Published: August 22, 2008 09:53 am         

MUSIC: Toby Keith returns focus to songs

Toby Keith’s screenwriting career might not be off to a good start, but he fortunately has a pretty good day job upon which to fall back.

The country singer’s debut writing effort, “Beer for My Horses,” tanked at the box office, earning only $209,253 in a limited release of 91 theaters ($2,299 per screen) during its opening weekend Aug. 8.

He doesn’t have much time to reflect on that, though, with the continuation of his “Biggest & Baddest Tour.” The tour, which comes this weekend to Darien Lake, kept Keith busy pretty much every day in the months leading up to the film’s release, as he’d work on the film and do publicity on weekdays and perform concerts on weekends.

Whether at the box office or on stage, Keith has said his only concern is with his fans.

“I don’t care what the critics think,” he said in response to the film’s reception. “We just wanted to make something the fans would like.”

What Keith’s fans seem to like are his live shows, played in front of packed houses for much of the summer. Keith takes pride in giving his fans what they want — familiar songs, including “Beer for My Horses,” “Should’ve Been a Cowboy” and “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue.”

“This year, with the gas prices and the so-called recession going on, people stretching their income — entertainment is the first thing that would go. The (attendance) numbers are up, and that’s amazing,” he said. “I won’t play a bunch of new stuff. I think that’s boring. I think they pay their money to hear the hits.”

That’s not to say that his set will entirely lack new material. Keith has about four songs completed on his newest album, which is due out Oct. 28. Among those songs is “She Never Cried in Front of Me,” which quickly became the most-played song on many country stations nationwide after its release earlier this summer.

That song’s success is the latest in chart-toppers for the 47-year-old Keith. He’s sold more than 31 million albums during his career, and his songs have spent a cumulative year atop the Billboard charts this decade alone.

Aside from the upcoming album, Keith said he doesn’t have much planned for the immediate future. Instead, his focus stays on the live crowds.

“We come out every year and keep going back to those markets that support us,” he said. “It’s all for the fans.”



IF YOU GO

* WHAT: Toby Keith’s “Biggest & Baddest Tour” featuring Montgomery Gentry

* WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Saturday

* WHERE: Darien Lake Performing Arts Center, 9993 Allegheny Road, Darien Center

* MORE INFORMATION: Call (585) 599-4641