Archive for April, 2007

Willie Nelson at Feather Falls (4/29/07) (Review)(Another Sold Out Show)

Monday, April 30th, 2007

http://www.chicoer.com By BRUCE SMITH-PETERS OROVILLE — By the time most ordinary people reach their 70s they’re retired, settled down and relaxing in their “golden years.” Or at the very least, ordinary septuagenarians have slowed down. Willie Nelson is not one of those ordinary people.At age 74 he’s keeping a schedule that would exhaust a man half his age: out on the road 250 days a year, riding his famous biodiesel bus around the country with his simple six-piece band of a snare drum played with brushes, hand percussion, bass, harmonica, electric guitar and his sister, Bobbie, playing piano.

And while for many performers these twilight years are spent in retrospect, Nelson continues to produce like nobody else. For each of the past three years he’s released at least three CDs, his latest is a two disc set done with Merle Haggard and Ray Price called “Last of the Breed.”Can he attribute all this to clean living? Well, not if legend and recent headlines are correct.

But there were reports of him riding his bike around the Feather Falls Casino property the day of the show and of his requesting organic food that night.

So, perhaps with Nelson, it’s about balance. But whatever it is, it sure does work.

He was in fine form Saturday night, taking the stage in front of a huge Texas flag backdrop (an image that stirs Texas hearts everywhere — even adopted ones) and wearing black jeans and a black T-shirt with “Texas” clearly emblazoned on the back. Kicking the show off with “Whiskey River” and “Still is Still Moving,” he then greeting the sold-out crowd with a folksy and friendly, “Well hello there!”

The adoring fans erupted in a welcome of their own. Nelson draws the most diverse audiences, further testament to his appeal. This show, however, had a distinct “Geritol-factor” to the crowd and was heavy on the cowboy boots and big belt buckle- wearing fans of his outlaw country era, clapping away to “Good Hearted Woman” and “Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to be Cowboys.”

But few who had come to hear a particular favorite left disappointed in the two hour, 38-song hit parade. He put together some mini-medleys of his early work (“Crazy,” immortalized by Patsy Cline, and “Night Life”), songs by Kris Kristofferson (“Help Me Make it Through the Night” and “Me and Bobby McGee”) and Hank Williams’ (“Jambalaya On the Bayou,” “Hey Good Lookin'” and “Move it on Over”), as well as a collection of standards (Irving Berlin’s “Blue Skies,” “Georgia on My Mind,” a jazzy version of “All of Me” and “Stardust.”)

The band, old friends who’ve been with him for years and dubbed Willie Nelson and Family, was loose — perhaps even sloppy at the beginning of the show as the drummer didn’t quite seem to have the time right and the guitarist sometimes appeared a bit distracted, perhaps even missing a solo, but they soon found the groove.

Nelson was in fine voice, showing no strain, despite the nightly work out. His playing was effortless and he sounded great, throwing in solos on his trusty, old, beat-up acoustic guitar. But then, to his loving fans, Nelson can do no wrong.

The show closed with two new songs written last year while he was recuperating from carpel tunnel surgery — “Superman,” which started off with the line, “Too much pot and too many pills,” concluding in the chorus “I ain’t Superman,” and the humorous “You Don’t Find Me Funny Anymore.”

Finally, the revivalistic “I Saw the Light” had the audience on its feet singing and clapping along. Nelson, meanwhile, was at the edge of the stage signing autographs, shaking hands and confirming what everyone there already knew: Willie Nelson is extraordinary.

Willie Nelson Sings John Lennon for Amnesty International

Monday, April 30th, 2007

www.starpulse.com has posted that there were so many artists who wanted to be part of the new John Lennon cover album for charity, that they couldn’t fit them all on.  Songs by Willie Nelson, Duran Duran and other artists who didn’t make it onto the double 23-cut cd, will be available for digital download purchased from on-line retailers, so that is good.  Artists who made the cut include U2, Green Day, R.E.M., Avril Lavigne, Big and Rich, Christina Aguilera and Snow Patrol.  Album is titled:  Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur.

