It’s no secret that there are few worse ways of gauging the quality a particular genre than looking at what gets popular. Case in point, the only honest to goodness hard rock band to have a number one single on the Billboard Hot 100 in the past fourteen years? Nickleback. I rest my case. However, the chasm between the quality of mainstream country music and it’s more independent, undiscovered brethren is kind of absurd. While recent country hits have been brainless party anthems, Keith Anderson has a single to his name called Somebody Needs a Hug. If that isn’t adorable enough to make you love him then I don’t know what to tell you. I could show you his live show though, and that will change your mind! Anderson and his five piece backing band show off a rougher, more rocking side to his music than on record. His two electric guitarists duelling and weaving throughout the show and Anderson’s onstage charisma and showmanship more akin to a classic Skynyrd show than anything you’d normally see at the Grand Ole Opry. It’s warm, inclusive and a hell of a lot of fun, it might not change the face of music but that doesn’t matter for two very good reasons. The first is that it’s not trying to change the face of music, which leads us to the second reason; all Keith Anderson is trying to do is entertain people of any kind and creed when he performs live, and he does so spectacularly well!
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