www.concertshots.com
by Chris McKay
I was late getting into the Classic Center tonight. By the time I made it inside, Promise Of The Real was tearing up the stage with the greatest blues rock noise I’ve ever heard. It was familiar. In fact, it was in the same vein as Stevie Ray Vaughan, and while it may be heresy to some, I prefer what Lukas Nelson and his band are doing. They ripped through a Dylan cover as well as doing a sparkling version of his dad’s recent “A Peaceful Solution”.
By then, I was transfixed watching Lukas’ guitar fireworks. He pulled out all the stops, including playing with his teeth. What made this special, however, was the quality of the songs. No words that I can write here will express the impact Promise Of The Real made on me. They are simply the best blues-rock band I’ve seen, and I’ve seen most that you can name. If they don’t quickly rise to the top of the genre, there is no justice. It was only after their set that it dawned on me that frontman Lukas Nelson was the son of tonight’s headliner. It then felt somehow fitting that this was the one time I’ve seen a Willie Nelson show that was stolen by the opener.
Willie Nelson’s concerts have always been lovably ragged and relaxed. Since drummer Paul English stopped playing a full-kit in favor of simply keeping the beat on a snare drum, the shows have gotten even looser and more informal.
Thursday night’s show at Athens, Georgia’s Classic Center felt more like a family reunion than a concert by one of the most iconic performers in music history. Opening up with the traditional “Whiskey River”, the crowd was in the palm of his hands. There were smiles exchanged between the 76-year old performer and his crowd. The medley of “Funny How Time Slips Away / Crazy / Night Life” was so relaxed, it threatened to derail a few times as Willie’s vocal mannerisms nearly overtook the song’s melody. Willie also forsook many of the higher-register notes in his infinite search for quirky phrasing.
For most of the night, it worked, though, on a number like “Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain”, it was hard not to wish that he’d stick with the patterns that we all know and love. Still, who could argue with live performances of such gems as “Good Hearted Woman”, “Mamas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys” and “On The Road Again.” The songs came fast and furious. The last note of one was barely finished before the band was off into the next classic.
The most beautiful moments of the night were also likely the tightest. Both “Always On My Mind” and “Georgia On My Mind” had couples holding hands and singing along loudly.
Thursday night’s show at Athens, Georgia’s Classic Center felt more like a family reunion than a concert by one of the most iconic performers in music history. Opening up with the traditional “Whiskey River”, the crowd was in the palm of his hands. There were smiles exchanged between the 76-year old performer and his crowd. The medley of “Funny How Time Slips Away / Crazy / Night Life” was so relaxed, it threatened to derail a few times as Willie’s vocal mannerisms nearly overtook the song’s melody. Willie also forsook many of the higher-register notes in his infinite search for quirky phrasing.
For most of the night, it worked, though, on a number like “Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain”, it was hard not to wish that he’d stick with the patterns that we all know and love. Still, who could argue with live performances of such gems as “Good Hearted Woman”, “Mamas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys” and “On The Road Again.” The songs came fast and furious. The last note of one was barely finished before the band was off into the next classic.
The most beautiful moments of the night were also likely the tightest. Both “Always On My Mind” and “Georgia On My Mind” had couples holding hands and singing along loudly.
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http://concertshots.com/willienelsonathens012110.htm