True originality and greatness are fading quickly in the music world. As each year goes by, we lose more of musics great pioneers. This year we have already lost Bo Diddley, Eddy Arnold, and Buddy Miles and most of the ones left are to old to continue to record new music or even play live shows. Just over a week ago, however, I had an opportunity to see one of music last remaining music legends. The night before Father’s Day, I went to the Fabulous Fox Theatre in St. Louis to see the legendary Willie Nelson.
The show was an experience that’s hard to explain. It’s wasn’t a concert that you stand and scream all night or jump around, he did get a number of standing ovations and ruckus applause though. It wasn’t a concert that made you want to act crazy or dive off of the balcony. Instead, it was almost like a religious experience. As, you sat there you knew you were witnessing something special, something that you may never see again.
When Willie first stepped onto the stage, the place went crazy. He received a long and loud standing ovation from the sold out crowd and Willie acknowledged it even though he acted as if he didn’t know what the fuss was about. The applause lasted until the first note of Whiskey River, and the crowd quieted and sat almost in amazement. Willie never missed a beat, he played as many hits as he could cram into his 75 minute set. He played songs he wrote that were made famous by other people.
He played songs that he wrote for himself himself.
He played songs that he didn’t write, but made famous.
And he played a few new songs, before closing the night with the gospel classic I’ll Fly Away.
Willie’s guitar work was dead on and his slow, lazy vocal delivery was as beautiful as ever. The best part about this concert was the fact that I finally got a chance to see another music legend (Chuck Berry being the other). The worst part, is knowing that these opportunities are becoming fewer and fewer. There just aren’t many left like Willie.
I recommend to anybody who is a fan of music, don’t pass up a chance to see Willie. If you can, take your kids. Let them see a real artist at work, maybe they will learn to respect music more and listen to less shit like Fergie, Jay-Z, Rascal Flatts, or what ever shitty actress has a new album out next week.
Willie Nelson is simply one of the greatest songwriters, singers and performers to ever grace a stage. He’s one of the few artist that has been able to transcend his genre of music and just be considered cool, by everyone. He has dueted with everybody from Johnny Cash to Ray Charles and now even Snoop Dogg. Willie Nelson is sadly the last of a breed.
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