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Tuesday, July 5, 2005
Willie picnic encore
Just in from Willie’s Fourth of July Picnic. How was it? Here’s most of the story.
Willie, apparently cured of his carpal tunnel problem that sidelined him for most of last year’s picnic, took the stage several times to jam with his friends — stretching Marty Dread and Los Maui Boys’ 20-minute set into an hour. The picnic’s timetable went downhill from there.
Los Lonely Boys, David Allan Coe and Willie himself all took the stage after I filed my story, with Willie not playing “Whiskey River” until 12:30 — 13 hours after the picnic began.
The real climax of the show came near midnight as Los Lonely Boys brought out their father for a couple of Willie and Waylon classics: “Luckenbach, Texas” and “Good Hearted Woman.” Of course, Willie came out to jam with papa Ringo and that was as good a time as any for the fireworks show, which was lengthy and impressive.
The picnic limped along for another hour. I don’t really want to write about Dave Coe’s 30-minute set because I fear for my life: His fans were rabid. Let’s just put it this way: They got exactly what they came for, though I don’t care for the Kid Rock-flavored style he’s taken on. I mean, really, “You Never Even Called Me By My Name” is the “perfect country-and-western song” because the original didn’t have a breakdown of Eminem’s “My Name Is” in the last chorus.
Oh yeah, and Ray Wylie Hubbard only played three of the four songs I predicted he would and I had the order all wrong.
He was joined by his probably-not-yet-teenage son, Lucas, for his last song: “Wanna Rock and Roll” — and it was really strange. Me, I remember my 1996 Willie Picnic interview with Ray Wylie being repeatedly, if charmingly, interrupted by a knee-high Lucas — who was cute as could be.
Now, on stage jamming with all he’s got, he’s all hair and guitar and talent (hey, he’s good). He won’t like it, but I’ll go ahead and say he’s still cute. I’ll say it, because in a few years he’ll be too cool for words.
OK, enough picnic for now. I’m going home to soak my feet. Maybe take a nap.
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