It’s actually both nasty and a sweet and the crowd loved it.

But Adkins cover of the vintage Larry Graham love song Once in A Lifetime left me tepid, but he redeemed himself when he his own love song — This Ain’t No Love Song.

No Trace Adkins show would be complete without his biggest cross-over hit: Honky Tonk Badonkadonk. I may not love that song but it’s obviously a fan favorite. It got the crowd on its feet to shake their, well, badonkadonks. Adkins says the song is his idea of a stimulus package.

With a set lasting just under an hour I was still thirsty for more Adkins. I missed You’re Gonna Miss This. And Rough and Ready. And I’m Trying. Maybe if Adkins and Keith return for a third year, we can ask them to flip so we’ll get twice as much Trace. What do you say, girls?

Trace Adkins called yesterday on his way to perform in Moline, Ill., as part of Toby Keith’s American Ride Tour. It’s their second year out on the road together. The tour stops at Cruzan Amphitheatre in suburban West Palm Beach next Saturday.

Be on the lookout for a tall man with a goatee next weekend with a gaggle of girls in tow.
“My kids are coming with me and we’re going to spend an extra day in West Palm, enjoying the city. But thank God for their mother. She keeps them all corralled.”

He also told me that he’ll no longer be the lone male in his family: “I have a grandson coming at the end of October. We’re all excited about it.”

The little guy will join Adkins’ five daughters, and a granddaughter.

Watch for my story in TGIF next Friday, and online here and see what Adkins has to say about his new album, having Toby Keith for a boss, and how important the crowd is to him when he performs.

His 11th album, Cowboy’s Back In Town, entered the Billboard Country Album Chart this week at No. 1 and landed at No. 5 on the Top 200.  

The total came from sold-out ticket sales, donations and sponsorships. It will be distributed through the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.

Last month’s all-star concert included performances by Hill, McGraw, Miley Cyrus, Billy Ray Cyrus, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Jason Aldean, LeAnn Rimes, Luke Bryan, Michael W. Smith, Miranda Lambert, Taylor Swift, Toby Keith and ZZ Top.

Record amounts of rain the first two days of May caused more than $2 billion in damage in Nashville alone. The water forced thousands from their homes, struck some of the city’s biggest landmarks and destroyed the gear of scores of musicians.

First off, the official site for the event is Bryant Park, the good-sized space on the Intracoastal, so there’ll be plenty of room.

Secondly, there will be 21 bands total during the festival, which starts at 10 a.m. and stretches to 10 p.m. The event is headlined by Of Montreal lead signer Kevin Barnes, and tickets are being sold through ShowClix.com.

You can find out more at the fest’s official website.

Here’s the full list of bands: Angry Pudding, Black Finger, Black Weather Shaman, Bladesong, The Chill Pillars, The Dewars, Everymen, Fire Zuave, Guy Harvey, The Jameses, Jesse Baumann, John Ralston & Invisible Music, Kill Now?!, Leading the Heroes, The People Upstairs, The Ridicules, Spred The Dub, Wayside Flyer, Yellow #6 and Zombies! Organize!!

There will also be craft beer, an indie craft fair courtesy of Stitch Rock, a live-art exhibition and artisan barbecue.

Tickets will be $20 before the event and $30 at the door.

• Comedian Daniel Tosh will be appearing at the Fillmore Miami Beach on Oct. 16. Tosh is the host of Comedy Central’s Tosh.0 and is one of the nation’s top comics. Tickets go on sale Thursday.

• Tickets for Toby Keith’s Sept. 4 show at Cruzan Amphitheatre go on sale Saturday. Trace Adkins will also be on stage for this show.

• One of rap’s greatest acts, Public Enemy, is coming to Revolution Live on Sept. 17. Tickets will be on sale Saturday.

• Seattle-based heavy-folk band Built To Spill will take over Culture Room in Fort Lauderdale on Oct. 15. Tickets are on sale Friday.

• Comic Doug Stanhope will be telling it straight at the Culture Room on Nov. 13. Tickets are on sale Friday.

