As long as there is a honky-tonk or bar with a guy in a stetson or a
girl in cowboy boots there will be a place for John to sing and a heart for
him to gladden. From grandmothers to those barely old enough to get through the doors of this drinking establishment the crowd was large and all John's.

In simple but stylish black, from boots to Stetson, John Anderson took
the stage accompanied by a bevy of fine musicians and wasted no time opening up the show with "I've Got It Made" a bittersweet song given how country radio has  abandoned his music in favor of more mainstream artists. "I'm A Chunk of Coal (but I'll Be A Diamond One Day)" followed, one of the many gems he delivered tonight. Songs he recorded over a decade ago sounded just as fresh as his newer material.

The crowd roared as he broke into "Money in the Bank" just one of a
half-dozen charttoppers he would give us tonight. Mixing old and new he
sang"When It Comes To You" before returning to one of his last big hits
"Straight Tequila Nights." This ballad was another crowd favorite although
they found little fault with anything John played. He kept the moment slow as "Let Go Of The Stone" washed over the silent crowd.

It was back to rousing music as he broke into the the title song from
"Country Til I Die."  "Bend It Til It Breaks" and the hit "Mississippi Moon" followed before John finally got to music from his current album.

The opening cut "Somebody Slap Me" was even more of a kick live as
John's facial expressions lent weight to this 'don't wake me up I must be
dreaming' song. If there had been room I'm sure there would have been some dancin' going on. As it was the crowd was swaying and nodding to this toe-tapper.

One of my favorites from his new album "Small Town" followed delivered
almost like a conversation with a friend until the chorus with its
particularily downhome feel. Simple ballads are still one of John's strengths.

The title track "Takin' The Country Back" was the only other song off
the new album which is highly reminiscent of "Seminole Wind" in style. The
lyrics are powerful and strike a chord. You can feel that John takes what he
is singing to heart and that his music is his link to his roots and to the
fans who are here tonight.

After a baker's dozen songs John offered a medley of some of his most
popular tunes from the earlier years, "1959," "Chicken Truck," "Fallen Star," and "Wild & Blue" the latter one of his first chart hits.

Giving the crowd and himself a moment to get a breath John brought this
rich and welcomed set to a close with three of his biggest hits. First it was
"Swingin," his largest hit, one of the harbingers of  the country crossovers
that were to come. Missing the female chorus it did not sound quite as sweet as the original album cut but "I Wish I Could Have Been There"  could have been taken right off the disc.

Apopka, FL born Anderson then closed with his most evocative and, for
this Florida crowd, meaningful song. One that helped relaunch a moribund
career, "Seminole Wind." The opening chords and electric fiddle brought the biggest response yet from a crowd reluctant to let go off the night or John. 

As quickly and simply as he took it, John left the stage after thanking
the crowd. The fans couldn't get enough and called for more and John returned for a brief but fun encore of "Black Sheep" leaving the crowd on an upbeat to hum as they went home, whether in their pickups or BMW's. John had certainly 'taken' this part of the country back!