Tiger Weekly - Serving Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Corey Smith returns to the Varsity

By Charlotte Guedry

Every now and then someone comes through the Varsity who manages to pack the house with that little something extra; that something different. Fortunately, that time is upon us.

Corey Smith has played the Varsity before, and loves the venue. In fact, playing in venues along the Southeast, Gulf Coast is what he loves the most. "Baton Rouge has this great, lively crowd. It's like a festival every time I play in town. I'm lucky I get to perform throughout the Gulf. It's an area with a great musical ear."

His music seems to fit into that fortunate mold of having something for everyone. There's country, blues, gospel, rock, and even an element of hip hop in his mixture of songs.

"I have a strong, internal motivation to write and perform. There's always a song for everyone," he said.

Corey's roots stem from a small Georgia town, but he spent his formative years in the haunts of Athens. This eclectic, musical town showed him a path he would soon follow. Luckily for his fans, he didn't stray from this path.

"I wasn't happy unless I was writing or performing." The scene in Athens opened up many avenues for Corey as a cover song performer, but although he was making a name for himself, he knew it wasn't quite his time. Corey threw himself into his studies at the University of Georgia, as he felt his education could only enhance any future endeavors.

The pull of music was a strong one, though, and luckily for his fans, he returned to his first love, music, upon graduation. Since starting out, Corey Smith continued to gain recognition. He didn't just sail into playing for packed houses night after night. He had to earn his stripes, and earn them he has.

Corey began by playing for small crowds of friends and family, with empty seats in the Georgia venues, but the lack of fans never got him down. He kept improving his wonderfully addictive sound; and before he knew it, he was playing to sold-out crowds in the thousands. Even when other performers around him were stepping out of the game, to focus on so-called responsible, less risky pursuits, Corey knew he could make it, and he was right. He's managed to find the balance of the job he loves with the pleasure of being a husband and a father.

"When I'm on the road, I miss my family. Those 2 hours that I'm on stage, though, are the best part of my day. They make everything worthwhile." He wants his children to follow their dreams, and what better way to get that message across than by a father's example. He also feels that one's roots are important to their creativity. Perhaps that's why he and his family still live in the small, simple Georgia town of his youth.

Corey's style is one of a kind, and with six album releases under his belt, he is only improving as he forges on. This will be his first Baton Rouge show where he introduces his following to songs from his new album, Keeping up with the Joneses. He's beefed up the production on this album, to focus on a more radio-friendly sound, but the roots of his style are still there.

"Eight Dollar Bottle of Wine" will strike a chord with any fan of his earlier works, and "Dirtier by the Year," will have an audience singing it for days to come. Whether you're a fan already, or you want to check out something that will be well worth the night out, Corey's songwriting, and energetic performances will not disappoint.

Corey Smith will be playing at The Varsity on April 15. Doors open at 8 p.m. and the show begins at 9:30. Tickets are $16 in advance or $20 at the door.

Originally Published: April 14, 2010

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