On his single, country singer Toby Keith [ tickets ] sings "I ain't as good as I once was." But that couldn't have been any further from the truth during his Friday (8/12) "Big Throwdown Tour II" stop at Phoenix's Cricket Pavilion.

The 44-year-old Keith was at his best, putting a vocal stranglehold on every song he tackled, including "Stays in Mexico" and "I'm Just Talkin' About Tonight."

From the beginning of the performance, it was all about showmanship. Like previous tours, Keith opened his gig with a video starring him and his talking bulldog--in a Ford truck, naturally. (Keith stars in a Ford truck ad campaign.) In this tour's video, Keith and the canine were trying to evade aliens attempting to kidnap him for a performance. Keith and the dog escape, and the curtain drops to reveal the chase had come to a crashing halt at the back of the stage.

Wearing a sleeveless blue shirt, jeans and a well-worn cowboy hat pulled low over his flaxen locks, Keith opened his set by schooling the audience with "Honkytonk U," from his latest album, "Honkytonk University."

Early on, his matter-of-fact banter won over the near sold-out crowd. "What's up, Phoenix?" he said in his drawl. "I thought I would come out and see what the hell y'all doin' tonight."

Keith and his 10-piece band put a rock spin and a heavy bottom end on "Country Comes to Town." "I'm Just Talkin' About Tonight" was complete with the squeaks in Keith's voice during the chorus. "Whiskey Girl" received a rapid response, primarily from women with the song title emblazoned on their shirts.

Keith's top-notch band--probably the best back-up band on this summer's country tour circuit--played a song on its own to showcase its chops. Later on, the horn section added depth and body to the self-centered tune "Talk About Me."

After telling the audience that he enjoys recording in "the islands," Keith and his band reggae-ed up "Should Have Been a Cowboy." Later, with his hiccup-like vocals, Keith sang "You Ain't Much Fun Since I Quit Drinkin'" as his steel guitarist and pianist took turns playing the refrains.

Keith is known to non-country fans for having an argument through the media with the Dixie Chicks about their anti-Iraqi war stance. Since last tour, Keith has cut down on the pro-soldier and pro-Bush rants, though he slid the comment, "You can call me American by God, or you can kiss my American a--," into "Country Comes to Town."

He also played his longtime live staple "The Taliban Song," and wrapped up his set with a double-shot of patriotism with "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)" and "American Soldier."