Corey Smith giving fans his best effort

Country singer- songwri t e r Corey S mi t h believes he owes a debt to his fans, one he has tried to repay with his 10th album, “While the Gettin’ Is Good.”

“A lot of start- up acts are using fan-funded programs to f inance their records,” Smith says on his website. “That’s what my whole career has been: Kickstarter before Kickstarter. When my fans show up and buy a ticket and T-shirt, they’re investing in what I’m doing. It’s my responsibility to invest it wisely and give them the best album I can.”

Fans can hear that best effort when Smith plays The Signal on Friday night, March 23. Opening will be Noah Guthrie.

Smith says the album’s 12 songs, all written by him, are deeply personal. They explore themes of love, hometown pride and learning how to adapt to what life throws you.

Guthrie wrote his first song when he was 12, but had been singing for many years in his childhood.

He also used social media to start a career by covering chart-topping hits and posting videos of them on YouTube. His bluesfilled version of LMFAO’s “Sexy and I Know It” has topped 26 million views. His YouTube channel, only1noah, has surpassed 78 million views.

His growing attention as a YouTube artist helped Guthrie be cast as Roderick Meeks on Fox TV’s “Glee,” on the show’s sixth and final season. He was featured in several songs while on the popular show.

After “Glee” ended, he dove back into songwriting and touring. His second original album, “The Valley,” solidifies Guthrie as one of the freshest new voices in Americana music.

For more information about the show: 423-4984700.

FACEBOOK. COM PHOTO Corey Smith