6/19: Toby Keith at Blossom

As the spokesman for fervent patriotism and the heartland’s hard-nosed attitude after 9/11, Toby Keith’s musical response to 9/11 catapulted him into the national spotlight. “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)” wouldn’t find nearly as wide an audience these days, but back when it was released, it provided both a cathartic rallying point and a sort of offensive defense mechanism for a nation in emotional distress. For Keith, the song acted as a pop-music catalyst, introducing him to a wider audience, which discovered an artist who can play pretty acoustic ballads and rollicking six-string ramblers alongside his shock-and-awe hit. While Keith is still prone to bluster, he’s a singer-songwriter at heart and frequently favors classic country themes about lost and found love. Trace Adkins opens at 7:30 p.m. at Blossom (1145 W. Steels Corners Rd., Cuyahoga Falls, 330.920.8040). Tickets: $34-$74. — Nicholas Hall