[Who voted?  How could Willie not make that cut? Oh, well, I can still download it.]   Amnesty International is the brains behind the project and Lennon’s widow Yoko Ono has waived her royalty fees. 

A spokesman for the charity says, “The Instant Karma mobilization centers on saving the lives of innocent women, children and men who are dying by the thousands and restoring peace in the region. Amnesty International chose to harness the power of Lennon’s music to inspire a new generation of activists to stand up for human rights.” All proceeds from CD and digital sales will support Amnesty International.

Ono is thrilled with the response from her music peers: “It’s wonderful that, through this campaign, music that is so familiar to many people of my era will now be embraced by a whole new generation.”

Check out John Lennon’s Discography

Billy Joe Shaver Schedule

Monday, April 30th, 2007

05/04/2007 Bryan Texas Hall of Fame
05/05/2007 Gainesville Texas Shooter’s Grill
05/06/2007 Norman OK Andrews Park
05/11/2007 Wichita Falls Texas Iron Horse Pub
05/12/2007 San Angelo Texas Blaine’s Pub
05/19/2007 Luckenbach Texas Luckenbach Dance Hall
05/24/2007 Kansas City MO Knuckleheads Saloon
05/25/2007 Steelville MO Wildwood Springs Lodge

Hear Willie Sing, “A Peaceful Solution” A cappella

Monday, April 30th, 2007

My first guest blog, thanks Jay:

Hear Willie sing ”A Peaceful Solution” A cappella.

written by Willie & Amy Nelson on April 29th, 2007
at 3:03am on the bus in California, on the way to Coachella.

I’ve just updated the post with a link to the sound file. The link is at the bottom of the post.

Working for Peace is very important to Willie. If you are a fan of his music give yourself a chance to know a little bit more about the man. Willie is out there using his popularity to spread a message of compassion.

 

There is a peaceful solution. It’s called a peace revolution.
Now let’s take back America.
There’s a war and we’re in it, but I know we can win it.
So let’s take back America.

It’s a dream, so believe it.
Now get ready to receive it.
And let’s take back America.

And when the war is over and we’ve won it
let’s remember how we done it, because we might have to do it again.

There is a peaceful solution. It’s called a peace revolution.
Now let’s take back America.
There’s a war and we’re in it, but I know we can win it.
Now let’s take back America.

There was a peace resolution
and a peaceful revolution
and the peaceful solution saved America

Willie Nelson, in Reno, Nevada (4/27/07)

Monday, April 30th, 2007

Thanks again to Keith, for this great picture.

Willie Nelson, Reno, Nevada (4/27/07)

Monday, April 30th, 2007

Thanks to Keith, of Willie Nelson’s Club Luck, for kindly letting me post this picture he took when he saw Willie in Reno last Friday.

Willie Nelson, Jimmy Day

Monday, April 30th, 2007

Thanks to http://annealtman.blogspot.com for this vintage picture of Jimmy Day and Willie Nelson

Willie Nelson, Nickle Creek at Coachella and Stagecoach Festivals

Monday, April 30th, 2007
 
April 30, 2007
In previous years, the Coachella festival site and all its stages and sound and lighting equipment were torn down almost as soon as the last act had performed. Not so this year, as Coachella’s producers will debut Stagecoach, a country and American music festival, next weekend at the same site. Only two Coachella acts were double-booked to perform at Stagecoach, country music icon Willie Nelson and San Diego newgrass band Nickel Creek.  

Nelson, who turns 74 today, was probably the festival’s oldest artist. He delivered a winning set early last night that began with “Whiskey River” and included such favorites as a rocked-up “Still is Still Moving to Me” and a tender version of “Me and Bobby McGee.” Nickel Creek, which performed Friday, was also warmly received. “We are so excited to be here – you have no idea,” singer/violinist Sara Watkins told the cheering crowd.