• Yo Gabba Gabba! Live, bringing the bizarre fun of the hit kids’ show to arenas nationwide, is coming to Miami’s American Airlines Arena Waterfront Theater on Oct. 31. Tickets go on sale Friday.

Country music star Toby Keith will celebrate Independence Day with the Boston Pops.

Liberty Mutual, the event’s sponsor, announced Wednesday that Keith will join conductor Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops for the annual Fourth of July concert and fireworks show on the banks of the Charles River.

The 40-year-old singer-songwriter’s hits include “Should’ve Been a Cowboy,” ”You Shouldn’t Kiss Me Like This,” and “Courtesy of the Red, White, & Blue.”

The “Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular,” hosted by Craig Ferguson of “The Late Late Show,” will be televised nationally on CBS.

Keith’s latest album, “American Ride,” was released last year by Show Dog Nashville.

Tim McGraw kicks off the Country MegaTicket at Cruzan Amphitheatre on May 8.

Following some incredibly satisfying entertainment at the South Florida Fair — I saw Luke Bryan, David Nail and Chris Young — we have a brand new festival at Cruzan and the South Florida Fairgrounds.

The first- even WIRK Rib Round-Up kicks off the season on March 6, promising sweet and spicy ribs and extra-tasty entertainment.

Billy Currington is the biggest name on the bill. His second Billboard No. 1, People Are Crazy, topped the chart last summer. Also performing: Vero Beach’s Jake Owen, Darryl Worley, American Idol’s Josh Gracin and newcomer Josh Thompson.

Taylor Swift’s concert at BankAtlantic is the following night (March 7). You’re lucky if you already snatched up tickets for this show, unless you plan to pay a few hundred dollars for them.

Next up is the Country Rat Pack at Sunrise Theatre in Fort Pierce on April 3. Tracy Lawrence, for my money one of the best singer/songwriters in the business, Tracy Byrd (Watermelon Crawl, Keeper of the Stars) and Richie McDonald, the former lead singer of Lonestar, combine for a night of classic country music.

The Acreage Music Festival and Chili Cookoff is back again the weekend of April 24-25, bringing back David Nail, the Eli Young Band and Halfway to Hazard.

On May 8, the Country MegaTicket kicks off with Tim McGraw and hot group Lady Antebellum. Lady A performed at the South Florida Fair last year, pretty much playing their way through their debut album. This year, we’ll surely hear lots of stuff from their sophomore disk, which has already seen its debut single go straight to No. 1.

Montgomery Gentry headline the Country Throwdown Tour, coming to Cruzan Amphitheatre on May 15. (AP)

On May 15, the Country Throwdown Tour, an all-day country music festival, brings Montgomery Gentry, Little Big Town, Jamey Johnson, Jack Ingram and more to suburban West Palm Beach. Emily West, an adorable down-to-earth singer from Iowa, also performs.

Brooks & Dunn’s final tour stops at Cruzan on June 12, with opening act Jason Aldean (who is also headlining his own tour this year.)

On July 17, Rascal Flatts returns to Cruzan for their annual show. Still don’t know why these guys pick July to come to South Florida, but I’m glad they do! Sexy siren Kellie Pickler joins the guys.

Brad Paisley with opener Darius Rucker show up on Aug. 14.

Toby Keith kicks off Labor Day weekend with his show on Sept. 4. No opening act has been announced.

Oct. 16, Sugarland performs.

2010 TIRE KINGDOM COUNTRY MEGATICKETs are available online through livenation.com or charge by phone at (877) 598-8698, beginning Friday. But if you bought a MegaTicket last year, you can purchase tickets for this year’s shows today with the presale password that was emailed to you. This special presale ends tomorrow at 10 a.m. Go to www.megaticket.com or call (877) 598-8703

Toby Keith in April at a tribute concert to George Strait.

Here’s a surprise:

Toby Keith wants to make you mad.

Keith just released an animated music video for his current single, American Ride, a rocking uptempo portrait of America, and not the most flattering picture.

He says he “loves the American ride,” but the video is highly critical of a plethora of American “virtues,” including watching “Desperate Housewives,” immigration, Wall Street, the Presidency — both Bushes’ and Obama’s — beauty queens, plastic surgery, gas prices. The list goes on.

