I don’t think I’ve ever seen that many stars in one place. Not only on a stage, but even at an awards show.
Let me put it this way… The unannounced opener was Billy Strings, and he can sell out the Hollywood Bowl all by himself!
Not that I’m the biggest Willie Nelson fan. When Willie was struggling, country music, then called “country and western,” was pooh-poohed by those in the northeast. You know those people who tell you they grew up listening to Hank Williams? Well, I grew up listening to show tunes.
But then Willie became gigantic. An inspiration to those who think they’re too old, that they missed their chance. Furthermore, Willie was not only on the airwaves, but on the screen too. While rock stars were begging to be in movies, Willie jumped to the head of the line.
And there was Willie news everywhere. How his personal golf course got taken by the IRS and how he’d gotten it back… This guy had his own golf course? I mean how much money had he made? It was in Texas, was it flat, was it just a facsimile or the real thing? And when he came off the road he famously slept in his bus as opposed to his house, he felt more comfortable there. And how he got high on a regular basis. Back when dope was still illegal. Stop trying to legitimize it by calling it “cannabis,” the old monikers were much more descriptive, much more true to life, after all, you know how you get when you’re stoned.
And I saw Willie live once. Pretty up close and personal at the Universal Amphitheatre, this century, when it already had a roof, before it was torn down completely. And the thing about Willie is… Actually, two things. He plays this guitar with holes in it. The kind a kid would refuse as a present. And his show is not a performance, it’s not about dynamics, it’s a run-through. As if he was on train passing by, you caught him for an hour and then he went to the next burg, never missing a beat. You felt a bit outside, like something was happening on stage and you were left out. And you wanted to be included.
And that was one of the first things that went through my mind last night. How if you were watching the show, you’d want to be a musician. Today kids want to be stars. Look at the Kardashians, they don’t even play, their talents lie in business and self-promotion. And if you make it in the Spotify Top 50 world, the goal is to become a brand, to sell tchotchkes, perfume, become so big that a Fortune 500 company will back you. What has this got to do with music? NOTHING!
But these people on stage last night. They were lifers. The music came first. And they seemed to be enjoying it, having fun.
And the music was authentic. No hard drives, never mind no dancing. You see when done right, the music is enough, and the music was enough last night.
Now I could recite the performers but the list would be so long you’d be overwhelmed.
But I must mention that Norah Jones can really play the piano, in addition to her ability to sing.
And somehow Tom Jones went from a pariah to a star who always delivers. Sure, we heard “Delilah” back in the sixties, but Tom had no credibility. But since his tour-de-force rendition of Prince’s “Kiss,” he’s been on a well-appreciated victory lap, for decades!
And modern country was represented by Miranda Lambert.
And the hip country of the last century was represented by Lyle Lovett.
But really, other than Willie himself, there were two absolute highlights.
First, Warren Haynes doing “Midnight Rider.” Yes, Willie didn’t write it, but he sang it.
Now at this point, Haynes is 63 himself. But when you saw him singing and playing on stage last night, you realized that he was a bigger star than almost all of those on the hit parade. Warren has paid his dues. If he ever tried to play the star game, one thing is for sure, he never had a hit. But he’s the rock/jam band world’s best utility player. And his voice is as sweet as his guitar playing.
And Haynes played with the Allman Brothers. A twin guitar effort between himself and Derek Trucks. Meaning, Warren knows not only the songs, but the nuances, like Gregg’s “na-na” vocal at the end.
And Gregg may be dead, and in truth “Midnight Rider” was never a hit single, but it has transcended those that were.
“Well I’ve got to run to keep from hidin’
And I’m bound to keep on ridin'”
This isn’t influencer culture. This guy doesn’t have a smartphone, he doesn’t want to be tracked. He’s the other. What music used to represent. Before the players were co-opted by the system. “Midnight Rider” is the flip side of the Eagles’ “Desperado.” They both bring down the house because they resonate with our true identities, we’re caught up in everyday life, but inside we’re still outlaws, we want to think we’re unconstricted, we want to LIVE!
And speaking of unconstricted…
It was hard not to notice the clothing of the performers. Denim ruled.
Today’s “stars” have fashion coordinators. They dress up. These performers were dressed down.
God, the world is upside down. Prior to Tommy Mottola, other than Ahmet, the execs didn’t wear suits and ties. Mo was famous for his open collar. That was the freedom of being a musician, you didn’t have to dress up, you could be the authentic you, all day long, and people would be drawn to you. These are the people who were on stage last night.
But the absolute highlight…
Was the reunion of Neil Young and Stephen Stills.
I tingled when I wrote that. We’re never going to have Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, never mind Crosby, Stills & Nash, ever again. And Neil Young is always on his own trip, owned by nobody, and he doesn’t need anybody else, and I saw Frank Gironda backstage, I knew Neil was there, but not Stephen.
Yes, Stephen looks a bit worse for wear. Then again, don’t all of us?
