When Corey Smith walked onto the stage Friday night, I’ll admit, I was not overly excited. Yet, within moments, I took my cue from the ecstatic, mixed crowd and was cheering along with the fans like I had listened to his songs until the CD was worn out from exhaustion.
There’s a difference between today’s country music and Corey Smith. His music has an authentic, Southern feel to it. When reading his lyrics, I can mentally hear my accent deepening and becoming more pronounced. Smith steps back in time to country’s heartfelt, everyday life origins by singing songs about the working class man.
Modern Country is completely different from when Johnny Cash and George Jones were on the scene. Now, it’s all about the tight faded jeans, goatees and spray-tanning.
Smith’s appearance sported no cowboy boots nor tight sleeveless T-shirts, but instead he wore loose-fitting jeans, a black shirt and trademark dark sunglasses. He discussed these differences and his opposition to becoming another Kenny Chesney in his song, “If That’s Country.”
I understand why Smith greatly appeals to the college crowd.
Several of his songs are about drinking, partying and bars, but there’s a note of blatant honesty to them. In his song, “I Could Do It Again,” he talks about cheating on his girlfriend, and instead of making excuses, he flat out says he would do it again.
While his songs fit the listener like their favorite pair of old worn out jeans, there is no denying that the band displays an artistry that I have not seen at many live shows.
The musicians were neither showy nor covered in cowboy hats and belt buckles from head to toe.
Everyone on that stage looked like an average Joe, but their talent was anything but ordinary. The band consists of three members, with Smith on electric and acoustic guitar, Rob Henson with an upright bass and Marcus Pertruska on drums.
During a break, Smith left the stage, and the bassist and drummer instrumentally covered various songs from different genres and effortlessly blended them together into one musical performance. From Journey and Led Zeppelin to Wild Cherry’s “Play that Funky Music (White Boy),” the band held the rapt attention of the crowd causing them to cheer as loudly for them as when Smith was on the stage.
“Quite frankly, I was shocked,” said Ashley Mullenix, 21, and from St. Charles, Mo. “They didn’t need words.”
While Smith played for two hours, the opening band was just as interesting. Shane Hines and the Trance took the stage without displaying an ounce of timidity. A lively and energetic duo, both Hines and bassist Brian Keating quickly livened up the crowd. Hines was intriguingly charismatic and wasted no time in announcing to the crowd that they were about to hear some music they have never heard before, but he would appreciate it if they clapped anyway.
Their indie rock sound was different from Smith, but the crowd did not mind.
They mixed playing original material with a few interesting covers from artists including Alicia Keys’ “No One” and Elton John’s “Rocket Man.” “‘Rocket Man’ was the best part,” said Ben May, 18, from Dobyns-Bennett High School in Kingsport. “His [Hines] voice was so amazing, a true diamond in the rough.”
Kadee Hicks, also 18 and from Dobyns-Bennett, agreed when asked about her favorite part of the night’s performance, saying, “The solo on ‘Rocket Man,’ I just loved it. It was really awesome.”
Hines took the time to pre-sing a chorus from one of his original songs so that the fans in the crowd who were unfamiliar with their music could sing along.
While possibly a new experience to the crowd, their enthusiasm during the song, “Way Up” closely paralleled the excitement and involvement during any of Corey Smith’s songs.
Typically an unusual pairing, Corey Smith and Shane Hines and the Trance easily merged the mixed crowd of all ages and different lifestyles together.
“I don’t listen to either of these genres normally,” said Mullenix. “I prefer alternative rock, and going from that to this, I’m impressed. I didn’t think they would be this good.”
“You have to be passionate about everything you do,” said Hines of Shane Hines and the Trance. “It gets a little complicated when you mix art and commerce, so don’t feel entitled to anything. You have to earn it.

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