East Tennessean

Issue date: 4/2/09 Section: The Scene

Media Credit: Davis Cox Shane Hines and the Trance opened for Corey Smith on March 27 where both indie rock and modern country were featured. [Click to enlarge]

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.

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