I'm not really into country music, so the name Blake Shelton didn't mean much to me -- until I saw the guy perform Monday night, south of the border. The lanky Oklahoman was centre stage during the latest concert in the summer series staged by Tulalip Resort Casino, the posh place at exit 202 on the I-5 -- you know, next to Seattle Premium Outlets.

The cozy amphitheatre used for the concert series is assembled on a grassy, tree-backed area of the tribal land -- a perfect setting for some live music on a sun-kissed evening. If dropped there by helicopter, you'd never guess the 2,200-seat venue was surrounded by high-end outlet stores and one of the largest casinos around.

The Budweiser was a-flowin' early as former high school math teacher Chance McKinney brought his Cross Wire band to the outdoor stage. They rocked the place with, among other tunes, a nearly note-perfect version of "Wanted Dead or Alive." Bon Jovi would have been very proud.

When Shelton sauntered to the stage, the "yeehaw" factor was multiplied -- especially during a version of the Rhett Akins-penned "Kiss My Country Ass." Several other covers followed, including "Home" by Burnaby boy Michael Bublé -- ironic, given Shelton had dissed Canadians earlier in the show by suggesting they were loathe to identify themselves in the crowd for fear of getting their butts kicked. But whatever, it was all good fun.

Shelton also rolled out a cover of the mid-1980s hit "All My Ex's Live in Texas," telling the crowd, "If you don't like George Strait, you probably don't have many friends, man."

Shelton, meanwhile, has a dear friend in fellow country crooner Miranda Lambert, to whom he proposed last June after a four-year courtship. With Shelton being such a straight-shooting, hillbilly-embracing entertainer, it was a fun night of music at the Tulalip venue. This year's concert series began July 11 with The Temptations and Four Tops and continues tonight (Friday) with radio station show band Spike & The Impalers. Other big gigs this summer are Billy Idol (Aug. 5), Buddy Guy with Robert Cray (Aug. 17), Chicago (Aug. 25) and Lynyrd Skynyrd (Sept. 2). Personally, I'd love to be there for the last one, if only to hear the good-time, multi-guitar boogie of "Call Me the Breeze" and "Gimme Three Steps" -- and the endless calls for "Freebird." For tickets and more show info, visit www.tulalipresort.com.

While at the deluxe casino resort, also consider spending time at the ultra-fine Canoes Cabaret, where the party continues after all concerts in the summer series.

Celebrate The B.C.-ers!

Greasy, rootsy, old-school blues-rock is what The British Columbians are all about. A year back, the local quartet released a nine-song album, a distorted blast of White Stripes-like mojo with colourfully named songs such as "Gasoline Handshake." You get the picture.

In recent times, they've shared stages with the likes of Broken Social Scene, K-OS and Our Lady Peace. But this coming weekend is all about British Columbians -- in the spirit of the Aug. 2 statutory holiday, of course.

In celebration of the Monday event, the band will be "pre-releasing" on iTunes two new songs from a forthcoming second album. And, in a special and clever promotion from now until the end of August, they're offering a free download of their first album to those who visit the band website (thebritishcolumbians.com) and input their name, city and email address, "so they can let you know when they will be bringing their live show to your city or town" -- as part of the band's goal to play as many small and large B.C. towns as they can over the next year.

NEW BIXBY DATE AT CASCADES

The Jaydee Bixby concert date at Langley's Cascades Casino Summit Theatre has been moved from Aug. 7 to Friday, Sept. 17. Tickets for the original date of the Rock.It Boy Entertainment-staged gig will be honoured for the September show. All seats are $22.50, plus facility fee and service charges, at Ticketweb.ca.

tzillich@thenownewspaper.com