Willie Nelson Concert Tonight..... I Might Need Stilts To See

I'm not really a big fan of Willie Nelson even though I've played his golf course down at Spicewood and even had a lesson from his personal golf pro who smokes pot and drinks beer the entire lesson. That was a true *experience*.

When I first moved back to Texas in 1975, Willie appeared to be king of the Austin Music Scene and I had never heard of him. I never thought he sang that well and he certainly wasn't *hot* by any standard of measure that I was aware of. Still, Texans have a *thing* for Willie that lies deep within their hearts. I eventually crossed over to that side, as Willie has become something of a Texas Legend. The sheer fact that he's still alive and well and doing concerts is a miracle within itself. The man just keeps on ticking like a Timex. Amazing, right?

This is a video of Julio Iglesias & Johnny Carson doing a spoof on Julio & Willie's hit song "To All The Girls I've Loved Before". I saw the live show on the night this happened and it was gut splitting hilarious:

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This was Willie in his hey day:

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This is Willie's latest. It's quite a haunting video/song:

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Willie Nelson is now, obviously, a man who has come to terms with his own mortality. Perhaps he has always understood that which has escaped many of us. That clear picture of our own mortality and the fragility of it.

At any rate, we're going to see ole Willie tonight (live, of course) at a place in a neighboring town 20 miles away. There are 8 of us going and we've rented a limo so that we can all get looped (or not) right along with Willie and the gang. That way, no one will get arrested trying to drive home under the influence. Yes, with age, comes a certain amount of wisdom....

I'll take pictures if I can. However, I'm only 5'3" in a sea of people over 5'5". It might take a certain amount of *elbowing" my way up to the front with promises to leave as soon as I get my pictures...

It could work. Or not....

George Strait Is Still The Man...

If you didn't watch the Country Music Awards last night, then you really missed The Awards Show of The Year. Although many of Country's best performers were there, there was also a marked infiltration by some rock & roll greats. There were names like Robert Plant, Hootie from Hootie & The Blowfish, The Eagles and Kid Rock. There was also a sprinkling of actors and actresses like Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman. Everyone seemed more polished in their attire and the lyrics to their songs seem more sophisticated than in the old days.

However, you get them up there on stage to give or receive an award, you sure know who's real country and who isn't. No matter how famous or how wealthy. You just can't change some things. And that is actually a very good thing. There's nothing I enjoy more than a good southern accent, no matter what part of the south they come from.

I've always adored George Strait's music and I'm proud to say that I have a lot of it. When he gets up and grins that big grin and then speaks... well, my heart simply melts like a Hershey Bar left in the sun. It would crack me up if someone like George spoke with a Brooklyn accent. Of course, tonight George won Album of The Year for "Troubadour", but he was up against some of Country Music's heaviest hitters. Brooks & Dunn, Alan Jackson, Kenny Chesney, Keith Urban, Brad Paisley and others.

My very favorite American Idol winner, Carrie Underwood won the CMA for Female Vocalist of The Year, but I liked them all. Taylor Swift, Martina McBride, Allison Krause and Miranda Lambert. I could look this good too, if they shot me with cheesecloth or something over the lense. And made it a far away shot... with cheesecloth. Oh, and I cried all the way through her song "Just A Dream".

I did notice something I thought was rather strange. The absence of Faith Hill and Tim McGraw. It seems to me that ever since Carrie Underwood won her first year (beating out Faith Hill) and Faith clearly expected to win, we don't seem to be hearing much from her. Perhaps this could be why. Somehow, I know the feeling all too well. I believe it is referred to as Showing One's Bootay For All The World To See. At which I am a well versed veteran.