CHARLIE DANIELS LIFTS OFF AT PERRY PARK CENTER (CONCERT REVIEW)

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Dressed in his "bullrider" hat and belt buckle and a shirt imprinted with the heads of longhorns, cherub-faced Charlie Daniels did Friday night what country acts do for their fans on concert nights: He smiled for the cameras and signed autographs countless times backstage before going on. But fans love Charlie Daniels because there's something he won't do: Make the kind of mealy-mouthed music that gets people on the country Top 10 these days.

As one of Daniels' most famous songs defiantly states, "If you don't like the way I'm livin', just leave this long-haired country boy alone."

It's difficult to think of another performer who could have pleased as many different tastes in playing the inaugural concert at the Perry Park Center Friday night. No label fits his music. He calls it "CDB music" the initials of his white-hot five-piece band.

Daniels said the band played "Sidewinder," a tune from their new "Road Dogs" album, last week at fan day at the Grand Ole Opry even though "It ain't country."

And it ain't. It's a jazzy instrumental.

Daniels, who has made two Christian albums, is working on a third that will include the bluesy version of "Just a closer Walk with Thee" he played Friday night.

Other tunes Friday night had Spanish influences. At times, the three lead guitars playing in unison threatened to lift off from the center of the stage.

Daniels famous for tunes like "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" and "Fire on the Mountain." But fans waiting for the band to go on said they like his personality and the eclecticism of his music most of all.

Carrie Key of Perryville came to the concert with her son, Kevin, and her niece, 11-year-old Christy Nelson. Key previously saw Daniels a decade ago in St. Louis and says his "ability to bounce back and change" attracted her to his music. Christy is a fan, too.

Middle-aged Jeff and Wynette Baltzell drove down from Arnold in the rain to see their favorite performer and were wearing Charlie Daniels Band T-shirts. They have seen his concerts twice previously and tracked him down in Perryville through his Web site, charliedaniels.com

An elderly couple named Jeanette Tiehes and Robert Martin were well dressed for their concert date. Big Band music is more their style but they came because her grandson, Adam Tiehes, works at the center and they wanted to show their support.

They were hoping the music wouldn't be too loud.

Ford Entertainment of Cape Girardeau provided the lighting and sound systems. Though a gymnasium, the center's acoustics were unexpectedly clear.

An estimated crowd of 1,750 people attended the first-ever concert at the $9.5 million center, which opened in May 1999.

The first concert offered another first, a very public proposal from a young man named Alan to a young woman named Casey. Fortunately, Casey said yes.

Crazy 8, an all-star band composed of elite Perry County musicians, opened the concert and sparkled on a mix of country and country-rock tunes, including a soaring rendition of the Ozark Mountain Daredevils hit "Amy."