REVIEW AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY NADINE SWIGER
Braxton Keith brought a little Texas honky-tonk to Chevy Court at the New York State Fair, giving country fans a show that felt like stepping back into an earlier era of country music.
Keith took the stage Friday evening with a sound rooted in traditional country, mixing honky-tonk, Western swing and that unmistakable twang that has become harder to find in today’s country music. At times, the show had the feel of an old-school country dance hall, with the kind of sound that would not have felt out of place during the classic days of the Grand Ole Opry.
The rising country singer has been building a name for himself with songs including “I Own This Bar,” “Cozy” and “The Chair,” while keeping his music firmly connected to the traditional side of country.
That traditional influence came through clearly at Chevy Court. Keith’s voice has an old-school country edge to it, and paired with his band, the performance brought plenty of steel-guitar, dancehall and honky-tonk flavor to the Fairgrounds.
What stood out most was how different the show felt from much of modern country. There were no heavy pop elements needed. Instead, Keith leaned into the kind of country built around strong vocals, storytelling and a good barroom rhythm.
For longtime country fans, there was something familiar about it. For younger fans, it was a chance to hear a newer artist bringing some of the older sounds of country music back to the stage.
Keith has quickly become one of the rising names in traditional country. His debut album, Real Damn Deal, pulls from Texas honky-tonk and Western swing, and he has already made his Grand Ole Opry debut while touring with artists including Cody Johnson, Gavin Adcock and Luke Bryan.
At Chevy Court, though, it was less about where he has already been and more about the kind of country music he brought with him.
For a little while, the New York State Fair sounded less like Syracuse and a lot more like a Texas honky-tonk, with Braxton Keith giving the crowd a taste of country music that feels both new and comfortably familiar.
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