I saw Willie Nelson in concert last night. The man almost 73 years old, and you would never know it. He played and sounded the same way he did when he was on the top of the country charts in the 70’s. He also played the same songs that got him on the charts in addition to the fan favorites. “Whiskey River,” “Blues Medley,” “Beer for my Horses.” in addition to many more. I also have to give him credit for the fact that he had no opening act and never took a break the way so many of the newer artists feel the need to do. He played for over ninety minutes and never left the stage once.
I have been to so many, so called, intimate venues, but where he played was about a 5000 seat arena. He was pointing and waving a members of the audience like we were old friends. He even skipped some of the lyrics to a song so he could exchange headgear with a young fan. After he played his last song, he paused ling enough to sign autographs and shake hands with his fans. I felt almost as though he was playing just for me at times.
He can still play that guitar as he ever could. With the pain of his arthritis, I would have been fine if he didn’t play as well as he once could, but he hasn’t slowed down yet. If he was in any pain, he didn’t show it at all. He could bend those strings like he could when he was a younger man. I don’t think he will ever show his age.
Most of the artists of his era are on the celebrity death pool or are already passed on, but Willie still keeps going. I really believe that it is because he is a symbol of America. Toby Keith may sing about being proud to be an American, but Willie represents it. He had a battle with the IRS, he lent support to the American farmers, and he stayed the same simple, down to earth guy the whole time.
I have wanted to see him for many years, and never got the chance, but after seeing him live, I realized that there are several types of people who have to see him in concert:
If you have ever cheered for the Cubs to win the World Series
If you have ever saluted the flag of the United States of America
If you have ever thought that country music is too pop
If you have ever wanted to drink too much and still do your job
If you have ever wanted to smoke too much pot, and still do your job
If you are old enough to remember “Blue Eyes Cryin’ in the Rain”
If you are young enough to not believe that “Outlaw Country” was banned on some radio stations.
Basically, if you get the chance, see Willie Nelson and family tour.
A very good post. I really like Willie even though I am only a borderline country music fan. I admire the man and many of the songs he does have very special meaning for me. Angel Flying Too Close To The Ground has very special place in my heart.
I’m envious that you got to be with him in such a setting.
Thanks for the post.
The first concert I ever saw featured Willie Nelson, with Waylon Jennings, at the Allen County Fair. I was 12, and it was an outdoor concert. I remember that my grandpa (who just died a week ago, at 88 years old :() smoked pot with the people next to us. We all got sunburned.
Hrmmm… you must be the same Sgt. Schwarz from the BrewBoard… right fucking on, My Man.
Last time I saw Willie though, maybe 4 years ago, in Memphis, he seemed to rush through the set.
Kinda pissed me off… like he forced a 90 minute show into sixty by playing the songs too fast… Prolly all in my head though.
Still I will never fault him, for Willie Nelson is a God Among Men.
I was at a huge benefit somewhere in the hill country outside of Austin – Willie was the headliner, there were maybe 5000 people sprawled out on a hillside. The band that played before him was a reggae band. When they were done and had said their thanks, Willie just strolls on stage with his guitar, nods at the band, and heads into Jimmy Cliff’s “Sitting in Limbo.” The band regrouped and played along. Then he does another reggae tune, and another. Then he starts doing his own tunes, with the guitarist in the reggae band watching Willie’s hands and relaying the chord changes to the rest of the band as the songs went along, coming up with spontaneous arrangements for “On the Road Again” and “Uncloudy Day.” And it actually sounded pretty good. And Willie just smiled.
I can’t think of many famous musicians who could pull that off.
Anyway, thanks for all the good stories. I still want to hear how Willie got locked up in the Travis County jail.
Ever since Honeysuckle Rose I have been a fan. Let’s add to this thread what made you a Willie Nelson fan. Was it the concerts, the movies, or the stories?
Back in '89 a young woman I was close to was killed when a couple of drunk chicks ran into the back of her motorcycle while stopped at a traffic light. We had a huge run from Central Florida to Daytona Beach with about 200 bikes arriving on the beach at sunset. We all moved out to the end of the Main Street pier where we spread her ashes and roses on the water while the sun set behind us in the west and lightning lit up clouds in the darkness to the northwest. Through all this Willie’s song Angel Flying Too Close To The Ground played softly.
At the time I thought how strangely appropriate the words were and odd how many “Biker” phrases appear in the song. It wasn’t until sometime later that I learned that in the early days Willie did a lot of shows for the Hell’s Angels and this song had been written for a fallen Angel after all. To this day I can’t hear that song without seeing her and the lightning in the clouds and the roses on the water.
I’m also a borderline country fan and have a Willie CD parked in my cd case between Stevie Wonder and Metallica ;). His songs take me to a different time and place. Sometimes so much so that I have to pull over my car and just listen.
After Katrina hit last fall, I listened to City of New Orleans and cried.
:() smoked pot with the people next to us. We all got sunburned.