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Monday, July 15, 2013
The University Daily Kansas
GRANGERSMITH.COM
YOUR OFFICIAL KU IDENTIFICATION CARD
MUSIC
Singer brings country experience
Slip on an old pair of blue jeans and grab a cowboy hat because Granger Smith is bringing Lawrence more than just a concert; he's bringing the entire country experience.
Granger Smith is set to perform at the Granada Theater in Lawrence this Thursday. Tickets are $10 in advanced and $12 at the door. Doors open at 7 p.m. with an 8 p.m. show time.
The Texas born-and-bred singer-songwriter has been busy remodeling the face of traditional country one chart-topping single at a time. With George Strait as his inspiration and a 1-year-old daughter to keep him grounded, Smith is doing everything in his realm to give his fans something exceptionally unique.
SARAH NOONAN editor@kansan.com
"If my fans have listened to my CDs, they don't wanna go to the concert and listen to them over again." Smith said. "I'm going to make the songs come alive, not just audibly, but visually. It will be more than a man strumming a guitar."
The release of his new full-length studio album, "Dirt Road Driveway" in April was No. 1 on iTunes Country Chart. It also landed him a music video spot on ESPN's College Football Live and E! News. Smith took the time to support American troops
"I'm going to make the songs come alive, not just audibly, but visually."
GRANGER SMITH Country singer
on a tour in Iraq and Kuwait earlier this year. Nothing compares to an audience of soldiers who have been away from home and crave a piece of America, Smith said.
"You feel the gratitude coming back to you tenfold," he said. "I wasn't prepared for how much I got from them. It was no longer me thanking the fans, but the fans thanking me. I have a whole new appreciation and understanding for what they are doing and what they stand for."
The intensity of country music culture can be almost shocking for some people. Smith's drummer, Dusty Saxton has been banging on pots and pans since he was two years old. The self-taught musician and Texas native played for years in the rock and roll genre, but crossed lines to the country scene to join Smith's band last September.
"I've come to realize country music fans are one of a kind, along with the lifestyle in general" Saxton said. "We travel to states we've never been to before and sell a club out to hundreds of people that already know every song by heart. It's just normally not the way it works with rock concerts."
It's clear that Smith and his band are both serious and playful when it comes to their craft; they're humble enough not to take themselves too seriously, but dedicated enough not to let their name slip out of mind.
"Lawrence, get ready for a rocking' country time," Smith said.
Edited by Megan Hinman
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