Following an especially charged version of the all-instrumental “The Smoothie Song,” some audience members expressed their approval by shouting out a popular profanity. Nickel Creek mandolinist Chris Thile smiled. “We never get swearing at our shows. This is awesome,” he said. “Just hurl one (obscenity) out every few minutes. Make us feel like rock stars!”

– GEORGE VARGA

A Peaceful Solution, by Willie and Amy Nelson

Monday, April 30th, 2007

http://willienelsonpri.com/peace/48/a-peaceful-solution.html

by Willie and Amy Nelson

There is a peaceful solution. It’s called a peace revolution.
Now let’s take back America.
There’s a war and we’re in it, but I know we can win it.
So let’s take back America.

It’s a dream, so believe it.
Now get ready to receive it.
And let’s take back America.

And when the war is over and we’ve won it
let’s remember how we done it, because we might have to do it again.

There is a peaceful solution. It’s called a peace revolution.
Now let’s take back America.
There’s a war and we’re in it, but I know we can win it.
Now let’s take back America.

There was a peace resolution
and a peaceful revolution
and the peaceful solution saved America

Happy Birthday, Willie Nelson (again)

Monday, April 30th, 2007

How Green is the Music?

Sunday, April 29th, 2007
BY DANIEL MOTTOLA

Just what is the eco-inspired rock community doing? Here are a few big-name examples:

• Willie Nelson, Bonnie Raitt, Neil Young, Indigo Girls are all prominent biodiesel burners.

• The Vans Warped Tour employs a solar-powered stage engineered by Austin’s Sustainable Waves, is saving 81,000 disposable plates by using washable dishware and utensils for bands and crew, and avoids 50,000 pounds of carbon-dioxide emissions by using varying blends of biodiesel in the tour’s nine big-rigs and 17 buses.

• Dave Matthews Band buys renewable-energy credits to offset energy use from amps onstage, as well as trucking, travel, and hotel stays for current megatours – as well as retroactively over the last 15 years.

• Sub Pop Records recently committed to buying enough renewable-energy credits to offset 100% of the company’s energy use.

• Pearl Jam is now using 100% biodiesel in all tour production trucks and is donating $100,000 to nine organizations doing climate-change-reform activities, while shooting for net-zero emissions from tours and business.

• Andrew Bird: The whistling troubadour, who packed Stubb’s during South by Southwest, offsets the energy used at his shows with renewable-energy credits from NativeEnergy, uses B20 (20% biodiesel blended with 80% diesel) in his bus, requests organic foods and biodegradable cups backstage, and offers fans organic merchandise as well as ways to neutralize emissions from their drives to the show.

Here in Austin, the ever-expanding South by Southwest Music Festival, which wrangles more than 1,500 bands and overruns Downtown each spring break, made environmental strides in 2007.

www.austinchronicle.com

Willie Nelson and XM Satellite Radio

Sunday, April 29th, 2007

XM’s ‘Hank’s Place’ to Re-open Under New Management as ‘Willie’s Place’ on July 10

WASHINGTON, June 29, 2006 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — XM Satellite Radio, the nation’s leading satellite radio service with more than 6.5 million subscribers, announced today that country music legend Willie Nelson will join XM to launch “Willie’s Place” (XM 13), XM’s traditional country music channel, formerly known as “Hank’s Place.” In his new role as “proprietor” of “Willie’s Place,” Nelson will provide creative direction for the channel, as well as contribute exclusive programming to “Willie’s Place” and other XM commercial-free music channels. “Willie’s Place” will begin broadcasting July 10.

“I’ve been a fan of XM and Hank’s Place since the very beginning. They put a lot of thought and hard work into making the channel sound as good as it does, so I feel privileged to be a part of it,” said Willie Nelson.

