Monday night I finally, finally was able to watch Willie Nelson perform. I wouldn’t have imagined that Dundee, Scotland would be the place where I would finally see the man, but life is unpredictable.
I couldn’t have asked for much more from Willie’s set, and his voice was fantastic, much better than you might imagine from the last few albums. He played a great mix of songs from the latest album, Country Music, and the catalogue. Yesterday’s Wine, I Never Cared For You, Rainy Day Blues, and Pistol Packin’ Mama were all very well done, and after having seen the video of him and Snoop Dogg sing together, I got an especially big kick out of hearing Superman performed live. Nobody’s Fault But Mine was also especially good, and it was a treat to hear some songs from The Troublemaker.
He also surprised us with some of my favorites that I never would have imagined hearing in concert, like Sad Songs and Waltzes and We Don’t Run (complete with a bit of Spirit-inspired guitar work).
Willie also did a couple of Hank Williams numbers, including Hey Good Lookin’, which I will forever associate with going square dancing in Buckley with my Mom when I was 10 or 11.
Bobbie played Down Yonder from Red Headed Stranger, which failed to animate the crowd, which on Willie’s website was charitably describe as “reserved”. Really, the crowd was geriatric and generally seemed happy to devote its remaining energy to keeping the involuntary nervous system going. There was no clapping, toe tapping, or singing. I drove the people around me nuts. I was lucky to be sitting next to a deaf woman (there with her husband, who I assume could hear), or I would have bothered even more people.
I’m not sure what the crowd was expecting, or how well they know his work, but they sure didn’t respond to much. The gospel songs (Will the Circle be Unbroken, I’ll Fly Away) stirred no reaction in the audience. I would guess that they know him for Stardust and Rainbow Connection;Â Still Is Still Moving To Me got a (deserved) nice hand.
The show ran approximately 100 minutes and was absolutely fantastic. He plays again tomorrow in Edinburgh, and I’ve got half a mind to go.