And Neil launches into “Long May You Run,” the opening track by the ill-fated Stills-Young Band. Great metaphor for Willie, but that tour, where Neil disappeared in the middle of it…to see them reunited was mind-blowing.
But not as much as what came next.
Stephen Stills sang “For What It’s Worth.”
Talk about tingling.
“There’s something happening here
But what it is ain’t exactly clear”
That was a hit in 1967. It was written about the Sunset Strip riots. Outside Pandora’s Box, on a strip of land that no longer even exists.
That was youth power back in the sixties. We had a sense of optimism, that we could move mountains, accomplish anything, and the music was our guiding light. Our artists weren’t sold out, they had credibility.
And that was almost sixty years ago.
Making Stephen Stills… 78 years old?
I mean he’s still here. But that was a really long time ago.
But I was there, and here too.
I remember Stills on TV wearing that cowboy hat.
But what I didn’t know…
The two changed guitars for “For What It’s Worth.” Neil strapped on his Les Paul, “Old Black,” and as they began to play… I never realized that it was Neil playing those sustained high notes. My mind ran through the members of the band, OF COURSE IT WAS NEIL!
There is definitely something happening in America today. And it definitely isn’t clear. Furthermore, when it comes to cultural leaders, that we can trust, none come to mind.
And I’m sitting in the rapidly cooling air, staring at the flag of California, and I mentally pinch myself. All these years later, I am here. Living the dream.
Forget the b.s. spewed by the right. Living in California is free and easy compared to everywhere else in America. As for retreating to the hinterlands, I tell everyone that everybody in the music business has to come through Los Angeles at least once a year, and I am here.
This show couldn’t have happened any place else. This is where special events occur. And if you’re clued-in and know the right people… You can be there too.
Other highlights. Nathaniel Rateliff’s two appearances, one with Margo Price, the other solo, singing “City of New Orleans,” sounding eerily like Willie himself.
Two Lumineers performing “A Song for You.”
And then there was Sturgill Simpson. For a clean cut guy with no airs he certainly radiates a ton of charisma. Sturgill’s not evident on the hit parade, but he’s a god amongst those who follow the scene.
I mean it was endless. Chris Stapleton, the most revered man in Nashville… I mean this guy is the anti-star. He looks like he just came in from the barn, and he’s overweight, but when he opens his mouth…
And Rosanne Cash duetted with Kris Kristofferson. Kris was beaming, staring into the audience, I would love to know what was going through his mind. Someone said “nothing,” but just because he can’t communicate, that does not mean he doesn’t feel anything.
And then there was George Strait… If you’re a dyed-in-the-wool country fan, that was enough, right there.
But when Stephen and Neil’s performance came to an end, out came the man himself.
Walking slowly. After all, he’s 90. And I’m thinking of Biden. But then Willie sits down and starts picking and singing and ultimately talking and it became clear that the Red Headed Stranger hadn’t lost a step.
Still with the beat-up guitar. And with that unique voice that sailed over everything.
And his sense of humor.
And his bandanna and cowboy hat.
Willie hadn’t changed. In a world where seemingly everybody does. He was a beacon.
And Willie sang with his two sons and I’m thinking…that’ll get you high on your birthday.
And it actually WAS Willie’s birthday, April 29th. And he sang “Happy Birthday” to himself, and then “On the Road Again” and everybody came out for “Will the Circle Be Unbroken” and then it was over.
So what exactly did we see?
They filmed it, you’ll be able to see it sometime, but we caught it in real time.
Do you know how hard it is to get somebody to show up? Nearly impossible. They’ve got tons of excuses. Usually that they’re on the road, or in the studio or… But everybody showed up for Willie, there was no B-level talent filling the slots.
And it was certainly about the music. Sure, there were stars, but they weren’t doing star turns, other than Snoop Dogg, who came out to duet on “Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die.”
Somehow, it was the real America.
Oh, this isn’t a city versus country statement. What I mean is the show was upfront and honest. There were no tricks. What you got was human beings rendering the skills that they’d honed over years.
We respect talent in America. We respect hard work.
Then again, you can get cell service everywhere these days. You can be alienated, but the world is just a click away.
But so much is a diversion. You’re rarely left alone with your thoughts anymore.
But that’s the way it used to be. We’d be driving down the highway, looking out at the Big Sky Country through the windshield, with the radio turned up as our compatriot, contemplating life.
I contemplated life last night. And it wasn’t so much that I got answers as I saw possibilities. Yes, music can set your mind free. Especially the kind that can never be made by machines, but only Homo sapiens.
What a long strange trip it’s been.
That’s right, Bob Weir was there. God, it must be hard psychologically to continue after Jerry. And Weir was always the youngest, but now he looks like a gold miner from two centuries ago.
And when it’s all over, the musicians will scatter, they’ll be on the road again. And when they come to your town you’ll go see them for a hit of what they delivered last night.
But last night was a gale force wind, a tsunami, an earthquake.
But a temblor is enough, a soft breeze if it’s done right.
You know what I’m talking about. You speak the language.
And the words were loud and clear last night.