“It’s an honor to have an American music icon like Willie Nelson take the reins of our traditional country music channel,” said Eric Logan, executive vice president of programming, XM Satellite Radio. “Like the channel itself, Willie embodies the heart and soul of country music. His involvement further underscores XM’s commitment to country music nationwide with the most country channels and innovative content for country fans.”

In addition to changing the channel name, XM is building new studios for “Willie’s Place” in Carl’s Corner, TX, located in the Willie Nelson’s BioDiesel Truck Stop. “Willie’s Place” will begin broadcasting live from Carl’s Corner in 2007.

“Willie will be a great addition to the channel and I know we’ll have a great time down in Carl’s Corner,” said Eddie Kilroy, on-air personality for Hank’s Place.

This announcement comes just a few days in advance of Willie Nelson’s Annual Fourth of July Picnic concert. XM will air Willie’s legendary concert, now in its 33rd year, on its progressive country channel X Country (XM 12) Tuesday, July 4 from 12 noon until 12 midnight ET. XM on-air hosts Jessie Scott and Eddie Kilroy will broadcast live from the concert site at the historic Fort Worth Stockyards.

In addition to Willie Nelson and the Family, other artists scheduled to appear include: Kris Kristofferson, David Allen Coe, Ray Price, Billy Joe Shaver, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Leon Russell, Randy Rogers Band, Harmonic Tribe, Shooter Jennings, Paula Nelson, Noel Haggard, Folk Uke, Stoney LaRue, Titty Bingo, Johnny Bush, Del Castillo, Bonnie Bishop, Pauline Reese, The Mothertruckers, The Geezinslaws, James Hand, Freddy Powers and Bill McDavid, No Justice, Jimmy Lee Jones, Mike Graham and Heather Myles.

Willie Nelson and Heather Myles

Sunday, April 29th, 2007

 

Happy Birthday, Willie Nelson!

Sunday, April 29th, 2007

Happy Birthday, Willie Nelson!

Some reports show Willie’s birthday as being on the 30th of April, but his daughter tells this story.  I like to celebrate on the 29th and 30th!

“Dad celebrated his birthday on the 29th of April until he was 18 years old and went into the Air Force. He had to finally get a birth certificate and it said he was born on the 30th. Not to argue with the government we celebrated his birthday on the 30th for about 40 years.  One day while visiting with his cousin, who was there the night he was born, Mildred said no, he WAS in fact born a few minutes before midnight on the 29th and Dr. Simms didn’t record the birth until after midnight. As it turns out we get TWO days to shower Dad with love and tell him how much he means to us.”

Willie Nelson Talks About Money

Saturday, April 28th, 2007

On first glance, you might conclude that I may not be good with money.  But if you look closer, you’ll realize that I’m definitely not good with money.

From where I started — dirt poor in Abbott and working everywhere form the cotton fields to the school cafeteria to bringing in more money — you’d think I’d have learned the value of the stuff.  Maybe I’m just a slow learner.

After Daddy Nelson died, we moved from our two-story home to a house that wasn’t much more than a shack. I’d lay in bed at night, look at the stars through the cracks in the ceiling, and dream of making a success of myself and bringing in lots and lots of money.

In the meantime, during the day, I hocked my guitar so much, the pawn broker could play it better than me.

Remember my first paying music gig with the John Raycheck Band?  It was a big band and there was no way the audience would hear twelve-year-old me strumming my acoustic guitar, but maybe I got the gig because it looked good to have a plucky kid up there on stage.  Or maybe I just made Mr. Raycheck look tall.

I wasn’t always so lucky, and did a lot of scuffling for money in the next twenty years.

In the fifties, I sold the rights to some of my best songs like “Family Bible” and “Night Life.”  My daughter Lana was little when I sold “Family Bible” for fifty bucks, and she said it broke her heart for me to let something go that was so close to our family.  I’ve been asked a thousand times how I could sell a great song for fifty bucks, and the answer is pretty simple.  I really needed fifty bucks.”

The Tao of Willie
A Guide to the Happiness in Your Heart
Willie Nelson with Turk Pipkin