The video is animated using a process like Flash cartoon animation, similar to the popular JibJab ‘toons.

Here’s the link on CMT:

Trace Adkins has released his 10th album, 'X'. (AP)

“Hey, I just hope they remember me for something.”

But that would be a tremendous oversimplification of an artist who has more layers than a wedding cake.

His 10th album, X, released in November, may be his best work. It shows his depth, musically, emotionally, lyrically and vocally.

From “Muddy Water”, the gospel-tinged up-tempo first single, to the hilarious “Marry for Money”, to the super-serious ballad “Till the Last Shot’s Fired,” where he’s joined by the West Point Cadet Glee Club, it’s a rocky ride.

Listen to Janis’ interview with Trace Adkins:

“That’s the way I make records,” he said from home in Nashville as he was getting ready to hit the road with Toby Keith for America’s Toughest Tour, which stops at Cruzan Amphitheatre on Saturday. “There has to be some levity mixed in with everything else. Life is peaks and valleys. It hits a high note and then it takes you back down.”

Adkins’ life was full of peaks in 2008. He got a string of nominations from the CMA, ACM and CMT Music Awards for his beautiful ballad, “You’re Gonna Miss This”. He lost last week’s CMT award for Best Male Video to Brad Paisley.

“That song had been nominated in every award show leading up to that one and I had lost every one. I’m not going to lose any sleep about it. I’m just going to get on the bus and do another show. You just can’t worry about that stuff.

“If I had won an award for that video, it would be so ironic because literally we didn’t have a budget from the record label. They said, ‘You know it’s never been our policy to make videos for songs off greatest hits’ albums,’ and I said, ‘Well we’re going to do it on this one.’ ”

Adkins also tackled reality TV in 2008, ultimately losing Donald Trump’s “Celebrity Apprentice” to Piers Morgan. He knew every word, every action, would be filmed, and behaved accordingly.

“I was mindful that I was there representing institutions a lot bigger than myself: the Grand Ole Opry and my family, and I wasn’t going to act the fool and bring dishonor to anybody.”

Adkins had hoped to win money for his charity, FAAN (Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network), and he did manage to bring in about $250,000. But Adkins says, “I think much more important than the money was just the awareness, bringing attention to it and putting it on a national stage.”

Not only do more people recognize the 6-foot-6-inch Adkins since the show, thankful parents approach him “almost every day. Just recently we went to Disney World and this lady comes up and there were already tears rolling down her face, and she was just thanking me for what I’ve done.

“There are so many people in this country that are simply uneducated about the severity of food allergies. Now a lot more people know and I’m happy I was able to contribute a little bit to that.”

He’s also proud of his latest album: “There’s a couple of things on here that are different from anything I’ve done before, like “I Can’t Outrun You”. It’s probably the first time I’ve done anything that sparse.”

But “Hillbilly Rich” is typical Adkins: “It’s fun and funny, but there’s that underlying truth. A bunch of the guys I know in this business are just like me, country boys that got a little lucky and we got some money and got some hillbilly bling.”

That Adkins earned that bling by being true to himself makes it even sweeter. “They actually try to get me to do a different thing every now and then, and I say no, it’s not up for discussion. What I wear and how I look and whether or not I shave or cut my hair, you people can’t tell me what to do.”

TRACE VS. TOBY:
WHO’S TOUGHEST?

TRACE: I think I’ve got an inch or two on Toby, but Toby’s a big old boy. You know, I don’t want to find out and I don’t think he does either, but I’ll say this: I’ve reached one of those milestones in my life as a man where I realize that if I do get into a scrap with somebody I better kill him in 30 seconds, or I’m done. I just don’t have the stamina. But to quote Toby, I’m as good once as I ever was.

TOBY: He admits he’s getting a little long in the tooth, huh? We both lift and stay in pretty good shape. Here’s what I say: You don’t want to call your friend out. But if you put up a field of 64 like March Madness, they’d give Trace and me a first-round bye. We’d be a pretty good tag team in WWF.

— Janis Fontaine

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