Given the recent pretty-face invasion in country music, John Anderson's resurgence is refreshing.
When it comes to looks, he's not nearly as marketable as Randy Travis or George Strait. But when it comes to individuality and raw talent, few today can compare with Anderson, the regular-guy, neo-honky-tonk singer-songwriter who had a memorable string of hits a decade ago.Though he's been relatively quiet since "Swingin" went No. 1 in 1984, Anderson is on the comeback trail, promoting a new album, "Solid Ground," right on the heels of "Seminole Wind," a platinum album last year.
Still, Anderson has not yet returned as a household name among country listeners. So it was a calculated chance that Troy Young took in getting Anderson to christen his new mega-nightclub, the Upper Country, at 3485 S. Main. The gamble apparently paid off as at least 2,300 people packed into the 36,000-square-foot concert/dancehall Wednesday night to see Anderson work his vocal and lyrical magic.
Though the acoustics were less than perfect in the former sporting- goods store, Anderson delivered a huge helping of countrified wonder, performing 22 songs in 90 minutes.
He wasted no time getting the crowd involved, starting off with early '80s hits "Black Sheep" and "I'm Just An Old Chunk of Coal (But I'm Gonna Be a Diamond Someday)," his elastic-twanged voice as good as ever.
Ten minutes later, the large dance floor was filled, providing Anderson a captive audience for a series of cuts from the new album, whose theme is home cooking.
The title track, "Solid Ground," is about the good life with the wife and kids; "Money in the Bank," with its hard-driving blues cut from the same cloth as "Black Sheep," is a love song for our times; "I've Got It Made" celebrates the value of friends; and "I Wish I Could Have Been There" is about being around for those special moments in your loved ones' lives.
Anderson wouldn't be Anderson without a sarcastic departure, which was filled with the current single "I Fell in the Water (That You Walked On)," quite self-explanatory for anyone who has ever linked up with a pious significant other.
Arming himself with a banjo, Anderson led his six-member ensemble on a three-song bluegrass instrumental set that included a rousing rendition of "Foggy Mountain Breakdown."
On "When It Comes to You," written by Mark Knopfler, Anderson made a valiant effort to play his electric guitar like the Dire Straits great but fell short.
Anderson finished with "Swingin," "Seminole Wind" and "Would You Catch A Falling Star."
Local singer/songwriter James Nicks and his band, the Night Crew, opened the show with a short set that included the popular originals "Amy" and "Blue Moon Over Colorado."