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Location: SoCal | We went to the Orange County Fair last night and saw Willie Nelson perform. The guy's about 75 years old, looks about 25 years older than God, and puts on a great show. His voice is still good, but on a lot of tunes, he doesn't really sing them, but instead, in a singing type voice just delivers the words of the songs, like Rex Harrison in My Fair Lady. On a few tunes, he actually hit the notes.
Didn't make any difference. The audience, a sold out house, loved him.
His guitar playing, is, well, unique. Of course, he was playing Trigger, which if anything, looked about 10 years older than Willie. I don't know how to describe Willie's playing except that nobody else plays like him.
For me, the highlight was the group that was on right before Willie, the Knitters. I don't know how the describe them except as 1930's back hills music meets Steve Goodman. In other words, traditional old music with a dynamic push and a great sense of humor. The male lead singer, John Doe, looked like he could have fit in with the Darlings on a trip to Mayberry. Here's a link to their web page The Knitters
They were terrific and a lot of fun. I'd pay good money just to go see them again. |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Originally posted by moody, p.i.:
. . . like Rex Harrison in My Fair Lady. . . .
. . . 1930's back hills music meets Steve Goodman . . .
. . . old music with and a great sense of humor . .
. . . the Darlings on a trip to Mayberry.. . . ahem, Paul... It's 2007. |
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Location: SoCal | Don't tell me.. tell the Knitters. |
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Location: Scotland | The Knitters? Isn't Dave Alvin from The Blasters involved? |
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Location: SoCal | Yup. And he was out-fu*kin' standing! A terrific guitar player. |
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Location: CA | Slightly off subject (or was there one), in another blast from the past, saw the Moody Blues on the first stop of their new US tour at the fabulous Fox Theater in Bakersfield a couple of weeks ago. Only three original members left (not quite as old as Willie), and Justin Hayward still plays the same red Gibson guitar he wailed on the last time I saw them in 1977. Playing flute in the latest incarnation is a breathtaking young lady whose name I didn't catch. These guys still put on a great show. |
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| IMHO (who am I kidding with the humble bit?) The Moody Blues are the second most overrated act of the last 40 years. The minute Denny Laine walked out they were left with 2 singers who are too girly and twee to get past a first audition for the Spice Girls. In all of rock history only Carlos Santana is more overrated.
Not that I feel strongly about this. But I am married to a Moody Blues fan. I first spent a drunken evening explaining to her how much and in how many ways they suck 31 years ago. She takes as much notice of me now as she did then. |
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Location: Tychy, Poland | moody: thanks for this post, you've inspired me to look for a willie's music and i have to say that it's very interesting and inspiring. i'll look if his music was released in poland
thanks again. |
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Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | Our band has been playing On The Road Again as a postlude during the summer season a number of times since June. This is a great number on which to noodle the lead with some jangly country reverb and delay. The congregation loves it. Maybe there's a little bit of Willie in all of us.
Incidently, I met him when we both lived in Evergreen Colorado back in the 1980's. My wife (at the time) had one of his kids in her classroom and was personal friends to Willie's wife, Connie. She (my ex wife) has some great stories about their house and his friends. This was about the time his IRS problems became public. |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | Not sure I'd agree with Carlos being the top of the overrated list. I'd put Jimmy Page there. Carlos might be third. |
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Location: Midland, MI | Originally posted by schroeder:
...Not that I feel strongly about this. But I am married to a Moody Blues fan. I first spent a drunken evening explaining to her how much and in how many ways they suck 31 years ago. She takes as much notice of me now as she did then. Well, but I like that one song of theirs. What's it called? "Whites in Night Satin" or something? Can't get enough of that one; wish they'd play it on the 'oldies' station more than twice a day. :rolleyes:
OTOH, I'd rather hear the Moody Blues than anything involving Michael McDonald. |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Originally posted by cruster:
OTOH, I'd rather hear the Moody Blues than anything involving Michael McDonald. including "Dueling Ice-picks" |
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Location: Riverside, CA | IMHO -
Willie Nelson's original version of "Crazy" is better than Patsy Cline's.
The Knitters' drummer, D.J. Bonebrake, is the best drummer to ever emerge from the punk genre.
Jimmy Page earned his reputation. Here's a link to some pre-guitar-god Jimmy from British TV:
14 year old Jimmy Page playing in a skiffle band |
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OT: Willie Nelson at the fair.....
