Bangor goes honky tonk Country music’s Trace Adkins to perform at Bangor Auditorium with Craig Morgan on March 4

Trace Adkins seems to live a schizophrenic kind of existence. The genial country singer, all 6-foot-6 of him, is likely to pop up acting on TV shows such as “Yes, Dear” and “King of the Hill,” or sitting on the panel with Dave or Conan. His current single “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk” is high up on the charts, whether in audio, video or download form.

Yet it’s even more possible that Adkins is on the road touring, stopping in Glenside, Pa., or Albany, N.Y., or even Bangor, Maine, where he will play a sold-out show with opening act Craig Morgan on Saturday, March 4, at the Bangor Auditorium.

It’s taken a decade of hard work to take the Louisiana native from being an oil derrick-man, pipe fitter and construction worker to one of country music’s leading talents. He says that fans recognize that experience.

“They know who I am, where I come from, what I’m about,” said Adkins, 44. “I’m not some guy that started playing music when I was 16 and that’s all I’ve ever done. I actually had to earn a living in the blue-collar world for many years before I started earning a living doing this.”

Tracy Darrell Adkins’ current album is appropriately called “Songs About Me,” and that shows in his varied catalog, which includes tunes such as “Every Light In The House Is On,” “This Ain’t No Thinkin’ Thing,” “I’m Tryin’,” “Hot Mama” and “Rough & Ready.” Hits from his current album also include the title cut and “Arlington,” which pays homage to veterans.

His growing number of hits helps out the Capitol Records artist in a concert setting.

“It’s great to be able to get up there now and do an hour or 75 minutes of songs they’re familiar with,” he has said.

A Trace Adkins concert means varied things every night.

“I go out there and it is what it is,” the Nashville resident said. “If I feel like doing something, I do it. If I feel like saying something, I say it. If I feel like dancing, I do. If I don’t, I don’t. I let the night dictate what’s going to happen, the vibe in the room or the arena or wherever it is. I don’t go out there with a choreographed, programmed thing. Every night it’s different. It’s going to be what it’s going to be, and that’s the way I like it. It keeps me interested. If I knew exactly what the show was going to run like every night, I wouldn’t even go out there.”

He’s on the road 150-200 dates a year. When he’s not, Adkins spends time at home with his wife, Rhonda, and their three young daughters.

The guitarist is even serving as a punch line for an old joke: “How do you get to Carnegie Hall? Practice, practice, practice.” It’s taken him 15 years to go from playing beer joints to performing at that New York City landmark. That concert is captured in the special “Grand Ole Opry at Carnegie Hall,” which will debut at 8 p.m. Sunday, March 12, on GAC.

The rugged singer has a simple philosophy that has served him well throughout his career.

“I record songs I can believe in and sing with conviction,” he said. “It’s that simple.”

Dale McGarrigle can be reached at 990-8028 and dmcgarrigle@bangordailynews.net.